VII Id. April
7 April
17
1
1 F
7
12
VII
51
335
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
30 March
20
12
2 E
8
13
VIII
52
336
23 Pharm.
XIV Kal. Mai
18 April
20
23
4 C
9
14
IX
53
337
8 Pharm.
III Non. April
3 April
16
4
5 B
10
15
X
54
338
30 Pham^th.
VII Kal. April
26 March
18½
15
6 A
11
16
XI
55
339
20 Pharm.
XVII Kal. Mai
15 April
20
26
7 G
12
17
XII
56
340
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
30 March
15
7
2 E
13
18
XIII
57
341
24 Pharm.
XIII Kal. Mai
19 April
16
18
3 D
14
19
XIV
58
342
16 Pharm.
III Id. April
11 April
16
29
4 C
15
1
XV
59
343
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
15
11
5 B
1
2
XVI
60
344
20 Pharm.
XVII Kal. Mai
15 April
19
21
7 G
2
3
XVII
61
345
12 Pharm.
VII Id. April
7 April
19
3
1 F
3
4
XVIII
62
346
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
[3820] 30 March
21
14
2 E
4
5
XIX
63
347
17 Pharm.
Prid. Id. April
12 April
15
25
3 D
5
6
XX
64
348
8 Pharm.
III Non. April
3 April
18
6
5 B
6
7
XXI
65
349
30 Pham^th.
VII Kal. April
[3821] 26 March
19
17
6 A
7
8
XXII
66
350
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
19
28
7 G
8
9
XXIII
67
351
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
18
9
1 F
9
10
XXIV
68
352
24 Pharm.
XIII Kal. Mai
19 April
18
20
3 D
10
11
XXV
69
353
16 Pharm.
III Id April
11 April
21
1
4 C
11
12
XXVI
70
354
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
17
12
5 B
12
13
XXVII
71
355
21 Pharm.
XVI Kal. Mai
16 April
18
23
6 A
13
14
XXVIII
72
356
12 Pharm.
VII Id. April
7 April
17
4
1 F
14
15
XXIX
73
357
27 Pham^th.
X Kal. April
23 March
17
15
2 E
15
16
XXX
74
358
17 Pharm.
Prid Id. April
12 April
17
26
3 D
1
17
XXXI
75
359
9 Pharm.
Prid. Non. April
4 April
20
7
4 C
2
18
XXXII
76
360
28 Pharm.
IX Kal. Mai
23 April
21
18
6 A
3
19
XXXIII
77
361
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
17
29
7 G
4
1
XXXIV
78
362
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
25
[3822] 10
1 F
5
2
XXXV
79
363
25 Pharm.
XII Kal. Mai
20 April
20
21
2 E
6
3
XXXVI
80
364
9 Pharm.
Prid. Non. April
4 April
16
3
4 C
7
4
XXXVII
81
365
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
19
14
5 B
8
5
XXXVIII
82
366
21 Pharm.
XVI Kal. Mai
16 April
20
25
6 A
9
6
XXXIX
83
367
6 Pharm.
Kal. April
1 April
16
6
7 G
10
7
XL
84
368
25 Pharm.
XII Kal. Mai
20 April
16
17
2 E
11
8
XLI
85
369
17 Pharm.
Prid. Id. April
12 April
15
28
3 D
12
9
XLII
86
370
2 Pharm.
V Kal. April
28 March
15
9
4 C
13
10
XLIII
87
371
22 Pharm.
XV Kal. Mai
17 April
16
20
5 B
14
11
XLIV
88
372
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
19
1
7 G
15
12
XLV
89
373
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
21
12
1 F
1
13
[3812] So Leo Magnus (Ep. ad Marcian. Imp.) apud Ægyptios huius supputationis antiquitus tradita peritia.'
[3813] We trace differences of opinion in spite of the authority of the Alexandrian Pope in Index' xii, xv, xxi, and Ep. 18.
[3814] Further details in Migne, P.G. xxvi. 1339 sqq. and Preface (by Williams?) to Oxford Transl. of Fest. Epp. (Parker, 1854.)
[3815] The 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.).
[3816] The italics are ours. Cf. Rufin. H. E. ii. 3, xlvi anno sacerdotii sui.'
[3817] Some 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 17^b, and p. 527, note 1.
[3818] Misunderstood by Hefele, vol. ii. p. 88 (E. Tra.).
[3819] According to the usual Antegregorian rule, Easter would fall on April 22.
[3820] According to the usual rule, Easter would fall on March 23; see Letter 18, note 3.
[3821] 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.
[3822] Read Moon 20, Epact 11.
Index.
An Index of the months of each year, and of the days, and of the Indictions, and of the Consulates, and of the Governors in Alexandria, and of all the Epacts, and of those [days] which are named of the Gods [3823] ,' and the reason [any Letter] was not sent, and the returns from exile [3824] --from the Festal Letters of Pope Athanasius.
The Festal Letters of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, which he sent year by year, to the several cities and all the provinces subject to him; that is, from Pentapolis, and on to Libya, Ammoniaca, the greater and the lesser Oasis, Egypt, and Augustamnica, with the Heptanomis of [3825] the upper and middle Thebais; [commencing] from the 44th [3826] year of the Diocletian Era, in which the Paschal Festival was on xvi [3827] Pharmuthi; xviii Kal. Mai; xviii Moon; when Alexander, his predecessor, having departed this life on xxii Pharmuthi [3828] , he [Athan.] succeeded him after the Paschal festival on xiv Pauni, Indict. i, Januarius and Justus being Consuls, the governor Zenius of Italy being the Præfect of Egypt, Epact xxv; Gods, i.
I. (Aug. 29, 328, to Aug. 28, a.d. 329.) In this year, Easter-day was on xi Pharmuthi; viii. Id. Ap.; xxii Moon; Coss. Constantinus Aug. viii, Constantinus Cæs. IV; the same governor Zenius being Præfect of Egypt; Indict. ii; Epact vi; Gods, ii. This was the first Letter he [Athan.] sent; for he was ordained Bishop in the preceding year after the Paschal feast, Alexander, as is known, having despatched one for that year, before he was released from life. This was in the 45th of the Diocletian era.
II. (329-330.) In this year, Easter-day was on xxiv Pharmuthi; xiii Kal. Mai; xv Moon; Coss. Gallicianus, Symmachus; the governor Magninianus the Cappadocian being Præfect of Egypt; Indict. iii; Epact xvii; Gods, iii. In this year he went through the Thebais.
III. (330-331.) In this year, Easter-day was on xvi Pharmuthi; xviii Moon; iii Id. Ap.; Coss. Annius Bassus, Ablavius; the governor Hyginus [3829] of Italy, Præfect of Egypt; Epact xxviii; Indict. iv. He sent this Letter while journeying on his return from the Imperial Court. For in this year he went to the Imperial Court to the Emperor Constantine the Great, having been summoned before him, on account of an accusation his enemies made, that he had been appointed when too young. He appeared, was thought worthy of favour and honour, and returned [3830] when the fast was half finished.
IV. (331-332.) In this year, Easter-day was on xvii [3831] Pharmuthi; xx Moon; iv Non. Apr.; Epact ix; Gods, vi; Coss. Pacatianus, Hilarianus; the same governor Hyginus, Præfect of Egypt; Indict. v. In this year he went through Pentapolis, and was in Ammoniaca.
V. (332-333.) In this year, Easter-day was on xx Pharmuthi; xv Moon; xvii Kal. Mai; Epact xx; Gods, vii; Coss. Dalmatius, Zenophilus; the governor Paternus [3832] , Præfect of Egypt; Indict. vi.
VI. (333-334.) In this year, Easter-day was on xii Pharmuthi; xvii Moon; vii Id. Apr.; Indict. vii; Epact i; Gods, i; Coss. Optatus, Paulinus; the same governor Paternus [3833] Præfect of Egypt. In this year he went through the lower country. In it he was summoned to a Synod, his enemies having previously devised mischief against him in Cæsarea of Palestine; but becoming aware of the conspiracy, he excused himself from attending.
VII. (334-335.) In this year, Easter-day was on xiv [3834] Pharmuthi; xx Moon; iii Kal. Ap.; Indict. viii; Epact xii; Gods, ii; Coss. Constantius [3835] , Albinus; the same governor Paternus, Præfect of Egypt.
VIII. (335-336.) In this year, Easter-day was on xxiii Pharmuthi, xx Moon; xiv Kal. Mai; Indict. ix; Epact xxiii; Gods, iv; Coss. Nepotianus, Facundus; the governor Philagrius, the Cappadocian, Præfect of Egypt. In this year he went to that Synod of his enemies which was assembled at Tyre. Now he journeyed from this place on xvii Epiphi [3836] , but when a discovery was made of the plot against him, he removed thence and fled in an open boat to Constantinople. Arriving there on ii Athyr [3837] , after eight days he presented himself before the Emperor Constantine, and spoke plainly. But his enemies, by various secret devices, influenced the Emperor, who suddenly condemned him to exile, and he set out on the tenth of Athyr [3838] to Gaul, to Constans Cæsar, the son of Augustus. On this account he wrote no Festal Letter.
IX. (336-7.) In this year, Easter-day was on viii Pharmuthi; xvi Moon; iv [3839] Non. Ap.; Indict. x; Epact iv; Gods, v; Coss. Felicianus, Titianus; the governor Philagrius, the Cappadocian, Præfect of Egypt. He was in Treviri of Gaul, and on this account was unable to write a Festal Letter.
X. (337-8.) In this year, Easter-day was on xxx Phamenoth; vii Kal. Ap.; xix [3840] Moon, Indict. xi; Epact xv; Gods, vi; Coss. Ursus, Polemius; the governor Theodorus [3841] , of Heliopolis, Præfect of Egypt. In this year, Constantine having died on xxvii Pachon [3842] , Athanasius, now liberated, returned from Gaul triumphantly on xxvii [3843] Athyr. In this year, too, there were many events. Antony, the great leader, came to Alexandria, and though he remained there only two days, shewed himself wonderful in many things, and healed many. He went away on the third of Messori. [3844]
XI. (338-9.) In this year, Easter-day was on xx Pharmuthi; xx Moon; xvii Kal. Mai; Epact xxvi; Gods, vii; Indict. xii; Coss. Constantius II, Constans I [3845] ; the governor Philagrius, the Cappadocian, Præfect of Egypt. In this year, again, there were many tumults. On the xxii Phamenoth [3846] he was pursued in the night, and the next day he fled from the Church of Theonas, after he had baptized many. Then, four days after, Gregorius the Cappadocian entered the city as Bishop.
XII. (339-340.) In this year, Easter-day was on xiv [3847] Pharmuthi; xv Moon; iii Kal. Ap.; Epact vii; Gods, ii; Indict. xiii; Coss. Acyndinus, Proclus; the same governor Philagrius, Præfect of Egypt. Gregorius continued his acts of violence, and therefore [Ath.] wrote no Festal Letter. The Arians proclaimed [Easter] on xxvii Phamenoth, and were much ridiculed on account of this error. Then altering it in the middle of the fast, they kept it with us on iv [3848] Pharmuthi, as above. He [Athanasius] gave notice of it to the presbyters of Alexandria in a short note, not being able to send a letter as usual, on account of his flight and the treachery.
XIII. (340-341.) In this year, Easter-day was on xxiv Pharmuthi; xvi Moon; xiii. Kal. Mai; Epact xviii; Gods, iii; Indict. xiv; Coss. Marcellinus, Probinus; the governor Longinus, of Nicæa, Præfect of Egypt. Augustamnica was separated. [3849] On account of Gregorius continuing in the city, and exercising violence, although this illness commenced, the Pope did not write a Festal Letter even this time [3850] .
XIV. (341-2.) In this year, Easter-day was on xvi Pharmuthi; xx [3851] Moon; iii Id. Ap.; Epact xxix; Gods, iv; Indict. xv; Coss. Constantius III, Constans II; the governor Longinus of Nicæa, Præfect of Egypt. Because Gregorius was in the city, [though] severely ill, the Pope was unable to send [any Letter].
XV. (342-3.) In this year, Easter-day was on i Pharmuthi; xv Moon; vi Kal. Ap.; Epact xi; Gods, v; Indict. i; Coss. Placidus, Romulus; the same governor Longinus, of Nicæa, Præfect of Egypt. In this year the Synod of Sardica was held [3852] ; and when the Arians had arrived, they returned to Philippopolis, for Philagrius gave them this advice there. In truth, they were blamed everywhere, and were even anathematised by the Church of Rome, and having written a recantation to Pope Athanasius, Ursacius and Valens were put to shame. There was an agreement made at Sardica respecting Easter, and a decree was issued to be binding for fifty years, which the Romans and Alexandrians everywhere announced in the usual manner. Again he [Athan.] wrote a Festal Letter.