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44. Ambrosius episcopus dixit: Attalus in tractatu concilii Nicaeni subscripsit. Neget factum, quia uenit ad concilium. Dicat hodie utrum suscripserit in tractatu concilii Nicaeni an non. - Cumque Attalus reticeret, Ambrosius episcopus dixit: Attalus presbyter, licet inter arrianos sit, tamen habet auctoritatem loquendi. Libere profiteatur utrum suscripserit in tractatu concilii Nicaeni sub episcopo suo Agripino an non.

Attalus dixit: Iam dixisti me aliquotiens damnatum. Non tibi respondeo.

45. Palladius dixit: Modo uultis tractatum haberi plenum an non?

Cromatius presbyter dixit: Creaturam non negasti, potentem negasti. Omnia negasti quae fides catholica profitetur.

Sabinus episcopus dixit: Testes sumus nos Attalum suscripsisse in concilio Nicaeno et nunc nolle respondere. Quid cunctis uidetur?

Cumque Attalus reticeret, Ambrosius episcopus dixit: Dicat utrum suscripserit in tractatu concilii Nicaeni aut non.

Follows the request of Palladius to provide the stenographers representing both sides, and not only Nicene one. Further he also requests independent observers.

(Gryson 362, 364)

44. Bishop Ambrose said: Attalus signed the creed of the council of Nicaea. He denies that he came to the council. He shall say today whether or not he signed the document of the council of Nicaea or not. When Attalus was silent, Bishop Ambrose said: Attalus, presbyter, though he was among the Arians, has the authority to speak. Let him freely say whether he signed the documents of the council of Nicaea, when representing his bishop Agripinus, or not.

Attalus said: You have already declared me condemned a few times. I do not answer to you.

45. Palladius said: Would you like the council to be plenary or not?

Presbyter Cromatius said: You did not deny that [the Son] is a creature, and you denied that he is powerful. You denied everything that the Catholic faith professes.

Bishop Sabinus said: We are witnesses that Attalus subscribed the creed of the council of Nicaea and now he does not want to answer. How does it look to you all?

When Attalus was silent, Bishop Ambrose said: Let him say whether he subscribed the creed of the council of Nicaea or not.

Now follows the request of Palladius to provide the stenographers representing both sides, and not only the Nicenes. Further he also requests independent observers.

(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia

City

Aquileia

About the source:

Title: Acts of the council of Aquileia 381 AD, Gesta episcoporum Aquilea adversum haereticos Arrianos
Origin: Aquileia (Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Council of Aquileia gathered on 3 September 381. It was probably at first designed as a general council of the Western and Eastern bishops, and the Homoian bishop of Ratiaria (Dacia) received from the Emperor Gratian (367–383) the assertion that the Eastern bishops would be present, some of whom were also Homoian and could support Palladius against Ambrose of Milan. Ambrose, however, persuaded the emperor to summon only Italian bishops (Gryson 1980: 121–124). The council eventually condemned Arianism bishops Palladius of Ratiaria, Secundianus of Singidunum (in Moesia; today`s Belgrade), and the presbyter Attalus.

The acts of the council were written down in shorthand by the stenographers provided by the Nicene party (see also McLynn 1994: 112–113, 123–126).

Edition:

R. Gryson ed., Scolies ariennes sur le concile d’Aquilée, Sources Chrétiennes 267, Paris 1980, 331–383.

Bibliography:

N. McLynn, Ambrose of Milan: church and court in a Christian capital, Berkeley 1994.

Categories:

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Arian

PR494.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ecclesiastical administration - Participation in councils and ecclesiastical courts

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR494.

Education - Theological interest

PR494.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER921, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=921