Letter 164

From: The Eastern Commissioners at Chalcedon (including Theodoret) To: The Eastern Bishops remaining at Ephesus Date: September 431 AD Context: An optimistic dispatch claiming success in their audience with Emperor Theodosius II, who appeared to accept their doctrinal position and was shocked by Acacius's claim that the Godhead could suffer. Second Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon, Through your holiness's prayers, our most pious emperor has granted us an audience, and by God's grace we have gotten the better of our opponents. All our positions have been accepted by the most Christ-loving emperor. The reports of others were read, and what seemed unfit to be received -- having no further importance -- he rejected. These reports were full of Cyril, petitioning that he be summoned to account for himself. So far our opponents have not prevailed. Instead, they heard discourses on true religion -- that is, on the system of the faith -- and the faith of the blessed Fathers was confirmed. We further refuted Acacius, who had stated in his commentaries that the Godhead is capable of suffering. Our pious emperor was so shocked at the enormity of this blasphemy that he flung off his cloak and stepped back. We know that the whole assembly welcomed us as champions of true religion. It has pleased our most pious emperor that each side should explain its own position and submit it in writing. We have replied that it is impossible for us to make any other statement of faith than the one made by the blessed Fathers at Nicaea [325 AD], and this has satisfied his majesty. We therefore presented the formula subscribed by your holiness. Moreover, the entire population of Constantinople keeps coming out to us, imploring us to fight courageously for the faith. We do our best to restrain them, to avoid giving offense to our opponents. We have sent a copy of the statement so that two copies may be made and you may sign them both.

Letter 164 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... Second Epistle of the same to the same, expressing premature triumph in Victory. Through the prayers of your holiness our most pious prince has granted us an audience, and by God's grace we have got the better of our opponents, as all our views have been accepted by the most Christ-loving emperor. The reports of others were read, and what seemed unfit to be received, and had no further importance, he rejected. They were full of Cyril, and petitioned that he might be summoned to give an account of himself. So far they have not prevailed, but have heard discourses on true religion, that is on the system of the Faith, and that the faith of the blessed Fathers was confirmed. We further refuted Acacius who had laid down in his Commentaries that the Godhead is passible. At this our pious emperor was so shocked at the enormity of the blasphemy that he flung off his mantle, and stepped back. We know that the whole assembly welcomed us as champions of true religion. It has seemed good to our most pious emperor that anyone should explain his own views, and report them to his piety. We have replied that it is impossible for us to make any other exposition than that made by the blessed Fathers at Nicæa, and so it has pleased his majesty. We therefore offered the form subscribed by your holiness. Moreover, the whole population of Constantinople is continually coming out to us to implore us to fight manfully for the Faith. We do our best to restrain them, to avoid giving offense to our opponents. We have sent a copy of the expositing, that two copies may be made, and you may subscribe them both.