Letter 27: Simplicius writes to Acacius on a matter concerning the Alexandrian and Antiochene churches.

The solicitude which the apostolic see bears for all the churches compels us to respond without delay to the matters which your love has brought to our attention. We have learned from your report that certain questions have arisen concerning the boundaries of dioceses and the jurisdiction of bishops, and we address these matters with the authority that divine Providence has entrusted to us. It is a fundamental principle of ecclesiastical order that each bishop must be content with the boundaries of his own diocese and must not extend his jurisdiction into the territory of another. This principle was established by the holy council of Nicaea and has been confirmed by all subsequent councils and by the constant practice of the apostolic see. Any bishop who violates this principle disturbs the peace of the Church and is to be censured by the metropolitan and the provincial synod. If the matter cannot be resolved at the provincial level, it must be referred to this apostolic see for final judgment. We also decree that the privileges of the metropolitan must be respected by all the suffragan bishops, and that no important matter affecting the province may be decided without the knowledge and consent of the metropolitan. Let these things be observed with all diligence, and let the peace of the Church be maintained through the faithful observance of the canonical regulations.

SiinpliciP) papae ad Aeaciam. U 482 d jr T 1 ' Calendionis Antiocheni epiMcopi eUctionem confivmat Simplicius (w. l), Aracii silenfinni de Atcvandvina eccleaia simul arguens (n. 2). ' Simplicius opiscopus Acacio epistopo Oonstanti- n o p o 1 i t a n o. . 1. Antiocheni oxordium sacordotis '^) qua ratione fuerit serius indicatum, quamvis minimo nos hatore potuorit, tainen et ipse vd Haronius, qui hic submitteret ]>osuit, ])08toa ad oraiionis integritatem substitDers quoijuc (U*l)ut'rat rcciperetnr. Zeno autoni addita clausula, qua Caleiidionm " sine praejudicio canonum ordinari dcclaravit , sanctis Ecclpsiae regulis potestalOB ; suani submisit. Antiochiae episcopo fatis functo Stephanum alterum Zenonis imperaioris jMSsm im <^^ tocum ordinavn'unt. Quem /idei perduelles pro sua in Petntm FuUonem propen§imB in amentiae subsidium furorem armantes in sancti martt/ris Barlaam bapiisterio Mi» tis calamis perfossum ct necatum in Oronlem fluinum projecerunt, Zeno porro fmc^ nus attentatum ntturus Acacio Constantinopolitano praesuli ut Antiockiae erearet epi- scopum mandavit, qui consecravit Calendionem. Scriptores alios, qiii Calendion€ll ab Acacio ordinatum jiariter test-ati sunt, jam j^rotuli. QuibuB addo Theodore* tum juniorem, qui senioris historiam ecclesiasticam continuavit et qainque liblii .uixit, et Theodorum lectorem, in cujus frf?m. hb. H legimus: Scribii Mc Tkeoderma noster, Calcndionem Constantinopoti ordinatum fuisse, cum Theodoriio con$eniiens. . EPISTOLAE 10. 17. 207 syncKliis ipsius indicavit^). QikkI sicut non optavimus fieri, ita fa-a. 482. eiles excusatioui, quam necessitas feeit, exstitimus: quia quod vo- Imitarium non est, vocari non potest in reatum. Et ideo per fra- trem et eoepiscopum nostrum Anastasium, qui ex })raedicta reorione directus est, litteris quoque tuae dilectionis acceptis, alterni vicissi- tudinem sermonis tuae reddidimus cliaritati, necessario fratris et coepiscopi nostri Caleridionis sacerdotium gremio aj^ostolicae sedis amplexi^ in consortium nostrum per gratiam Christi Dei nostri tantae urbis antistitem collegii uiiione numeramus. 2. Miramur autem nihil nos de statu Alexandrinae *) ecdesiae te instruente didicisse, quem nunc ita habere se comj)erimus, ut im- probi per occasionem obitus sauctae memoriae Timotliei eamdem ecclesiam conentur habere cajitivam. Uude agendum est dileetioni tuae cum cleraentissimo principe, ne convellatur sub ejus imperio, qnod tyranni*) temporibus potuit obtineri. Data Idibus Julii Seve- rino viro clarissimo consule. -) Hie colligitur, Calendionei», nbi Constantinojjoli ordinntua C8t, continno Antiochiam contondisse , doinde comprobata in Oricntati nynodo cjus ordinatione sTncNlicam epintolam ejusdem indicem ad Sinij)liciuni miBisse pcr Aiutslasium Orientis epiBcopura. Quum itaque ait Simplicius C-iilcndionis ejnscopatus r.ror- dium &ibi aeriutt ipsius litteris indicatum^ hoc dicit liabita rationo tcnij)oris, quo Olud ex imperatoris litteris didicerat. Victor Tununensis de Calendioiiis ordi- nationc praefatus Bubdit: Orientales episropi lamquam nescienles Johannem cogno- menio Codonatutu eidem Antiochenae ecclesiae consecrarunt episcopum. Qui])us con- sentit Tbeophanes l. c. : Antiochenses ordinationis faclae nescii Johannem nomine Codonatum sibi praefecerunt , quem episcopum Calenf/io postmodum in Tyri sedem^ ^mae posl Aniiockiam prima est, transtuHt. Verum his repugnat, quod Simplicius epist. 15 n. 2 ex fide Zenonis imperatoris scribit , Calcndioncm Antiochcnis ^/;)m^ CmtMtanUnopolim iisdem petentibus ordinatum esse antistiteni. Id vcro Thoophani et Victori dedit errandi causam, quod Felix papa, Gelasius et Lib(Tatus de Johanne narrant, eum videlicet a Petro Fullonc Apamenis ordinatum et ab eis rpjectam, statim in Antiochenam ecclesiam ejecto ipso Fullone invasisse, ac de- nnnn Tjriis praefectum ab Acacio fuisse. Valesius quidem (in acbiotat. in Kvagr. in, 16 et maxime in dissert. ad ejd. op. calc. pa^. 185) hunc Johanuem, quom Tjrii* praefecit Acacius, non aliuni esse censens ab eo, queni Victor et Tlieo- phanes Codonatum vocant, eommdem narrationem adhil)ita quadani correctione admittit. Sed nova ejus bypotbesis \o\\^e difficilius componi cuni historica veri- taie potest. QuiB enim credat, Johannem ilhim, queni SimpHcius epist. 7 n. .3 tmh anaihemaie a Ckristianorum consortio vel appellationc romoverat, aut ab An- tiocheuiii cooptatom aut a Calendione praefectum T^Tnis fuisse, et eo praeser- tim tempore, quo et Zeno imperator et Ac^icius sese Simpbcio acUhctos et ca- tholicae fidei studiosos exhibebant. Nos igitur nulhim Codonatum fuisse susj^i- camnr, sed ex confusione eorum, (luae de Johatme ConstantinopoHtano SinipHcius Felix, Gelasins, Liberatus scripsere, conflatam osse Victoris ac Theo))hanis de Jnkanne Codonaio fabiilam. '-) Etasilisci videlicet, quamqnam liujus tyranni temporibus Timotheus hae-