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...after they renounced such faith. This teaching is not the work of Christians but the ideas of the Greeks and vain fabrications. When their flatterers and adherents of their heresies, the Melitians, surpassed them in this, they became wretched—not only because they exchanged the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the name of Arius and became Arians instead of Christians, as I have said before, but also because they venerate creation, like the Greeks, instead of Him who created all things—that is, instead of God—claiming that the Only-Begotten Son of God is a creature. Indeed, their actions align with their thoughts, like the fool of whom the Psalmist said: "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt and have committed abominable iniquity" (Ps. 53:1; Ps. 14:1). For, spouting nonsense as Pilate and Herod once did, they dare also to rise up against the Lord and insult the saints who have died in His name—as if in retaliation for the saints having confessed Him whom they themselves deny.
Indeed, they do not bury the bodies of the martyrs, who struggled nobly, in the earth but display them on couches and stands so that anyone who wishes may see them. They do this under the pretense of honoring the martyrs, but in truth, it is an insult—and they commit this with a vile purpose. Since they do not possess the bodies of martyrs in their own cities and do not know who is a martyr, they have devised a scheme to steal the bodies and carry them away from the cemeteries of the catholic churches. Thus, when they are accused of denying Him whom the martyrs confessed, they beg for the bodies from those who have just buried them, then transport them, hoping to deceive even through the bodies those whom they lead astray. But "the portion of Jacob is not like them" (Jer. 10:16), and our fathers did not hand down such a practice to us. On the contrary, they considered such an act lawless.
In ancient times, God pronounced judgment upon Adam: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19). These words apply to all who are descended from Adam, and everywhere the dead are buried. Thus did Abraham: he purchased a cave from Ephron and buried his wife Sarah there. Then Isaac buried Abraham, and in the same cave [was laid the body of] Jacob. Joseph, when dying, gave instructions concerning his bones. Scripture also says of each of those who departed [this life] that they were buried in [tombs. Scripture speaks] in two [places] concerning the prophets, that they were buried, [when it says:] "Woe to you, [scribes and] Pharisees, [hypocrites! For you] build the tombs [of the prophets] and [decorate the monuments........] and [..........] in [............]. Peter [......... 5-6 lines......] Let us not be surprised that the external place [bears witness] to the body of the Lord, that it was laid in a tomb. And again: "The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who [had fallen asleep were raised; after they] were raised, [they entered] the [holy city and] appeared [to many." This may be] found in the Script[ures............], and those who [died were hidden] under the earth. [...........] tombs, and who [.........] truly; [.........] the saints than those. Who [commanded them] to do such things? In which Scripture did they [find] it [......] in their time, and according to [............]aleon. Who [...........] that such a thing should happen [............] joined [............] said he saw [......... Pet]er also [.......... the a]postles were buried [...........] all [..........] body[......... tom]bs, but [.........] the word [......... 4-5 lines ....] For they provoked the wrath of the Lord and became defiled before the martyrs and opponents of Scripture. For they disobeyed the voice that says: "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do no harm to My prophets" (Ps. 105:15). For it is outright villainy to beg and steal from the tombs of martyrs, not burying them as saints—and above all, as the Lord Himself was buried—and to liken themselves (or likening? – note) to false prophets. For people of this kind, they and those who follow them, will fall by the sword and famine, and there will be no one to bury them, as the prophet Jeremiah said. Concerning the sinners among the people, he said: "They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried; they shall be as dung on the face of the earth" (Jer. 16:4). And concerning Jehoiakim, king of Judah, who sinned greatly, he said: "They shall not lament for him, saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ [...] He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem!" (Jer. 22:18-19).
Who will despise the heretics as they deserve? Who would wish to meet them even once when they mock the bodies of the saints like false prophets (or like the false prophets? – note)? Who, seeing the bodies of the prophets and martyrs cast out and displayed, would not be outraged?
This is not the work of Christians. Paul did not hand down such a practice to us; the patriarchs and prophets did not do so in any age. But this is what the Melitians devised for their own gain, for such was the cunning of Jeroboam, who sold doves and exchanged money in the temple of God, as it is written. Clearly, to those who sinned in this way at that time and were driven out with whips, the Lord said: "Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise." And without doubt, they will also hear Him say to them: "Do not sell the bodies of My martyrs, nor trade their noble confession for love of money." For those who commit such an error will inevitably receive the same retribution.
Enough has been said to expose the evil and deceitful intent the heretics pursued in this matter. But we, the children of the Church, must take care not to imitate them in anything...
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