Epistola ad Geruntium
The Epistola ad Geruntium ("Epistle to Gerunt") is a letter written by Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury to Geraint, King of Dumnonia, about the late 7th - early 8th century. The letter concerns disagreements between Roman Catholic and Celtic Christianity that were discussed by the Council of Hereford.[1]
Letter
The manuscript is uniquely presereved in the
In the letter, Aldhelm raises two specific critisims of the Celtic Christian then being practiced in Geraint's kingdom:
- The adoption of the petrine tonsure
- The dating of Easter
Geraint's clergy did not celebrate the Catholic Easter as decreed by the Council of Nicaea, despite this receiving papal mandate. In short, Aldhelm's reasoning was that any such people could not be considered part of the orthadox church. As Finberg observes, ‘there is an undertone of implication’ as to the consequences should the Dumnonians fail to take appropriate action.[4]
References
- ISBN 9781843841999.
- ^ Wright, Charles (2015-01-01). "Vienna, Osterreichische Natioonalbibliothek 751: Letters of Boniface, Lul, etc.; Acts, Catholic Epistles (partial); biblical glossaries; Ps.-Augustinian sermons, etc.; Theodulf of Orleans, "Capitula ad presbyteros;' concilia, charms". Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts in Microfiche Facsimile. 24: 99–147.
- ^ (HE V.18)
- ISBN 9781842173572.