A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

183admonishes Victor that he should not cut off whole churches ofGod which observed the tradition of an ancient custom, and aftermany other words he proceeds as follows: “For the controversyis not merely concerning the day, but also concerning the verymanner of the fast. For some think that they should fast one day,others two, yet others more; some, moreover, count their daysas consisting of forty hours day and night. And this variety ofobservance has not originated in our times, but long before, inthe days of our ancestors. It is likely that they did not hold to [164]strict accuracy, and thus was formed a custom for their posterity,according to their own simplicity and their peculiar method. Yetall these lived more or less in peace, and we also live in peacewith one another; and the disagreement in regard to the fast confirmsthe agreement in the faith.… Among these were the elders[i.e., bishops of earlier date] before Soter, who presided over thechurch which thou [Victor] now rulest. We mean Anicetus, andPius, and Hyginus, and Telesphorus, and Sixtus. They neitherobserved it themselves nor did they permit others after them todo so. And yet, though they did not observe it, they were nonethe less at peace with those who came to them from the parishesin which it was observed, although this observance was moreopposed to those who did not observe it. But none were ever castout on account of this form, but the elders before thee, who didnot observe it, sent the eucharist to those of the other parishesobserving it. And when the blessed Polycarp was at Rome inthe time of Anicetus, and they disagreed a little about certainother things, they immediately made peace with one another,not caring to quarrel over this point. For neither could Anicetuspersuade Polycarp not to observe what he had always observedwith John, the disciple of the Lord, and the other Apostles withwhom he had associated; neither could Polycarp persuade Anicetusto observe it, as he said that he ought to follow the customsof the elders who had preceded him. But though matters werethus, they nevertheless communed together and Anicetus granted