132 (315). To Abramius, Bishop of Batnae
LETTERS
if anyone is cut off for heresy from any brotherhood (and you certainly know the men, even if I do not mention them by name), because each one will die by his own sin.
Now, I have given this answer to the document that was sent, in order that you yourself may know the truth and make it clear to those who do not wish to withhold the truth unjustly. And, if it is necessary to speak more at length in defense of each of the charges brought against us, we shall, with God's help, do that, also. We, Brother Olympius, neither say that there are three gods, nor are we in communion with Apollinaris. 4
132. To Abramius, Bishop of Batnae 1 Since late autumn I have not known where your Reverence was living. In fact, I was getting varied reports, since some were announcing that your Reverence was tarrying in Samosata, and others in the country; still others were affirmingthat they had seen you around Batnae itself. Therefore, I did not continue to write. But, now, since I have learned that you are stayingat Antioch, in the home of the most revered
Count Saturninus,2 I have readily given this letter to the most beloved and most pious brother Sanctissimus, our fellow presbyter. Through him I greet your Charity, urgmg you,
4 Cf. Letter 125; also, Greg. Naz., Drat. 1 and 29.
Abramius or Ahram was Bishop of Batnae ill Osrhoene, near the Eu. phrates. His name appears with those of Meletius, Eusehius, St. Basil, and others in the letter written by the hishops of the East to those of Italy and Gaul. Cf. Letter 92. He was also present at the Council of Constantinople in 381. The Benedictines place this lettcr as of the year 373. Loofs, op. cit. 28ff and 46ff, prefers thc spring of 375 as the date of its composition.
2 This Saturninus is otherwise unknown.