The Presbyters Project

Letter 51 to Eucherius and Galla

SANCTIS ET MERITO PRAEDICANDIS ATQVE VENERANDIS ET DILECTISSIMIS FILIIS EVCHERIO ET GALLAE PAVLINVS EPISCOPVS.

1. Benedictus dominus deus noster, qui dat uotum optanti et semper nostra superat uota uotis que respondet, qui insperanti mihi tam oportunam quam exoptatam occasionem praebere dignatus est per religiosos iuuenes, filios meos, conseruos uero communes in domino, Gelasium et Augendum et Tigridium, quos de sancto atque castissimo congregationis suae numero uir laudabilis et praeclarus in Christo, frater noster et conpresbyter meus, Honoratus ad humilitatem meam uestrae dilectionis exemplo refouendam domino inspirante direxit.

Paulinus recounts how a year ago he had learned from young monks sent to him by Eucherius about the islands of Lero (where Eucherius and Galla lived) and Lerina (where Honoratus dwelled).

(ed. de Hartel 1894: 423-424)

Letter 51 to Eucherius and Galla

BISHOP PAULINUS GREETS HIS HOLY AND BELOVED CHILDREN EUCHER AND GALLA, WHO ARE TRULY WORTHY OF PRAISE AND ESTEEM.

1. The blessed Lord our God, who grants the wishes of those who long for them, and who in answering our prayers always grants us more than we pray for, has deigned to proffer me unexpectedly a chance as apposite as it was desired. The opportunity has come through three young monks (religiosi iuuenes), my sons and fellow servants in the Lord, Gelasius, Augendus, and Tigridius. They were sent to my lowly self by my brother and co-presbyter (conpresbyter) Honoratus, a man deserving of praise and famed in Christ. The Lord inspired him to send these youths from his holy and most chaste community to give me new life, following the example of your own affection.

Paulinus recounts how a year earlier he had learned from young monks sent to him by Eucherius about the islands of Lero (where Eucherius and Galla lived) and Lerina (where Honoratus dwelled).

(trans. Walsh 1894: 2.293-294, slightly altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Paulinus' letter to Eucherius and Galla must have been written after 422 as Eucherius and Galla are said to have been living on the island of Lero for more than a year already (they settled there after 420) and before 428 when Presbyter Honoratus, founder of the monastery of the nearby island of Lerina (Lérins), became bishop of Arles.

Place of event:

Region

Italy south of Rome and Sicily
Gaul

City

Nola
Lérins

About the source:

Author: Paulinus of Nola
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Nola (Italy south of Rome and Sicily)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Paulinus of Nola (Pontius Metropius Paulinus) was born into a very affluent family ca 335. Although most of his estates were located near Bordeaux in Gaul, he was appointed the governor of Campania in his early twenties. He then returned to Gaul. In 389, after being baptized, Paulinus and his wife moved to Spain. They both started to follow a semi-monastic way of life. Following the death of his newborn son, Paulinus was ordered a presbyter at Christmas 394. In 395, Paulinus established a monastery in Nola in Campania. He served as a bishop of that city from 409 till his death in 431. Paulinus corresponded with many principal Christian intellectuals of the era, including Sulpicius Severus, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, and Augustine of Hippo. Of this rich epistolographic corpus, however, only fifty-one letters survived. For the list of all letters Paulinus sent as a presbyter, and their addressees, see [2059].

Edition:

G. de Hartel ed., S. Pontii Meropii Paulini Nolani opera, vol. 1 Epistulae, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum 29, Prague-Wien-Leipzig 1894.

Translation:

Letters of St. Paulinus of Nola, trans. P.G. Walsh, Ancient Christian Writers 35, New York 1966.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence

PR638.

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR269.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR638.

Described by a title - Titles of respect

PR638.

Monastic or common life - Cenobitic monk

PR638.

Monastic or common life - Monastic superior (abbot/prior)

PR638.

Reverenced by

PR638.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR638.

Described by a title - Conpresbyter

PR638.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2160, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2160