Or Chronicon Athanasianum.
The latter document is from the hand, it would seem, of the original collector of the Easter Letters of Athanasius (yet see infr. note 6a). He gives, in a paragraph corresponding to each Easter in the episcopate of Athanasius, a summary of the calendar data for the year, a notice of the most important events, and especially particulars as to the Letter for the Easter in question, viz., Whether any peculiar circumstances attended its publication, and whether for some reason the ordinary Letter was omitted.
The variations of practice which had rendered the Paschal Feast a subject of controversy from very early times (see Dict. Christ. Antiq. Easter) had given rise to the custom of the announcement of Easter at a convenient interval beforehand by circular letters. In the third century the Bishops of Alexandria issued such letters (e.g. Dionysius in Eus. H. E. vii.20), and at the Council of Nicæa, where the Easter question was dealt with (ad Afros.2), the Alexandrian see was requested to undertake the duty of announcing the correct date to the principal foreign Churches as well as to its own suffragan sees. (This is doubted in the learned article Paschal Letters D.C.A. p.1562, but the statement of Cyril. Alex. in his Prologus Paschalis' is express: cf. Ideler 2, 259. The only doubt is, whether the real reference is to Sardica, see Index xv. and Ep.18.) This was probably due to the astronomical learning for which Alexandria was famous . At any rate we have fragments of the Easter letters of Dionysius and of Theophilus, and a collection of the Letters of Cyril .
The Easter letters of Athanasius were, until 1842, only known to us by allusions in Jerome (de V. illustr.87) and others, and by fragments in Cosmas Indicopleustes purporting to be taken from the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 40th, and 45th. Cardinal Mai had also shortly before the discovery of the Corpus' unearthed a minute fragment of the 13th. But in 1842 Archdeacon Tattam brought home from the Monastery of the Theotokos in the desert of Skete a large number of Syriac mss., which for over a century European scholars had been vainly endeavouring to obtain. Among these, when deposited in the British Museum, Cureton discovered a large collection of the Festal Letters of Athanasius, with the Index,' thus realising the suspicion of Montfaucon (Migne xxvi.) that the lost treasure might be lurking in some Eastern monastery. Another consignment of mss. from the same source produced some further portions, which were likewise included in the translation revised for the present volume .
(1) Number of Festal Letters of Athanasius. -- This question, which is of first-rate importance for the chronology of the period, must be regarded as settled, at any rate until some discovery which shall revolutionise all existing data. The number 45, which was the maximum known to antiquity , is confirmed by the Index, and by the fact that the citations from Cosmas (see above) tally with the order of the Letters in this Syriac version in every case where the letter is preserved entire, while Letter 39, preserved by a different writer, also tallies with the reference to it in the Index. It is therefore unassailably established on our existing evidence that the last Easter letter of Ath. was his 45th,' in other words that 45 is the full or normal number of his festal letters. This clinches the reckoning of the Index and Hist. Aceph. that he was bishop for 45 Easters (329-373 inclusive), i.e. for parts of 46 years (328-373 inclusive). Moreover it corroborates, and is rivetted firm by, the statement of Cyril. Alex. Ep.1, that Athan. graced the see of Alexandria fully 46 years.' Il le dit en voulant faire son eloge: de sorte qu'il y a tout lieu de croire qu'il n'a point passé les 46 ans: car pour peu qu'il fust entré dans la 47^me année, S. Cyrille auroit dû naturellement luy donner 47 ans .' So Tillemont (viii.719), whose opinion is all the more valuable from the fact that he is unable to harmonise it with his date for the accession of Ath., and accordingly forgets, p.720 (sub. fin.), what he has said on the previous page.
But we observe that many of the 45 Letters are represented in the corpus' by blanks. This is doubtless often the result of accidental loss. But the Index informs us that in several years, owing to his adversities, the Pope was unable to write.' This however may be fairly understood to refer to the usual public or circular letter. Often when unable to write this, he sent a few cordial lines to some friend (Letter 12) or to the clergy (17, 18) or people (29? see notes there) of Alexandria, in order that the true Easter might be kept (cf. the Arian blunder in 340, Ind. xii, with the note to Serapion Letter 12 from Rome). But occasionally the Index is either corrupt or mistaken, e.g. No. xiii, where the Pope is stated to have written no letter, while yet the Corpus' contains one, apparently entire and of the usual public kind. We may therefore still hope for letters or fragments for any of the missing' years.
(2) The Festal Letters are fully worthy to rank with any extant writings of Athanasius. The same warmth, vigour, and simplicity pervades them as we find elsewhere in his writings, especially in such gems as the letter to Dracontius (Ep.49). Their interest, however (apart from chronology), is mainly personal and practical. Naturally the use and abuse of Fast and Festival occupy a prominent place throughout. Repeatedly he insists on the joyfulness of Christian feasts, and on the fact that they are typical of, and intended to colour, the whole period of the Christian's life. We gather from Ep.12 that Lent was kept less strictly in Egypt than in some other Christian countries. He insists not only upon fasting, but upon purity and charity, especially toward the poor (Ep.1.11, cf. Ep.47.4, &c.). We trace the same ready command of Scripture, the same grave humour in the unexpected turn given to some familiar text (Ep.39) as we are used to in Athanasius. The Eucharist is a feeding upon the Word (4.3), and to be prepared for by amendment of life, repentance, and confession of sin (i.e. to God, Ep.7.10). Of special importance is the Canon of Holy Scripture in Ep.39, on which see Prolegg. ch. iv § 4.
It should be observed that the interval before Easter at which notice was given varied greatly. Some letters (e.g.1, 2, 20) by a natural figure of speech, refer to the Feast as actually come; but others (17, 18) were certainly written as early as the preceding Easter. Letter 4 was written not long before Lent, but was (§ 1) unusually late. The statement of Cassian referred to below (note to Ep.17) is therefore incorrect at any rate for our period.
(3) The Index to the Festal Letters. -- This chronicle, so constantly referred to throughout this volume, is of uncertain date, but probably (upon internal evidence) only somewhat later' (Hefele, E. Tr. vol. ii. p.50) than Athanasius himself. Its special value is in the points where it agrees with the Hist. Aceph. (supr. Prolegg. ch. v.), where we recognise the accredited reckoning of the Alexandrian Church as represented by Cyril and Proterius (see Tillem. ubi supr.). The writer undoubtedly makes occasional slips (cf. Index iii. with Letter iv. and p.512, note 1, Index xiii. with Letter xiii.!), and the text would be a miracle if it had come down to us uncorrupt (see notes passim): but on the main dates he is consistent with himself, with the Chron. Aceph. and (so far as they come in contact) with the notices of the Alexandrian bishops above mentioned.
The writer's method, however, must be attended to if we are to avoid a wrong impression as to his accuracy. Firstly, his year is not the Julian but the Egyptian year (infr. Table C) from Aug.29 to Aug.28. Each year is designated by the new consuls who come into office in the fifth month. Secondly, in each year he takes a leading event or events, round which he groups antecedent or consequent facts, which often belong to other years. Two or three examples will make this clear. (a) Year Aug.30, 335-Aug.28, 336: leading event, exile of Athanasius (he reaches CP. Oct.30, 335, leaves for Gaul [Feb.7], both in the same Egyptian year). Antecedent: His departure for Tyre July 11, 335, at end of previous Egyptian Year. (b) The eventful' year Aug.337-Aug.338: leading event, triumphant return of Athanasius from Gaul, Oct.21, 337. Antecedent: death of Constantine on previous 22nd of May (i.e.337 ). (g) Year 342-3: leading event, Council of Sardica (summons issued, at any rate, before end of Aug.343). Consequent events: temporary collapse of Arian party and recantation of Ursacius and Valens (344-347? Further examples in Gwatkin, Studies, p.105). Bearing this in mind, the discriminating student will derive most important help from the study of the Index: when its data agree with those derived from other good sources, they must be allowed first-rate authority. This is the principle followed in the Prolegomena (ch. v.) and throughout this volume. On the main points in dispute, as strewn above, we have to reckon with a compact uniform chronological system, checked and counter-checked by careful calculations (Hist. Aceph.), and transmitted by two independent channels; in agreement, moreover, as concerns the prior and posterior limits, with the reckoning adopted by the successors of Athanasius in the see.
N.B. -- The translation of the Index and Festal Letters is revised by Miss Payne Smith from that contained in the Oxford Library of the Fathers.' A German translation by Larsow was published at Berlin 1852. The Latin Version (from an Italian translation) of Card. Mai is in Migne, xxvi.1351 sqq.
The following Tables bear specially on the Festal Index.
Table C. The Egyptian Year.
After the final settlement of Egypt by Augustus as a province of the Roman Empire, the use of the Julian form of computation was established in Alexandria, the first day of the new Calendar being fixed to the 28th of August, the 1st of Thot of the year in which the innovation took place; from which period, six, instead of five, supplementary days were added at the end of every fourth year; so that the form of the Alexandrian year was as follows. The months from Phamenoth 5 (Mar.1) onwards are unaffected by leap-year.
Thot
29 August
Pharmuthi
27 March
Paophi
28 September
Pachon
26 April
Athyr
28 October
Paoni (Payni)
26 May
Choiak
27 November
Epiphi
25 June
Tybi
27 December
Mesori
25 July
Mechir
26 January
Epagomena
24 August
Phamenoth
25 February
N.B. -- In leap-years, the Diocletian year (see p.503, note 4) began on the previous Aug.30, which was accordingly the First of Thot, owing to the additional epagomenon' which preceded it. Accordingly all the months to Phamenoth inclusive begin a day late. Then, the Julian intercalary day coming in as Feb.29, Pharmuthi and the succeeding months begin as shewn above. (See Ideler, vol. I, pp.161, 164, also 140, 142.)
Table D. Of the Chronological Information Given in the Index to the Paschal Letters.
N.B. -- The Year of our Lord, the Golden Numbers, and Dominical Letter, and the date of Easter according to the Modern Reckoning, are added. The age of the Moon on Easter-day is apparently given from observations or reckoned by some lost system (see Index x. xxii.); in about one case out of three it varies from the modern reckoning, perhaps once or twice from corruption of text. The Epact is a day too little for 342, 344, 361, 362, 363 (see Galle in Larsow;. F.B.48, sqq.).
Easter Day.
Number of Letter.
Year of Diocl.
Year of our Lord.
Egyptian Calendar.
Roman Calendar.
Modern Reckon-ing.
Day of Lunar Month.
Epact (age of Moon on Mar.22).
Sunday Letter and Concur-rentes.
Indict^n.
Golden Num-bers.
...
44
328
19 Pharm.
XVIII Kal. Mai
14 April
18
25
1 F
1
6
I
45
329
11 Pharm.
VIII Id. April
6 April
22
6
2 E
2
7
II
46
330
24 Pharm.
XIII Kal. Mai
19 April
15
17
3 D
3
8
III
47
331
16 Pharm.
III Id. April
11 April
18
28
4 C
4
9
IV
48
332
7 Pharm.
IV Non. April
2 April
20
9
6 A
5
10
V
49
333
20 Pharm.
XVI I Kal. Mai
15 April
15
20
7 G
6
11
VI
50
334
12 Pharm.
VII Id. April
7 April
17
1
1 F
7
12
VII
51
335
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
30 March
20
12
2 E
8
13
VIII
52
336
23 Pharm.
XIV Kal. Mai
18 April
20
23
4 C
9
14
IX
53
337
8 Pharm.
III Non. April
3 April
16
4
5 B
10
15
X
54
338
30 Pham^th.
VII Kal. April
26 March
18½
15
6 A
11
16
XI
55
339
20 Pharm.
XVII Kal. Mai
15 April
20
26
7 G
12
17
XII
56
340
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
30 March
15
7
2 E
13
18
XIII
57
341
24 Pharm.
XIII Kal. Mai
19 April
16
18
3 D
14
19
XIV
58
342
16 Pharm.
III Id. April
11 April
16
29
4 C
15
1
XV
59
343
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
15
11
5 B
1
2
XVI
60
344
20 Pharm.
XVII Kal. Mai
15 April
19
21
7 G
2
3
XVII
61
345
12 Pharm.
VII Id. April
7 April
19
3
1 F
3
4
XVIII
62
346
4 Pharm.
III Kal. April
30 March
21
14
2 E
4
5
XIX
63
347
17 Pharm.
Prid. Id. April
12 April
15
25
3 D
5
6
XX
64
348
8 Pharm.
III Non. April
3 April
18
6
5 B
6
7
XXI
65
349
30 Pham^th.
VII Kal. April
26 March
19
17
6 A
7
8
XXII
66
350
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
19
28
7 G
8
9
XXIII
67
351
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
18
9
1 F
9
10
XXIV
68
352
24 Pharm.
XIII Kal. Mai
19 April
18
20
3 D
10
11
XXV
69
353
16 Pharm.
III Id April
11 April
21
1
4 C
11
12
XXVI
70
354
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
17
12
5 B
12
13
XXVII
71
355
21 Pharm.
XVI Kal. Mai
16 April
18
23
6 A
13
14
XXVIII
72
356
12 Pharm.
VII Id. April
7 April
17
4
1 F
14
15
XXIX
73
357
27 Pham^th.
X Kal. April
23 March
17
15
2 E
15
16
XXX
74
358
17 Pharm.
Prid Id. April
12 April
17
26
3 D
1
17
XXXI
75
359
9 Pharm.
Prid. Non. April
4 April
20
7
4 C
2
18
XXXII
76
360
28 Pharm.
IX Kal. Mai
23 April
21
18
6 A
3
19
XXXIII
77
361
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
17
29
7 G
4
1
XXXIV
78
362
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
25
10
1 F
5
2
XXXV
79
363
25 Pharm.
XII Kal. Mai
20 April
20
21
2 E
6
3
XXXVI
80
364
9 Pharm.
Prid. Non. April
4 April
16
3
4 C
7
4
XXXVII
81
365
1 Pharm.
VI Kal. April
27 March
19
14
5 B
8
5
XXXVIII
82
366
21 Pharm.
XVI Kal. Mai
16 April
20
25
6 A
9
6
XXXIX
83
367
6 Pharm.
Kal. April
1 April
16
6
7 G
10
7
XL
84
368
25 Pharm.
XII Kal. Mai
20 April
16
17
2 E
11
8
XLI
85
369
17 Pharm.
Prid. Id. April
12 April
15
28
3 D
12
9
XLII
86
370
2 Pharm.
V Kal. April
28 March
15
9
4 C
13
10
XLIII
87
371
22 Pharm.
XV Kal. Mai
17 April
16
20
5 B
14
11
XLIV
88
372
13 Pharm.
VI Id. April
8 April
19
1
7 G
15
12
XLV
89
373
5 Pharm.
Prid. Kal. April
31 March
21
12
1 F
1
13