Page 10 - Adiabene letters_Neat

I ,i<iti<rst( >ti n< Qataris 51

the Mazunayc,67 but also their descendants, if truly they shall have
sons who are wicked like them.
But I, unwilling to cutoff hope that they might rise up from
the death of this wickedness, sent officially two bishops from the
I luzayc68 to those (who live) in bars and two bishops of the
Mayshanoyc69 to your own, with my letters and those of the
universal synod; and I instructed them that they should deal with
those slayers of their own souls with the struggle of the spirit, until
Christ should be formed within them; and, that if they with the
hope of resurrection cut off, should have dared to fight against the
Church of Christ, they should shake the dust of their feet upon
them, as if over the tombs of the lost, and return to us, proclaiming
over their tombs their separation from the Church of God in this
world70 and in the world to come. These things we ordered to be
done in this way. And those indeed who were sent to the Persians,
set off there themselves. But those who were sent to you sent
others in their place.71 But now with what shame and derision72 and
blasphemy from Fars73 and Beth Qatraye74 they went forth, the
priests of God, who had been sent by die Church of God to
people who were supposed to be Christians, you have learnt better
than we have, if however you were concerned to know.
Since, however, your bishops-in-name were not satisfied with
impiety75 against the Church of God, they presented a public
display76 of their rebellion, which they brought against the supreme
authority77 of the Church of God, to the earthly rulers there and
even to the great ruler higher than the nilcrs of this age; and

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