SPURIA. — NOTICE.
Notice regarding the following letter to Theodore of Mopsuestia, whose ancient Latin version is presented here.
[530] The ancient Latin translation of this letter, which we provided in Greek and Latin in the third volume, p. 655, is held in a certain manuscript of our Saint-Germain library; it was announced in the catalogue of manuscripts, but the incorrectly given number of the manuscript brought no small amount of trouble and labor. For it is marked as Codex 727, in which not even a trace of this letter occurs; but finally, after much searching, it was found in Codex 326. It seemed best, however, to publish it here, because two difficulties had arisen concerning that letter, as we remarked in the notes to it, toward the resolution of which difficulties this ancient Latin translation brings great weight.
The first difficulty arises from the fact that the title of this letter, which is numbered 112, in all manuscripts and editions reads as follows: *To Theodorus the Bishop*; but the bishop of which city he was is not stated. Yet the almost unanimous opinion of scholars was that this Theodorus was the one from Mopsuestia. But in the Fifth Council, Labbe's Volume V, p. 490, it is denied that the person to whom this letter is sent is Theodorus of Mopsuestia. However, in our manuscript the title is: *John of Constantinople to Theodorus, Bishop of Mopsuestia*. Hence you may see that even in those early times that Bishop Theodorus was considered to be the one from Mopsuestia, which is also confirmed by the following annotation.
The second difficulty arises from the end of the letter, where it reads as follows in our edition: *οὐ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ καθήμενοι, καρπούμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν, ὅταν τοσοῦτον ἐν καρδίᾳ θησαυρὸν καὶ πλοῦτον ἀποκείμενον ἔχωμεν τῆς ἐγρηγορυίας καὶ γενναίας σου ψυχῆς τὴν ἀγάπην*: that is, "For not even placed in this solitude do we take an ordinary consolation, when we have such a treasure and wealth stored up in our heart—that is, the love of your watchful and noble soul." Moreover, we published this passage according to the fidelity of the editions of Fronton du Duc and Savile. But from the four manuscripts we used—namely, two Vatican, one Royal, and one Coislinian—the Royal and one Vatican have *ἐν καρδίᾳ θησαυρὸν*, as above; but the other two have *ἐν Κιλικίᾳ θησαυρὸν*. This reading is confirmed by our Saint-Germain Codex, in which is read: *such a treasure in Cilicia*. Facundus of Hermiane also favors this reading (lib. 7, cap. 7, p. 633, Sirmond ed., fol.), who also had read *ἐν Κιλικίᾳ*. Therefore, we proclaim this reading *ἐν Κιλικίᾳ*, which we suspected in a note there to be genuine, to be the true one, and we judge that it should be read precisely in this way. If, furthermore, this Theodorus was a bishop in Cilicia, he will undoubtedly be Marcus Mopsuestenus, which is also carried in the title in the Saint-Germain manuscript, *to Theodorus, Bishop of Mopsuestia*, since otherwise we know of no other bishop in Cilicia who was a friend of Chrysostom except Theodorus of Mopsuestia. Therefore, this reading should now be held as asserted and undoubted. Nevertheless, it must not be omitted, as Tillemont observes, that even if *ἐν καρδίᾳ* were read, this Theodorus must still necessarily be the Mopsuestian: for we know only two Theodori to whom this letter could have been sent, namely, the Mopsuestian in Cilicia and the Tyanian in Cappadocia. Chrysostom, however, does not appear to have been joined by any association to the Tyanian; but he had been a friend of Theodorus of Mopsuestia from boyhood.
*From MS Codex no. 326 of the Library of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which was transcribed in the ninth century.*
It begins: *John of Constantinople to Theodorus, Bishop of Mopsuestia.*
If it were indeed possible to come and embrace your reverence and charity, and to rejoice in it, we would do so with much speed and zeal: but since this does not lie within our power, we now fulfill this with a letter. For even if we should be led to the very ends of the world, we cannot forget the integrity and fervor of your love, and its sincerity without deceit, which is ancient and from the beginning, and which you have now shown. For it did not escape our notice how much you hastened to say and do for us, most honored and holy one. But even if nothing more has been done, you nevertheless have God as a debtor for your zeal and alacrity, and a full reward. We, however, do not rest, knowing the grace of your holiness, and proclaiming your reverence to all, and asking that the same love be kept flourishing in all things. For we do not sit in the wilderness [receiving] fortuitous fruits of intercession, when we possess such a treasure and recondite riches in Cilicia: this is your strong and watchful love of soul. Explicit.