Epiphanius of Salamis

thumb|It is a horrid abomination to see in Christian temples a painted image either of Christ or of any saint. Epiphanius of Salamis (Ἐπιφάνιος, c. 310-320 – 403) was bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, at the end of the 4th century. He is considered a saint and a Church Father by both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Quotes It is a horrid abomination to see in Christian temples a painted image either of Christ or of any saint. Epistle to Hieron, as cited by John Calvin in Institutes of the Christian Religion One day Saint Epiphanius sent someone to Abba Hilarion with this request, 'Come, and let us see one another before we depart from the body.' When he came, they rejoiced in each other's company. During their meal, they were brought a fowl; Epiphanius took it and gave it to Hilarion. Then the old man said to him, 'Forgive me, but since I received the habit I have not eaten meat that has been killed.' Then the bishop answered, 'Since I took the habit, I have not allowed anyone to go to sleep with a complaint against me and I have not gone to rest with a complaint against anyone.' The old man replied, 'Forgive me, your way of life is better than mine.' The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, as translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG Ai peccatori che si pentono come la peccatrice, il pubblicano ed il ladrone il Signore perdona tutto il debito, ma ai giusti chiede anche gli interessi. To sinners who repent like the sinner, the tax collector, and the thief, the Lord forgives all the debt, but also asks the righteous for interest. AAVV, Vita e detti dei padri del deserto, edited by Luciana Mortari, Roma, Città Nuova, 2005 È necessario, se si può, possedere i libri cristiani. Infatti il solo vedere la Bibbia ci rende più esitanti di fronte al peccato e ci da maggior vigore a compiere la giustizia. It is necessary, if one can, to possess Christian books. In fact, just seeing the Bible makes us more hesitant in the face of sin and gives us greater vigor to carry out justice. AAVV, Vita e detti dei padri del deserto, edited by Luciana Mortari, Roma, Città Nuova, 2005 È un grande tradimento della salvezza non conoscere nessuna delle leggi divine. It is a great betrayal of salvation not to know any of the divine laws AAVV, Vita e detti dei padri del deserto, edited by Luciana Mortari, Roma, Città Nuova, 2005 I comandamenti sono tanti quante le piaghe d'Egitto, le beatitudini sono il triplo di tre, l'immagine della Trinità. The commandments are as many as the plagues of Egypt, the beatitudes are triple three, the image of the Trinity. AAVV, Vita e detti dei padri del deserto, edited by Luciana Mortari, Roma, Città Nuova, 2005 L'ignoranza delle Scritture è un grande precipizio ed un profondo baratro. Ignorance of the Scriptures is a great precipice and a deep abyss. AAVV, Vita e detti dei padri del deserto, edited by Luciana Mortari, Roma, Città Nuova, 2005 Io ho inteso che alcuni hanno mormorato di me, perché nell'andare a Bethel per celebrare l'ufficio, secondo l'ecclesiastico uso, arrivato in un luogo che si chiama Anablatha, vidi una lampada accesa in un edificio e domandai a che servisse; e mi fu risposto esser quella una chiesa. Vi entrai per pregare; trovai un velo pendente alla porta della chiesa, e che rappresentava il Cristo, o qualche santo forse, non ricordo bene. A tal vista grandemente m'indignai, perché vidi la rappresentazione umana nel luogo santo, contro i precetti delle Scritture, e stracciai il velo. I have understood that some have murmured about me, for in going to Bethel to celebrate the office, according to the ecclesiastical custom, having arrived at a place called Anablatha, I saw a lamp burning in a building and asked what it was for; and it was answered to me that it was a church. I entered it to pray; I found a veil hanging at the door of the church, and which represented Christ, or some saint perhaps, I do not remember well. At this sight I was greatly indignant, because I saw the human representation in the holy place, against the precepts of the Scriptures, and tore the veil. Quoted in Adolfo Venturi, Storia dell'arte italiana, vol. II, Dall'arte barbarica alla romanica, Ulrico Hoepli, Milan 1902, p. 123. External links The Sayings of the Desert Fathers Category:Jews Category:Saints Category:Church Fathers Category:Eastern Orthodox bishops Category:Non-fiction authors Category:4th century births Category:5th century deaths Category:Doctors of the Church Category:Roman Catholic bishops