E00960: Pope Zosimus, in a letter written in Latin at Rome in 417 to Bishop Hilarius of Narbonne, justifies the primacy of the see of Arles over Narbonne (both southern Gaul) on the grounds that its founder, *Trophimus (reputed first bishop of Arles, S00617), was the first bishop in Gaul, and was sent by the see of Rome.

Epistolae Arelatenses 3 = Pope Zosimus, Letter 6 ('Mirati admodum', JK 332/JH 738)


ZOSIMUS HILARIO EPISCOPO NARBONENSI PRIME PROVINTIAE
Mirati admodum sumus, dum nobis studiosius requirentibus relatio tua de ordinandis in provintia Narbonensi prima sacerdotibus legeretur, quod, dum adsertioni et desideriis tuis copis esse consultum, praetermissa viri fide, relatione tua sub honestatis specie colorasti, asserens, in aliena provintia ab alio non debere fieri sacerdotes; cum utique debueris, non quid tibi rectum videatur, set, quid habuerit antiqua consuetudo, suggerere. Ideoque vacuatum eum, quod obtinuisse a sede apostolica subrepticie conprobaris, quia satis constitit, Arelatensis eclesie sacerdoti prisca id institutione concessum, ut non solum in provintia Viennensi, set etiam per duas Narbonenses episcopos faciat; nam sancte memorie Trophymus sacerdos quondam Arelatensi urbi ab apostolica sede transmissus ad illas regiones et tanti nominis reverentiam primus exibuit et in alias non inmerito ea qua acceperat auctoritate transfudit; adque hanc ordinandi consuetudinem et pontificatum loci illius, quem obtinuerat primus et iustus, custoditum usque in proximum tempus, gestis apud nos habitis multorum consacerdotum testimoniis adprobatur. Ergo licet sola, que in sede apostolica habita sunt, potuissent gesta sufficere, tamen etiam hac te auctoritate constringimus, ut praesumptioni tue, quam extulisse contra veterem consuetudinem videbaris, modum noveris iuste presscriptionis indictum, neque estimes tibi ulterius pontificatum de ordinandis sacerdotibus vindicandum, cum hoc videas Arelatensis episcopo civitatis et per apostolicam sedem et per sancti Trophymi reverentiam et per veterem consuetudinem et nostra recenti evidentissima definitione deferri. Si quid contra hec, frater carissime, que a nobis sunt sub Dei iudicio statuta, temtaveris: non solum, quos faciendos credideris, episcopatum optinere non posse, sed etiam ipse catholica communione discretus sero de inlicitis praesumptionibus ingemescas.
Data sub die VI. Kalendas Octobris, Onorio XI. et Constantio II. consulibus.


'ZOSIMUS TO HILARIUS BISHOP OF NARBONENSIS PRIMA
We were absolutely astonished, when your message to us, when we were urgently enquiring about ordinations of bishops in the province of Narbonensis Prima, was read, that while you wish your statement and your wishes to be taken seriously, you, ignoring true faith, have coloured your reply with the appearance of honesty, asserting that bishops should not be ordained in a different province by another [bishop], when in fact you ought to have suggested not what seems right to you, but what ancient tradition holds. That which you are shown to have obtained deceitfully from the Apostolic See is therefore rendered void, because it has been sufficiently established that this has been granted to the bishop of the church of Arles by an ancient arrangement: that he should ordain bishops not only in the province of Viennensis but also through the two provinces of Narbonensis. For Trophymus of holy memory, formerly bishop of the city of Arles, sent to those regions by the Apostolic See, both first displayed the reverence of such a great name, and not undeservedly passed on to others what he had received by that authority. And this practice of ordaining, and the pontificate of that place, which he had obtained first and justly, preserved into the most recent time, is proved in the acts [of a council] held by us by the testimony of many fellow-bishops.

Therefore, even though the acts [of the council] held in the Apostolic See would alone have been able to be sufficient, we also, however, bind you by this authority: that you should know that a measure of just limitation has been imposed on your presumption, which you appear to have raised against the old custom, and you should not consider that any further pre-eminence is to be claimed by you in ordaining bishops, since you should see that this is bestowed on the bishop of the city of Arles through the Apostolic See, and through reverence for Saint Trophymus, and through the old custom, and through our recent very clear ruling. If you attempt anything against these things, dearest brother, which have been established by us under the judgement of God, not only will those you believe should be made bishops be unable to obtain the episcopate, but also, cut off from catholic communion yourself, you may groan too late at your illicit presumptions.

Given on the 6th day before the Kalends of October in the 11th consulship of Honorius and the 2nd consulship of Constantius [26 September 417].'


Text: Gundlach 1892, 9-10. Translation: David Lambert.