Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/497

This page has been validated.

THE EPISTLE OF MARIA THE PROSELYTE

TO IGNATIUS.



MARY OF CASSOBELÆ[1] TO IGNATIUS.


MARIA, a proselyte of Jesus Christ, to Ignatius Theophorus, most blessed bishop of the apostolic church which is at Antioch, beloved in God the Father, and Jesus: Happiness and safety. We all[2] beg for thee joy and health in Him.


Chap. i.Occasion of the epistle.

Since Christ has, to our wonder,[3] been made known among us to be the Son of the living God, and to have become man in these last times by means of the Virgin Mary, [4]of the seed of David and Abraham, according to the announcements previously made regarding Him and through Him by the company of the prophets, we therefore beseech and entreat that, by thy wisdom, Maris our friend, bishop of our native Neapolis,[5] which is near Zarbus,[6] and Eulogius, and Sobelus

  1. Nothing can be said with certainty as to the place here referred to. Some have conceived that the ordinary reading, Maria Cassobolita, is incorrect, and that it should be changed to Maria Castabalitis, supposing the reference to be to Castabala, a well-known city of Cilicia. But this and other proposed emendations rest upon mere conjecture.
  2. Some propose to read, "always."
  3. Or, "wonderfully."
  4. The ms. has, "and."
  5. The ms. has Ἠμελάπης, which Vossius and others deem a mistake for ἡμεδαπῆς, as translated above.
  6. The same as Azarbus (comp. Epist. to Hero, chap. ix.).

483