Collectio Avellana

The Collectio Avellana

The Avellana is a collection of 244 documents, dating from 367 to 553, including many imperial and papal letters. These were first gathered into what is now known as the the Collectio Avellana in the second half of the sixth century. Many of the documents have not been preserved in any other collections. The oldest and best manuscript is Vat. lat. 3787 (XI). This text has been edited by O.Guenther: Epistolae Imperatorum Pontificum Aliorum Inde ab a. CCCLXVII usque DLIII datae Avellana Quae Dicitur Collectio, CSEL vol. 35, 2 parts (Prague,Vienna, and Leipzig 1895).

Following the link will take you a page where you can download these volumes from Google books: part 1 (Latin Introduction and text of documents 1-104), part 2 (documents 105-244, appendices and indexes).

Fourth-century documents in the Avellana chart:

G #:   document number in Guenther edition

Gpp.:   pages in Guenther edition

date: the date assigned by Guenther. If a specific day is given, that day is recorded in the document

Coleman-Norton:   the volume, document number (pages) of the translation and notes in Coleman-Norton, Roman State and Christian Church, 3 volumes (London: SPCK, 1966)

G # G pp. Date Description Coleman-Norton
1 1-4 describes 352-380 An account of the schism which occurred between the bishops Liberius and Felix and continued under Damasus and Ursinus
2 5-44 383/4 Petition of Luciferian leaders Marcellinus and Faustus to the emperors Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius
2a 45-46 383/4 Reply of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to the Luciferian petition vol. 2, #195 (pp. 390-92)
3 46-47 386 Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to Salustius on the construction of the St. Paul's basilica in Rome. vol. 2, #211 (pp. 412-14)
4 47-48 385
Feb 24 Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius, congratulating Siricius at his election as bishop of Rome vol. 2, #200 (pp. 396-97)
5 48 367
before Sept 15 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus recalling Ursinus and his associates from exile vol. 1, #137 (pp. 311-12)
6 49 367-368
Nov.16 367 - Jan 12 368 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, restoring the basilica of Sicininus to the supporters of Damasus. vol. 1, #138 (pp. 313-14)
7 49-50 368
Jan 12 Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, expelling the Ursinians from Rome vol. 1, #140 (pp. 315-16)
8 50 368 Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome vol. 1, #142 (pp. 318-19)
9 50-51 368 Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Aginatius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome vol. 1, #143 (pp. 319-20)
10 51-52 368 Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius on repressing disturbers of the peace vol. 1, #141 (pp. 316-18)
11 52-53 Aug 370-Aug. 372 Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Ampelius, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome. vol. 1, #152 (pp. 328-29)
12 53-54 Aug 370-Aug. 372 Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Maximin, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome. vol. 1, #153 (pp. 329-30)
13 54-58 378/9
Aug 9 Gratian and Valentinian to Aquiline, in response to Pope Damasus, on papal jurisdiction vol. 1, #164 (pp. 345-50)
14-37 59-84 418-419 These 24 documents deal with the papal schism that ensued on the death of the briefly-reigning Pope Zosimus between Boniface and Eulalius. Eventually the emperor became involved and ruled in favor of Boniface. vol. 2, #352-67 and 371 (pp.586-612) partially translated
38 85-88 404
after June 20 Honorius to Arcadius concerning John Chrysostom
39 88-90 386/7 Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper to Valentinian, against Arians and Manichaeans
40 90-91 385 Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper, to Pope Siricius, in support of orthodoxy (defending his decision to execute Priscillians) vol. 2, #203 (pp. 399-402)

41-50 92-117 417-418 These 10 documents are letters relating to the last years of Innocent I's papacy and the brief reign of Zosimus.

Text and translation of the first document

The first seven documents deal with the divided Roman bishopric after the exile of Liberius and during the early years of Damasus. The first document is a history of the beginnings of the division. We have the Latin text and an English translation of the first document available:
English translation
Latin text
Latin and English side by side

Created by AJW
Last updated: 7/17/08 AJW
Copyright 2006 Wisconsin Lutheran College
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G #:	document number in Guenther edition
Gpp.:	pages in Guenther edition
date:	the date assigned by Guenther. If a specific day is given, that day is recorded in the document
Coleman-Norton:	the volume, document number (pages) of the translation and notes in Coleman-Norton, Roman State and Christian Church, 3 volumes (London: SPCK, 1966)

G #	G pp.	Date	Description	Coleman-Norton
1	1-4	describes 352-380	An account of the schism which occurred between the bishops Liberius and Felix and continued under Damasus and Ursinus
2	5-44	383/4	Petition of Luciferian leaders Marcellinus and Faustus to the emperors Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius
2a	45-46	383/4	Reply of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to the Luciferian petition	vol. 2, #195 (pp. 390-92)
3	46-47	386	Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius to Salustius on the construction of the St. Paul's basilica in Rome.	vol. 2, #211 (pp. 412-14)
4	47-48	385 Feb 24	Letter of Valentinian, Theodosius, and Arcadius, congratulating Siricius at his election as bishop of Rome	vol. 2, #200 (pp. 396-97)
5	48	367 before Sept 15	Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus recalling Ursinus and his associates from exile	vol. 1, #137 (pp. 311-12)
6	49	367-368 Nov.16 367 - Jan 12 368	Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, restoring the basilica of Sicininus to the supporters of Damasus.	vol. 1, #138 (pp. 313-14)
7	49-50	368 Jan 12	Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Praetextatus, expelling the Ursinians from Rome	vol. 1, #140 (pp. 315-16)
8	50	368	Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome	vol. 1, #142 (pp. 318-19)
9	50-51	368	Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Aginatius, forcing schismatic groups 20 miles from Rome	vol. 1, #143 (pp. 319-20)
10	51-52	368	Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Olybrius on repressing disturbers of the peace	vol. 1, #141 (pp. 316-18)
11	52-53	Aug 370-Aug. 372	Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Ampelius, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome.	vol. 1, #152 (pp. 328-29)
12	53-54	Aug 370-Aug. 372	Letter of Letter of Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian to Maximin, banning Ursinus and 8 of his followers from Rome.	vol. 1, #153 (pp. 329-30)
13	54-58	378/9 Aug 9	Gratian and Valentinian to Aquiline, in response to Pope Damasus, on papal jurisdiction	vol. 1, #164 (pp. 345-50)
14-37	59-84	418-419	These 24 documents deal with the papal schism that ensued on the death of the briefly-reigning Pope Zosimus between Boniface and Eulalius. Eventually the emperor became involved and ruled in favor of Boniface.	vol. 2, #352-67 and 371 (pp.586-612) partially translated
38	85-88	404 after June 20	Honorius to Arcadius concerning John Chrysostom
39	88-90	386/7	Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper to Valentinian, against Arians and Manichaeans
40	90-91	385	Letter of Maximus the imperial usurper, to Pope Siricius, in support of orthodoxy (defending his decision to execute Priscillians)	vol. 2, #203 (pp. 399-402)
41-50	92-117	417-418	These 10 documents are letters relating to the last years of Innocent I's papacy and the brief reign of Zosimus.