Introduction.
1 B.—The Festal Letters, and Their Index,
2 Or Chronicon Athanasianum.
4 The latter document is from the hand, it would seem, of the original collector of the Easter Letters of Athanasius (yet see infr. note 6a). He gives, in a paragraph corresponding to each Easter in the episcopate of Athanasius, a summary of the calendar data for the year, a notice of the most important events, and especially particulars as to the Letter for the Easter in question, viz., Whether any peculiar circumstances attended its publication, and whether for some reason the ordinary Letter was omitted.
5 The variations of practice which had rendered the Paschal Feast a subject of controversy from very early times (see Dict. Christ. Antiq. Easter) had given rise to the custom of the announcement of Easter at a convenient interval beforehand by circular letters. In the third century the Bishops of Alexandria issued such letters (e.g. Dionysius in Eus. H. E. vii. 20), and at the Council of Nicæa, where the Easter question was dealt with (ad Afros. 2), the Alexandrian see was requested to undertake the duty of announcing the correct date to the principal foreign Churches as well as to its own suffragan sees. (This is doubted in the learned article Paschal Letters D.C.A. p. 1562, but the statement of Cyril. Alex. in his ‘Prologus Paschalis’ is express: cf. Ideler 2, 259. The only doubt is, whether the real reference is to Sardica, see Index xv. and Ep. 18.) This was probably due to the astronomical learning for which Alexandria was famousSo Leo Magnus (Ep. ad Marcian. Imp.) ‘apud Ægyptios huius supputationis antiquitus tradita peritia.’. At any rate we have fragments of the Easter letters of Dionysius and of Theophilus, and a collection of the Letters of CyrilWe trace differences of opinion in spite of the authority of the Alexandrian Pope in ‘Index’ xii, xv, xxi, and Ep. 18..
6 The Easter letters of Athanasius were, until 1842, only known to us by allusions in Jerome (de V. illustr. 87) and others, and by fragments in Cosmas Indicopleustes purporting to be taken from the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 40th, and 45th. Cardinal Mai had also shortly before the discovery of the ‘Corpus’ unearthed a minute fragment of the 13th. But in 1842 Archdeacon Tattam brought home from the Monastery of the Theotokos in the desert of Skete a large number of Syriac mss., which for over a century European scholars had been vainly endeavouring to obtain. Among these, when deposited in the British Museum, Cureton discovered a large collection of the Festal Letters of Athanasius, with the ‘Index,’ thus realising the suspicion of Montfaucon (Migne xxvi.) that the lost treasure might be lurking in some Eastern monastery. Another consignment of mss. from the same source produced some further portions, which were likewise included in the translation revised for the present volumeFurther details in Migne, P.G. xxvi. 1339 sqq. and Preface (by Williams?) to Oxford Transl. of Fest. Epp. (Parker, 1854.).
7 (1) Number of Festal Letters of Athanasius.—This question, which is of first-rate importance for the chronology of the period, must be regarded as settled, at any rate until some discovery which shall revolutionise all existing data. The number 45, which was the maximum known to antiquityThe very late Arabic Life of Ath. alone gives 47 (Migne xxv. p. ccli.), a statement which we may safely ignore in view of the general character of the document which is ‘crowded with incredible trivialities and follies’ (Montf.), outbidding by far the ‘unparalleled rubbish’ (id.) of the worst of the Greek biographies (see Migne xxv. p. liv. sq.)., is confirmed by the Index, and by the fact that the citations from Cosmas (see above) tally with the order of the Letters in this Syriac version in every case where the letter is preserved entire, while Letter 39, preserved by a different writer, also tallies with the reference to it in the Index. It is therefore unassailably established on our existing evidence that the last Easter letter of Ath. was his ‘45th,’ in other words that 45 is the full or normal number of his festal letters. This clinches the reckoning of the Index and Hist. Aceph. that he was bishop for 45 Easters (329–373 inclusive), i.e. for parts of 46 years (328–373 inclusive). Moreover it corroborates, and is rivetted firm by, the statement of Cyril. Alex. Ep. 1, that Athan. graced the see of Alexandria ‘fully 46 years.’ ‘Il le dit en voulant faire son eloge: de sorte qu’il y a tout lieu de croire qu’il n’a point passé les 46 ans: car pour peu qu’il fust entré dans la 47me année, S. Cyrille auroit dû naturellement luy donner 47 ansThe italics are ours. Cf. Rufin. H. E. ii. 3, ‘xlvi anno sacerdotii sui.’.’ So Tillemont (viii. 719), whose opinion is all the more valuable from the fact that he is unable to harmonise it with his date for the accession of Ath., and accordingly forgets, p. 720 (sub. fin.), what he has said on the previous page.
8 But we observe that many of the 45 Letters are represented in the ‘corpus’ by blanks. This is doubtless often the result of accidental loss. But the Index informs us that in several years, owing to his adversities, ‘the Pope was unable to write.’ This however may be fairly understood to refer to the usual public or circular letter. Often when unable to write this, he sent a few cordial lines to some friend (Letter 12) or to the clergy (17, 18) or people (29? see notes there) of Alexandria, in order that the true Easter might be kept (cf. the Arian blunder in 340, Ind. xii, with the note to Serapion Letter 12 from Rome). But occasionally the Index is either corrupt or mistaken, e.g. No. xiii, where the Pope is stated to have written no letter, while yet the ‘Corpus’ contains one, apparently entire and of the usual public kind. We may therefore still hope for letters or fragments for any of the ‘missing’ years.
9 (2) The Festal Letters are fully worthy to rank with any extant writings of Athanasius. The same warmth, vigour, and simplicity pervades them as we find elsewhere in his writings, especially in such gems as the letter to Dracontius (Ep. 49). Their interest, however (apart from chronology), is mainly personal and practical. Naturally the use and abuse of Fast and Festival occupy a prominent place throughout. Repeatedly he insists on the joyfulness of Christian feasts, and on the fact that they are typical of, and intended to colour, the whole period of the Christian’s life. We gather from Ep. 12 that Lent was kept less strictly in Egypt than in some other Christian countries. He insists not only upon fasting, but upon purity and charity, especially toward the poor (Ep. 1. 11, cf. Ep. 47. 4, &c.). We trace the same ready command of Scripture, the same grave humour in the unexpected turn given to some familiar text (Ep. 39) as we are used to in Athanasius. The Eucharist is a feeding upon the Word (4. 3), and to be prepared for by amendment of life, repentance, and confession of sin (i.e. to God, Ep. 7. 10). Of special importance is the Canon of Holy Scripture in Ep. 39, on which see Prolegg. ch. iv § 4.
10 It should be observed that the interval before Easter at which notice was given varied greatly. Some letters (e.g. 1, 2, 20) by a natural figure of speech, refer to the Feast as actually come; but others (17, 18) were certainly written as early as the preceding Easter. Letter 4 was written not long before Lent, but was (§ 1) unusually late. The statement of Cassian referred to below (note to Ep. 17) is therefore incorrect at any rate for our period.
11 (3) The Index to the Festal Letters.—This chronicle, so constantly referred to throughout this volume, is of uncertain date, but probably (upon internal evidence) only ‘somewhat later’ (Hefele, E. Tr. vol. ii. p. 50) than Athanasius himself. Its special value is in the points where it agrees with the Hist. Aceph. (supr. Prolegg. ch. v.), where we recognise the accredited reckoning of the Alexandrian Church as represented by Cyril and Proterius (see Tillem. ubi supr.). The writer undoubtedly makes occasional slips (cf. Index iii. with Letter iv. and p. 512, note 1, Index xiii. with LetterSome phenomena might suggest (Hefele, ii. 88, note) that the Index was originally prefixed to another collection of the letters, and was copied by a collector or transcriber of our present corpus; cf. Index xiii., note 17b, and p. 527, note 1. xiii.!), and the text would be a miracle if it had come down to us uncorrupt (see notes passim): but on the main dates he is consistent with himself, with the Chron. Aceph. and (so far as they come in contact) with the notices of the Alexandrian bishops above mentioned.
12 The writer’s method, however, must be attended to if we are to avoid a wrong impression as to his accuracy. Firstly, his year is not the Julian but the Egyptian year (infr. Table C) from Aug. 29 to Aug. 28. Each year is designated by the new consuls who come into office in the fifth month. Secondly, in each year he takes a leading event or events, round which he groups antecedent or consequent facts, which often belong to other years. Two or three examples will make this clear. (α) Year Aug. 30, 335–Aug. 28, 336: leading event, exile of Athanasius (he reaches CP. Oct. 30, 335, leaves for Gaul [Feb. 7], both in the same Egyptian year). Antecedent: His departure for Tyre July 11, 335, at end of previous Egyptian Year. (β) The ‘eventful’ year Aug. 337–Aug. 338: leading event, triumphant return of Athanasius from Gaul, Oct. 21, 337. Antecedent: death of Constantine on previous 22nd of May (i.e. 337Misunderstood by Hefele, vol. ii. p. 88 (E. Tra.).). (γ) Year 342–3: leading event, Council of Sardica (summons issued, at any rate, before end of Aug. 343). Consequent events: temporary collapse of Arian party and recantation of Ursacius and Valens (344–347? Further examples in Gwatkin, Studies, p. 105). Bearing this in mind, the discriminating student will derive most important help from the study of the Index: when its data agree with those derived from other good sources, they must be allowed first-rate authority. This is the principle followed in the Prolegomena (ch. v.) and throughout this volume. On the main points in dispute, as strewn above, we have to reckon with a compact uniform chronological system, checked and counter-checked by careful calculations (Hist. Aceph.), and transmitted by two independent channels; in agreement, moreover, as concerns the prior and posterior limits, with the reckoning adopted by the successors of Athanasius in the see.
13 N.B.—The translation of the Index and Festal Letters is revised by Miss Payne Smith from that contained in the Oxford ‘Library of the Fathers.’ A German translation by Larsow was published at Berlin 1852. The Latin Version (from an Italian translation) of Card. Mai is in Migne, xxvi. 1351 sqq.
14 The following Tables bear specially on the Festal Index.
15 Table C. The Egyptian Year.
16 After the final settlement of Egypt by Augustus as a province of the Roman Empire, the use of the Julian form of computation was established in Alexandria, the first day of the new Calendar being fixed to the 28th of August, the 1st of Thot of the year in which the innovation took place; from which period, six, instead of five, supplementary days were added at the end of every fourth year; so that the form of the Alexandrian year was as follows. The months from Phamenoth 5 (Mar. 1) onwards are unaffected by leap-year.
17 Thot
18 29 August
19 Pharmuthi
20 27 March
21 Paophi
22 28 September
23 Pachon
24 26 April
25 Athyr
26 28 October
27 Paoni (Payni)
28 26 May
29 Choiak
30 27 November
31 Epiphi
32 25 June
33 Tybi
34 27 December
35 Mesori
36 25 July
37 Mechir
38 26 January
39 Epagomena
40 24 August
41 Phamenoth
42 25 February
43 N.B.—In leap-years, the Diocletian year (see p. 503, note 4) began on the previous Aug. 30, which was accordingly the First of Thot, owing to the additional ‘epagomenon’ which preceded it. Accordingly all the months to Phamenoth inclusive begin a day late. Then, the Julian intercalary day coming in as Feb. 29, Pharmuthi and the succeeding months begin as shewn above. (See Ideler, vol. I, pp. 161, 164, also 140, 142.)
44 Table D. Of the Chronological Information Given in the Index to the Paschal Letters.
46 N.B.—The Year of our Lord, the Golden Numbers, and Dominical Letter, and the date of Easter according to the Modern Reckoning, are added. The age of the Moon on Easter-day is apparently given from observations or reckoned by some lost system (see Index x. xxii.); in about one case out of three it varies from the modern reckoning, perhaps once or twice from corruption of text. The Epact is a day too little for 342, 344, 361, 362, 363 (see Galle in Larsow;. F.B. 48, sqq.).
47 Easter Day.
48 Number of Letter.
49 Year of Diocl.
50 Year of our Lord.
51 Egyptian Calendar.
52 Roman Calendar.
53 Modern Reckon-ing.
54 Day of Lunar Month.
55 Epact (age of Moon on Mar. 22).
56 Sunday Letter and Concur-rentes.
57 Indictn.
58 Golden Num-bers.
59 …
60 44
61 328
62 19 Pharm.
63 XVIII Kal. Mai
64 14 April
65 18
66 25
67 1 F
68 1
69 6
70 I
71 45
72 329
73 11 Pharm.
74 VIII Id. April
75 6 April
76 22
77 6
78 2 E
79 2
80 7
81 II
82 46
83 330
84 24 Pharm.
85 XIII Kal. Mai
86 19 April
87 15
88 17
89 3 D
90 3
91 8
92 III
93 47
94 331
95 16 Pharm.
96 III Id. April
97 11 April
98 18
99 28
100 4 C
101 4
102 9
103 IV
104 48
105 332
106 7 Pharm.
107 IV Non. April
108 2 April
109 20
110 9
111 6 A
112 5
113 10
114 V
115 49
116 333
117 20 Pharm.
118 XVI I Kal. Mai
119 According to the usual Antegregorian rule, Easter would fall on April 22. 15 April
120 15
121 20
122 7 G
123 6
124 11
125 VI
126 50
127 334
128 12 Pharm.
129 VII Id. April
130 7 April
131 17
132 1
133 1 F
134 7
135 12
136 VII
137 51
138 335
139 4 Pharm.
140 III Kal. April
141 30 March
142 20
143 12
144 2 E
145 8
146 13
147 VIII
148 52
149 336
150 23 Pharm.
151 XIV Kal. Mai
152 18 April
153 20
154 23
155 4 C
156 9
157 14
158 IX
159 53
160 337
161 8 Pharm.
162 III Non. April
163 3 April
164 16
165 4
166 5 B
167 10
168 15
169 X
170 54
171 338
172 30 Phamth.
173 VII Kal. April
174 26 March
175 18½
176 15
177 6 A
178 11
179 16
180 XI
181 55
182 339
183 20 Pharm.
184 XVII Kal. Mai
185 15 April
186 20
187 26
188 7 G
189 12
190 17
191 XII
192 56
193 340
194 4 Pharm.
195 III Kal. April
196 30 March
197 15
198 7
199 2 E
200 13
201 18
202 XIII
203 57
204 341
205 24 Pharm.
206 XIII Kal. Mai
207 19 April
208 16
209 18
210 3 D
211 14
212 19
213 XIV
214 58
215 342
216 16 Pharm.
217 III Id. April
218 11 April
219 16
220 29
221 4 C
222 15
223 1
224 XV
225 59
226 343
227 1 Pharm.
228 VI Kal. April
229 27 March
230 15
231 11
232 5 B
233 1
234 2
235 XVI
236 60
237 344
238 20 Pharm.
239 XVII Kal. Mai
240 15 April
241 19
242 21
243 7 G
244 2
245 3
246 XVII
247 61
248 345
249 12 Pharm.
250 VII Id. April
251 7 April
252 19
253 3
254 1 F
255 3
256 4
257 XVIII
258 62
259 346
260 4 Pharm.
261 III Kal. April
262 According to the usual rule, Easter would fall on March 23; see Letter 18, note 3. 30 March
263 21
264 14
265 2 E
266 4
267 5
268 XIX
269 63
270 347
271 17 Pharm.
272 Prid. Id. April
273 12 April
274 15
275 25
276 3 D
277 5
278 6
279 XX
280 64
281 348
282 8 Pharm.
283 III Non. April
284 3 April
285 18
286 6
287 5 B
288 6
289 7
290 XXI
291 65
292 349
293 30 Phamth.
294 VII Kal. April
295 According to rule, Easter would fall on April 23, which perhaps was the day really observed, as it agrees with the age of the moon; but see note on Index No. xxi. 26 March
296 19
297 17
298 6 A
299 7
300 8
301 XXII
302 66
303 350
304 13 Pharm.
305 VI Id. April
306 8 April
307 19
308 28
309 7 G
310 8
311 9
312 XXIII
313 67
314 351
315 5 Pharm.
316 Prid. Kal. April
317 31 March
318 18
319 9
320 1 F
321 9
322 10
323 XXIV
324 68
325 352
326 24 Pharm.
327 XIII Kal. Mai
328 19 April
329 18
330 20
331 3 D
332 10
333 11
334 XXV
335 69
336 353
337 16 Pharm.
338 III Id April
339 11 April
340 21
341 1
342 4 C
343 11
344 12
345 XXVI
346 70
347 354
348 1 Pharm.
349 VI Kal. April
350 27 March
351 17
352 12
353 5 B
354 12
355 13
356 XXVII
357 71
358 355
359 21 Pharm.
360 XVI Kal. Mai
361 16 April
362 18
363 23
364 6 A
365 13
366 14
367 XXVIII
368 72
369 356
370 12 Pharm.
371 VII Id. April
372 7 April
373 17
374 4
375 1 F
376 14
377 15
378 XXIX
379 73
380 357
381 27 Phamth.
382 X Kal. April
383 23 March
384 17
385 15
386 2 E
387 15
388 16
389 XXX
390 74
391 358
392 17 Pharm.
393 Prid Id. April
394 12 April
395 17
396 26
397 3 D
398 1
399 17
400 XXXI
401 75
402 359
403 9 Pharm.
404 Prid. Non. April
405 4 April
406 20
407 7
408 4 C
409 2
410 18
411 XXXII
412 76
413 360
414 28 Pharm.
415 IX Kal. Mai
416 23 April
417 21
418 18
419 6 A
420 3
421 19
422 XXXIII
423 77
424 361
425 13 Pharm.
426 VI Id. April
427 8 April
428 17
429 29
430 7 G
431 4
432 1
433 XXXIV
434 78
435 362
436 5 Pharm.
437 Prid. Kal. April
438 31 March
439 25
440 Read Moon 20, Epact 11. 10
441 1 F
442 5
443 2
444 XXXV
445 79
446 363
447 25 Pharm.
448 XII Kal. Mai
449 20 April
450 20
451 21
452 2 E
453 6
454 3
455 XXXVI
456 80
457 364
458 9 Pharm.
459 Prid. Non. April
460 4 April
461 16
462 3
463 4 C
464 7
465 4
466 XXXVII
467 81
468 365
469 1 Pharm.
470 VI Kal. April
471 27 March
472 19
473 14
474 5 B
475 8
476 5
477 XXXVIII
478 82
479 366
480 21 Pharm.
481 XVI Kal. Mai
482 16 April
483 20
484 25
485 6 A
486 9
487 6
488 XXXIX
489 83
490 367
491 6 Pharm.
492 Kal. April
493 1 April
494 16
495 6
496 7 G
497 10
498 7
499 XL
500 84
501 368
502 25 Pharm.
503 XII Kal. Mai
504 20 April
505 16
506 17
507 2 E
508 11
509 8
510 XLI
511 85
512 369
513 17 Pharm.
514 Prid. Id. April
515 12 April
516 15
517 28
518 3 D
519 12
520 9
521 XLII
522 86
523 370
524 2 Pharm.
525 V Kal. April
526 28 March
527 15
528 9
529 4 C
530 13
531 10
532 XLIII
533 87
534 371
535 22 Pharm.
536 XV Kal. Mai
537 17 April
538 16
539 20
540 5 B
541 14
542 11
543 XLIV
544 88
545 372
546 13 Pharm.
547 VI Id. April
548 8 April
549 19
550 1
551 7 G
552 15
553 12
554 XLV
555 89
556 373
557 5 Pharm.
558 Prid. Kal. April
559 31 March
560 21
561 12
562 1 F
563 1
564 13