Solomon's Throne by Jennings Wright Page B

less time to accomplish it. Dionysius has thus far been unable to unite the bishops, and the Church remains in disarray, as you know.” Camillus nodded his head at this oft-heard complaint. “Had I been elected, of course, I would have imposed much stricter discipline on the churches, and a great deal of the money that has been given by our patrons would have made its way here, to Rome. As it stands now, however, Dionysius has perpetuated his dictum of austerity, and is losing ground to the growing Church in the East. This is not acceptable.” He slammed his fist down. Camillus did not start. He was used to such outbursts. “Power must remain here, in Rome, as God Himself intended. We must send a letter to those bishops who chose to elect Dionysius and inform them of his folly. He will be made to step down.”
    Camillus merely stood, hands clasped in front of him, his mind racing back to the visit with his brother.

    Anthony lived on a small estate outside of Rome. He had survived persecution by keeping his faith largely to himself, a sore point between the brothers. However, when Camillus received the letter of invitation, he had welcomed removing himself from the teeming city, and left in the mid-afternoon so as to arrive for supper. When they had finished an excellent—and, to Camillus, decadent—meal of hen with fresh baked bread and ripe grapes, Anthony sat back and wiped his knife on his trousers. He looked at his younger brother, the priest, and smiled gravely.
    “Things have changed for your Church now, brother,” he said.
    “Indeed, but for the better, it appears,” Camillus said. “Dionysius is trying to reignite enthusiasm for the Church now that the Emperor has granted us all clemency. He is a man unused to power, but he is respected by most.”
    “I suspect that he is not respected by those bishops who have used their position to gain wealth, to have children, even estates…?” Anthony ended on a question. Camillus looked embarrassed, knowing he was speaking of Iraneaus, among others.
    “No, he is not popular with some,” he agreed.
    “And those who are wealthy are now powerful, and have garnered powerful friends.” Anthony stated flatly. “You might find yourself on the losing side, my brother.”
    Camillus nodded unhappily. “I fear so, but I am not free to go where I choose.”
    “If you could help Dionysius, you could.”
    “What help could I be to him? I am a priest, that is all.”
    Anthony studied him for a long moment, then rose to his feet. He gestured for his brother to remain at the table, and left the room. Returning with a stout wooden box, he placed it in front of Camillus. “Open it,” he said.
    Obediently, the priest opened the box, and looked at the scroll nestled on a swath of fine cloth. He looked askance at his brother, who nodded. Camillus removed the scroll and carefully opened it. He knit his brows in concentration as he worked out the Greek. “Meu Deus…” he breathed, looking again at Anthony. “Where did this come from?”
    “It has been in the family. The scribe was our ancestor, and when he died, his belongings were given to his son, in Sicilia. No one thought it important then, and indeed, it wasn’t. But now… As the Church tries to regain its strength and power, it would be quite a blow, would it not?”
    “It would destroy us,” Camillus agreed.
    “What would happen if you took that letter to Dionysius, and gave it to him to use against those bishops like Iraneaus who would seek to unseat him?”
    Camillus looked confused. “I don’t understand,” he said.
    “That letter would destroy the Church of Rome. Without the Church of Rome, those bishops who have no family wealth of their own would be left with no money, no power. They are doing things they have no right to do, they are a disgrace. And they are greedy. Dionysius, however, is truly a man of faith. He wants to spread our religion around the world as Christ commanded, through the Church.