ПОСЛАНИЕ 3-е

When we lived in Edessa, where your presbyters were, then we expressed a desire through the presbyter sent to you, so that you would hasten to arrive at our Court and, having seen our face, could immediately go to Alexandria. But since a lot of time has passed since you received our letter and you have not come to us, we tried now to remind you to hurry up and speed up your arrival to us, and in this way you could be returned to your fatherland and get what you wanted. For a complete explanation, we sent Deacon Achita to you, from whom you can learn about the desire of our hearts and the possibility of receiving what you yourself desired. So the Tsar wrote, and I, having received this, arrived in Rome to say goodbye to the Church and the bishop, because I was in Aquileia when this was written to me - and the Church was filled with complete joy, and Bishop Julius, rejoicing at my return, wrote to (my) Church. During my journey, the bishops everywhere saw me off in peace. Julius wrote the following: Julius to the elders and deacons, and to all the inhabitants of Alexandria. 52) And I share your joy, beloved brethren, because before your eyes you finally see the fruit of your faith. For this, in fact, can now be seen by everyone to have happened to my brother and co-bishop Athanasius, whom God is returning to you for the purity of his life and through your prayers. From this, of course, it can be seen that you have always offered pure and loving prayers to God. Remembering the heavenly promises and the path to them, which was indicated to you in the teaching of my brother mentioned above, you truly knew and, by the right faith inherent in you, comprehended that the one whom you always kept in your godly souls as being with you was not completely separated from you. Therefore, I don’t need many words when I write to you. For whatever I would have told you, your faith had already accepted in advance and, by the grace of God, accomplished it according to the common desire of all of you. So, I share your joy, for I will also say that you have kept your souls invincible in the faith. I participate no less in the joy of my brother Athanasius himself, because, enduring many sorrows, he did not forget your love and your commitment for a single hour, although in body, apparently, he was kidnapped from you for a while, but in spirit he was persistently with you, as if inseparable. 53) So now he returns to you more glorious than when he left you. For if the purity of precious substances, gold and silver, is tempted by fire, what can anyone say about the dignity of such a man who, having overcome the dangers of so many sorrows, returns to you, recognized as innocent not only by us, but by the entire Council. Therefore, beloved brethren, with all glory and joy according to God, receive your Bishop Athanasius along with those who were his companions in so many sufferings. Rejoice, having enjoyed the fulfillment of your vows, you, who fed and watered your shepherd, I will say this, hungry and thirsty for your godliness, with saving scriptures, because while he was on a foreign side, you were a consolation for him and warmed the persecuted with your faith-filled souls and minds. And when I imagine and mentally see, I am already pleased by the joy of each of you at his return, and amused by the most godly gatherings of the people, and the glorious celebration of those flocking. What a day this will be and how solemn it will be for you, on which my brother will return to you! What happened before will cease, and this valuable and desired return will bring everyone together for some kind of joy of the most complete joy. But such joy extends to a greater extent to us, to whom it was given from above that we had the opportunity to know such a husband. So, it’s best to end the letter with prayer. May God Almighty and His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, continually send down grace upon you as a reward for your wonderful faith, which you have proven by the glorious testimony of your bishop, both you and your descendants, both here and in the age to come, and may He bestow upon you the most perfect blessings, “which no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9), about our Lord Jesus Christ, about Him be glory to God Almighty forever and ever! Amen. I wish you, beloved brethren, to be strong in the Lord. 54) After this, the Tsar, when I came, had a frank meeting with me and sent me away to the fatherland and to the Church, writing to the bishops, presbyters and people the following: You might be interested in: