Letter 1582: Once the hierarchy used to correct and temper the office of emperor when it stumbled and fell, but now it has fallen...

To Serenos the Deacon. Justice owes the just punishment to the unjust, and will assuredly repay it — unless justice should prove unjust, justice which governs all things justly and takes great care for righteousness.

Once the hierarchy used to correct and temper the office of emperor when it stumbled and fell, but now it has fallen beneath it, losing not its own rank, instead possessing ordained men unlike those in our ancestors’ time.[1] Previously when those crowned with a holy office lived the evangelic and apostolic life, naturally the office of emperor stood in awe of the hierarchy, but now it is the hierarchy of the office of emperor. In my opinion, the office of emperor is following its natural course, since it has not intentionally meant to assault the hierarchy, which it reveres like a god, but avenge it of the assaults on it and temper the people not conducting themselves as they should toward it. [1] Note the euphemism for the not so perfect bishops. Comments and corrections are welcome!

ΥΛΒ΄. – ΣΕΡΗΝΩ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΩ. Τοῖς ἀδίκοις ἡ δίκη χρεωστεῖ τὴν δικαίαν τιμω- ρίαν, καὶ πάντως ἀποδώσει, εἴπερ μὴ μέλλοι ἄδικος εἶναι ἡ δίκη, ἡ πάντα δικαίως διέπουσα, καὶ τῆς δικαιοσύνης πολλὴν ποιουμένη πρόνοιαν.