Rescript of Theodosius in Favor of Faustinus and Marcellinus

Hail, Cynegius, most dear to us. Although no reverence ought to be greater in human hearts than that owed to the divine law, nor can anything be added to it, whose ambitious excellence, the ruler of world and earth, guards, propitiated by the favor of almighty God, everything which it willed to be under us; yet, our clemency having been appealed to by Faustinus and Marcellinus, priests most full of faith, we feared lest, if nothing had been answered by us to the petitioners, we should seem to be assenting to those who had added something to the divine law which we serve, contrary to our purpose. And therefore we so moderate both matters, that we revere the petition which has been presented; but as regards the faith, we wish nothing to be added from our own judgment, nor do we command it. No one has ever been of so profane a mind that, while he ought himself to follow catholic teachers, he should determine of his own accord what the teachers ought to follow.

And truly the praise of the prayer is worthy of approval and just, which has embraced almost the whole series and order of heretical superstition, which is contrary to the catholic faith. For it has laid open both whence it arose, and by what author it was advanced. Indeed, when, at the persuasion of certain men, the antiquity of the whole age having been changed, innocent men driven into exile for the faith laid down their lives with the highest praise. But vengeance was not delayed against those who, lying in wait for good morals and heavenly institutions, for a little while, out of contention—not of faith, but of faction—perverted the minds of many by a detestable insinuation. For the patience of almighty God was so far moved, that they felt, in the punishment owed to the guilty after the fact, an example of all things done before. But not even by this deed could they be turned and bent to the precept of God: they press upon, pursue, and assail catholics with secret machinations.

So great is the perseverance of their error, that they would rather sin daily with the followers of a different observance, than think rightly with catholics. In this the inference of the petitioners is praiseworthy, who, communicating with Gregory of Spain and Heraclides of the East, holy indeed and praiseworthy bishops, desire to live in the catholic faith without the assault or annoyance of anyone, and to be assailed by no plots or circumventions of those who lie in wait for them: since it pleases them to keep the faith once received with all devotion. Let it therefore remain inviolate, whatever has deserved to be eternal. Let no conspiracy, no plotting, no fraud of others attempt anything against it. Let them use, in whatever place they will, their own purpose; let them draw near to the catholic faith with divine love.

Cynegius, dearest and most loving father, let your sublimity so command that the precept of our serenity, whereby we venerate the catholic faith with all favor, and without which we cannot be safe, be observed, that it may protect and defend Gregory and Heraclides, prelates of the sacred law, and other priests like unto them who have given themselves to a like observance, from the injuries of wicked men and heretics, and let all know that this is settled in our mind, that we believe the worshippers of almighty God to be none other than catholics.