De epistolis S. Dionysii papae deperditis et suppositis (Epistolae IV–VII)

Letter IV.

A letter of Dionysius of Alexandria to Dionysius of Rome concerning Lucian is mentioned by Eusebius in book 7 of the History, chapter 9; nor do we know anything about that letter from any other source. Moreover, that Lucian about whom, or for whose sake, it had been written is believed to be the successor of Cyprian, whom Optatus mentions in book 1 in these words: 'The altar stood in its place, on which the peaceable bishops of past time made offering, Cyprian, Lucian and the rest.' And therefore a learned man judges, not without reason, that it was written so that unbroken peace might be preserved between the successors of Stephen and of Cyprian. For just as God earlier raised up at the same time both Victor, to defend the apostolic tradition concerning the day of Easter, and Irenaeus, to settle peace between the dissenting churches; so also, not without the will of God, Stephen presided over the Roman Church and Dionysius over the Alexandrian at the same time; but so that the former should be the champion of the divine tradition concerning baptism, the latter the mediator of ecclesiastical peace. But the conjectures made about this letter require that it be referred to the beginning of the pontificate of Dionysius of Rome.

V.

A letter of Dionysius, bishop of Rome, to the Church of Caesarea in Cappadocia is lacking, which Basil, bishop of that same city, testifies was preserved at Caesarea and was celebrated in the very memory of the elders (Basil, Letter 220, and Damasus, Letter 2, no. 3). With this letter, by which Dionysius consoled the afflicted Caesareans, he sent envoys to ransom their brethren from captivity and set them free. But this

captivity of the Caesareans, it is conjectured, took place after the year 260, in which Valerian was overthrown and captured by the Persians. For from that time the neighbouring provinces of the Romans began to lie open to the incursions of the barbarians. Specifically, Philostorgius, book 2, chapter 5, relates that the Scythians, that is, the Goths, about the year 264, made raids into the cities of Cappadocia and from there led away many captives with them.

VI.

In Eusebius, book 7, chapter 30, there is read a letter of the council of Antioch addressed "to Dionysius (the Roman), to Maximus (who had succeeded Dionysius of Alexandria), and to all fellow bishops, presbyters and deacons wherever they are in the whole world, and to the entire catholic Church", by which Paul of Samosata is announced as deposed from the episcopate and Domnus as appointed in his place. It is indeed copied out almost in its entirety by Eusebius; but since apart from the address it has nothing particular that pertains either to Dionysius or to his see, we consider it enough to point it out. Now the council of Antioch, from which it was written, Eusebius, book 2, chapter 29, says was held "in the times of the emperor Aurelian", who in fact succeeded Claudius II in the year 270, about the month of April. Hence it is believed to have been composed not long before the death of our Dionysius, or even after he had died, but when the news of his death had not yet reached Antioch.

VII.

To Pope Dionysius Isidore Mercator falsely ascribed two letters, one to Urban the prefect, the other to Severus the bishop, which are to be published in their place with the rest of the same craftsman's [fabrications].