An unnoticed regimental diaconus in the correspondence of Theodoret of Cyrrhus

What is it about?

This short article examines the textual transmission of a letter written by Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, in 432/3, in which he remarks that a member of a locally based cavalry unit, the equites tertii stablesiani, had previously delivered his correspondence to an episcopal colleague. Successive modern editors, puzzled by the term "diaconum" in the unique manuscript, proposed the emendations "decanum" or "decurionem". The latter conjecture is found, unacknowledged, in the most recent critical edition of Theodoret's letters. Textual, historical and linguistic criteria corroborate the received reading and reveal that, as a result of these editorial interventions, an early reference to a "diaconus" or deacon serving as a regimental chaplain has been overlooked. Correctly identified and contextualised, Theodoret's courier can take his place in future discussions of Christian clergy within the late Roman army.

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