Testament to the Citizens
Testamentum ad cives
Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 310/320–403) was bishop of Salamis, the chief city of Cyprus, from about 367 until his death. The work urges them to keep the traditions they had received and not to turn aside from them.
Prohibition of images in churches, cemeteries, and homes§1
Epiphanius is issuing a binding testament to the citizens, commanding them not to bring images into churches or the cemeteries of the saints.
1They present a testament to the citizens, a binding testament, in which he urges them not to bring images into churches or into the cemeteries. "Watch yourselves and hold fast to the traditions you received. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left. And in this matter, beloved children, keep this in memory: do not bring images into churches or into the cemeteries of the saints. Instead, always keep God in memory in your hearts. But not even in a common house is this permitted, for a Christian must not be distracted through the eyes and the wanderings of the mind. Let what pertains to God be written and impressed on all. If anyone deliberately endeavors to comprehend the divine character of God's Word according to the incarnation from material colors, let him be anathema."
Greek · §1
The Greek is on each section page: §1
The testament's first command against images§2
Epiphanius is issuing a binding testament to the citizens, and this section states its first command: not to bring images into churches or cemeteries.
2They put forward, then, a testament directed to the citizens, in which it urges that images not be brought into churches or into the cemeteries.
Greek · §2
The Greek is on each section page: §2
Hold the traditions; keep God in memory, not images§3
Epiphanius is issuing his testament to the citizens, commanding them to hold fast to the traditions they received and not to bring images into churches or the cemeteries of the saints.
3Pay attention to yourselves, and hold fast the traditions you received. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left. And in this, beloved children, keep the memory of not bringing images into churches or into the cemeteries of the saints, but always keep God in your hearts through memory.
Greek · §3
The Greek is on each section page: §3
No images even in a common house; anathema on depicting the incarnate Word§4
Epiphanius is closing his testament to the citizens, extending the prohibition on images from churches and cemeteries to any common house and pronouncing anathema on those who try to grasp the incarnate Word through material colors.
4But not even in an ordinary house. A Christian must not be distracted through the eyes and the wanderings of the mind; rather, the things that pertain to God should be written and impressed upon everyone. If anyone deliberately endeavors to comprehend the divine character of God's Word according to the incarnation from material colors, let him be anathema.
Greek · §4
The Greek is on each section page: §4