Epistle to Rufinian

In the "Epistle to Rufinian" St. Athanasius the Great reports the definitions of the Council of Alexandria in 362 regarding the return of the apostate Arians to the Church. We are talking about how to accept Arian clergy who returned to the Church with repentance: “those who excelled in wickedness” should be accepted as laymen, while those who were “carried away by need and by force” should be accepted after repentance in their existing rank. This message was subsequently included in the canonical collections of the Orthodox Church. *The title of the work in Greek is Ἐπιστολὴ πρὸς ῾Ρουφινιανὸν ἐπίσκοπον. *The title of the work in Latin is Epistula ad Rufinianum episcopum. The Council of Bishops “convened from external countries,” mentioned in the letter of St. Athanasius, took place under his chairmanship in Alexandria in 362. In addition to dogmatic definitions directed against Arianism, he dwelled on the issue of admitting into the Church those who succumbed to compulsion to join the Arians during the reign of Emperor Valens. The Council treated condescendingly those who, while outwardly inferior to the Arians, were in fact not such. Message of St. Athanasius to Rufinianus was read three times at the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Athanasius, son and most beloved co-servant, Mr. Rufinian, rejoice in the Lord. You write to your father, as befits a beloved son. Having approached you through the scripture, I embraced you, most desired by me more than all the Rufinians. I could have written to you, as to my son, at the beginning, and in the middle, and at the end, but I resisted, so that communication and testimony are not known through letters. For you are my message, as spoken in Scripture (2 Cor 3.2), known and read in the heart. Thus, being disposed (believe me, believe her), I invite and convince you to write. For by doing this, you comfort me not a little, but a lot. Since you kindly and churchly (as befits your piety) asked about those who were carried away by need, but not corrupted by evil, and wanted me to write to you what was ordered about them at the Councils and everywhere, then know, my most desired lord, that in the beginning, after the end of the former violence (oppression from the Arians), there was a Council of bishops who had gathered from external countries; in Hellas, likewise among those in Spain and Gaul; and it was decreed, both here and everywhere, that the fallen and former representatives of wickedness (wickedness - Arianism; fallen - those who retreated to the treatment of the Arians; representatives of wickedness - those who were seduced and attracted to Arianism), show leniency to the penitents, but not give them a place in the clergy; and not to those who were autocratic workers of wickedness, but carried away by need and violence, to give forgiveness, and to have a place for them in the clergy, especially when they brought justification worthy of faith, and this was done, apparently, with some prudence. For such asserted that they had not been seduced into wickedness, but so that some, having become the most wicked, would not upset the churches, they considered it better to yield to violence and bear the burden rather than destroy the people. In saying this, they, in our opinion, spoke worthy of acceptance, for in apology they also represented Aaron, Moses’ brother, who yielded in the desert to the criminal demand of the people, but had an apology with the intention that the people would not return to Egypt and would not remain in idolatry. For it seemed likely that, while in the desert, he could move away from wickedness, but, entering Egypt, he would strengthen and increase his wickedness. For this reason, it is allowed to admit such people into the clergy, since forgiveness is given to those who have been seduced and who have suffered violence. I declare this to your reverence, and I hope that your piety will accept what has been decreed and will not condemn the condescension of those who agreed in this way. Deign to read this both before the priesthood and before the people subordinate to you, so that they, knowing this, will not complain when you are so disposed towards them. For it would not be fitting for me to write then, how your reverence can announce our goodwill towards them and fill in everything that is missing. Thanks be to the Lord, who has filled you with all word and all knowledge. Those who repent clearly anathematize precisely Eudoxie’s and Euzoie’s evil faith. For these, blasphemously calling the Word of God creation, revealed themselves to be defenders of the Aryan heresy; Yes, they profess the faith confessed in Nicaea from the Fathers, and do not prefer any other Council to this Council. Greet the brotherhood that is with you, and that that is with us in the Lord greets you. You might be interested in: