E05301: Chromatius of Aquileia preaches a sermon in Latin in Concordia (near Aquileia, northern Italy) between 388 and 407, at the consecration of a church in Concordia. The relics of the apostles *John (S00042), *Andrew (S00288), *Thomas (S00199); *Luke (the Evangelist, S00442); and *John (the Baptist, S00020) are all deposited in the altar. Chromatius refers translation of Thomas' relics to Edessa (Upper Mesopotamia).

Chromatius of Aquileia, Sermon 26

Summary:

The basilica dedicated to the saints is now finished, and so relics of the saints will be deposited there as part of its consecration. Chromatius states that the virtues of the apostles whose relics will be placed in the church are numerous and the fame of these saints has spread across the earth. He asserts the sanctity of John the Apostle and Evangelist, and of John the Baptist, whose relics are present. He then turns to the Apostles Andrew and Thomas, and the Evangelist Luke, whose relics are also present. He describes Andrew as the brother of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), claiming that the brothers were 'equals in suffering, because they were equals in faith' (aequales in passione, quia aequales in fide). He focuses particularly on Thomas, whose doubt affirmed the faith of the church. In particular, he affirmed the bodily resurrection of Christ, thus proving Marcion and the Manichees wrong. He then describes Thomas’s mission to India and the later translation of Thomas’s relics from India to Edessa.

The sermon continues, but the remaining passages do not survive.

Summary: Frances Trzeciak.