And if, in fine, he does not attain to this, at least he ought not to give any countenance to the worship of idols and to profane ceremonies. Now everyone is a soldier of this true God, and he who receives and worships Him in his inmost spirit, does not bring to His service dissimulation, or pretence, but earnest faith and devotion. For salvation is not sure unless everyone worship in truth the true God, that is the God of the Christians, under Whose sway are all things for He alone is the true God, Who is to be worshipped from the bottom of the heart for "the gods of the heathen," as Scripture says, "are devils," 1Ģ. As all men who live under the Roman sway engage in military service under you, the Emperors and Princes of the world, so too do you yourselves owe service to Almighty God and our holy faith. He warns Valentinian that if he accedes to the request he will incur the censures of the Church, besides acting in a manner derogatory to the memory of his father and brother.Īmbrose, Bishop, to the most blessed Prince and most Christian Emperor Valentinian.ġ. The memorial was sent without the adhesion of the Christian senators, and therefore did not represent that body.
Ambrose presses on the Emperor the consideration that it is his business to defend religion, and not superstition. This Epistle was written when Symmachus sent his memorial to Valentinian II. The three Epistles or rather "Memorials" which follow refer to this part of the death-struggle of paganism. It may be mentioned that though a heathen he was on intimate terms with Damasus, St. They were once more removed by Gratian, and then the action of Symmachus comes in. Valentinian I tolerated them, but possibly (at any rate for some time), as St. 356, but were restored by Julian with other heathen symbols and rites. The statue and Altar of Victory in question had been first removed by Constantius, son of Constantine, when at Rome, A.D. Probably Symmachus made a final attempt in 403 or 404, but fruitlessly. In the next year, Eugenius, who had been made Emperor by Flavian and Arbogastes, restored the Altar of Victory, which however was finally removed by Theodosius after the defeat of Eugenius and Arbogastes. It would seem that he took part in missions for the same purpose to Theodosius after the defeat of Maximus, and to Valentinian II. In 384 the attempt was repeated, and these letters or memorials have to do with this application to Valentinian II., the brother of Gratian, who was now Emperor of the West this attempt was also foiled. There was a counter-petition on the part of the Christian senators forwarded through Pope Damasus, and Gratian refused to receive the deputation. 382 he headed a deputation of the Senate to the Emperor Gratian to request the replacement of the Altar of Victory in the Senate House, and the restoration of their endowments to the Vestal Virgins and the colleges of priests.
He was perhaps the leading man of the day at Rome, equally renowned as a statesman, a scholar, and an orator. There was a determined move on the part of Symmachus, Prefect of the city, and other heathen to regain the observances of their religion. Rome expects this of them, and no injury can accrue to the treasury in consequence, whereas it is unjust to confiscate legacies to the Vestal Virgins and ancient rites.
He argues that the example of former Emperors should be followed as to the things which they retained, not which their abolished. Symmachus in the name of the heathen members of the Senate asks that the Altar of Victory, which had been removed by Gratian, should be restored in the Senate House, and that oaths should be taken there as of old. MEMORIAL OF SYMMACHUS, THE PREFECT OF THE CITY
0 kommentar(er)
