ANASTASIUS.
ANASTASIUS was chosen Bishop of Rome, after the Death of Pope Siricius, Anno. 398. He was an illustrious Person, as commendable for neglecting his private Interest, as for his * 1.1 Pastoral Vigilance. Under his Pontificate, Flavianus and the Eastern Bishops were re∣conciled to the Church of Rome, and to the other Western Churches. The business of the Origenists making a great noise in the Church, he thought it his Duty to declare his Sense of that matter: He therefore made a Decree after the Example of Theophilus, whereby he condem∣ned both the Works and the person of Origen, and being informed that Ruffinus the Priest was his chief Defender, he cited him to come to Rome, and appear before him: but Ruffinus deferring to appear, he condemned him as an Heretick in the Year 401. at the Sollicitation of a Lady called Marcella, who produced Evidences against him her self, and shewed the Errors that he had left in the Translation of the Books of Origen's Principles, as S. Jerom says Ep. 16.
John of Jerusalem having heard of this Judgment, writ him a very civil Letter, wherein after abundance of Commendations he spake in Ruffinus his behalf. Anastasius, having returned him thanks for his Complements, answered, That he could not but condemn Ruffinus his conduct, because he had translated the Books of Origen's Principles, with a design that the People should read them as Catholick Books; that the Fear he was in least they should corrupt the Doctrine of the faithful in his Church, obliged him to condemn them: that he was informed that the Emperours had made an Edict to forbid the reading of Origen's works: that Ruffinus having approved in his Translation the Opinions of Origen, deserved to be treated after the same manner, as he that first published them. Lastly, he declares, that he will hear no more of him; that he might seek for Absolution where he pleased, for his part he looked upon him as an excommunicated person.
This is the only true Letter of Anastasius, the two others are written by Isidore. The first di∣rected to the German and Burgundian Bishops is dated Fourteen years before Anastasius was Pope. Those of Burgundy to whom it is directed, were not then converted. It is made up of several passages of the Letters of Innocent, S. Leo and Flavianus, &c. It is full of Faults, and far from the Stile of the true Anastasius. The second addressed to Nectarius is dated Fourteen years after A∣nastasius his Death, and is taken out of Innocent, S. Leo, Gregory, &c.
We have not the first Synodical Letter of Anastasius, wherein he condemned Origen's Books, nor the Letter wherein he cited Ruffinus, nor that directed to Venerius of Milan, whereof he speaks in his Letter to John. It is believed, that he writ a Treatise of the Incarnation directed to Ursinus, whereof some Fragments are found at the latter end of Liberatus's Breviary. But it is certain, that they belong to Anastasius. This Pope died in the beginning of the Year 402 and left Innocent his Successor.