Letter 20: To the Presbyter Martyrius.
To the Presbyter Martyrius.
Natural character makes its appearance in us before deliberate virtue, and in that sense leads the way — but character can be surpassed by resolution. The gifted orator Athanasius is a living proof of this. Though Egyptian by birth, he has none of the lack of self-mastery that is associated with Egypt — instead he displays a temper disciplined by gentleness, and above all an ardent love of sacred things. This is why he has spent so many days with me, hoping to gain something from the stay.
As you know well, my dearest friend in God, I shrink from imagining that I can draw good from others or impart good to those who seek it from me — not from unwillingness to give, but because I simply do not have it to give. Please pray that what is said of me may be confirmed by fact, and that the good report may be matched by the reality.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Original text not yet available in this corpus.
This letter still needs a Latin or Greek source-text backfill. The source link, when available, is preserved so the text can be checked and added later.
View sourceRevision history
- 2026-05-27v2.2.34-import
Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.
Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2707020.htm
Related Letters
To the Presbyter Agapius,
1. As time moves on, it continually confirms the opinion which I have long held of your holiness; or rather that opinion is strengthened by the daily course of events. Most men are indeed satisfied with observing, each one, what lies especially within his own province; not thus is it with you, but your anxiety for all the Churches is no less tha...
1. I have received your reverence's letter and I am delighted at the title which you have felicitously applied to the writing which they have composed in calling it a writing of divorcement. Matthew 19:7 What defense the writers will be able to make before the tribunal of Christ, where no excuse will avail, I am quite unable to conceive.
When I turn my gaze upon the world, and perceive the difficulties by which every effort after good is obstructed, like those of a man walking in fetters, I am brought to despair of myself. But then I direct my gaze in the direction of your reverence; I remember that our Lord has appointed you to be physician of the diseases in the Churches; and ...
In my former letter it seemed to me sufficient to point out to your excellency, that all that portion of the people of the holy Church of Antioch who are sound in the faith, ought to be brought to concord and unity. My object was to make it plain that the sections, now divided into several parts, ought to be united under the God-beloved bishop M...