Letter 167

From: The Eastern Commissioners at Chalcedon (including Theodoret) To: Emperor Theodosius II Date: 431 AD Context: A second, more detailed petition recounting the full sequence of imperial interventions that were ignored by Cyril's party, and demanding that the heretical Chapters be formally examined. Second Petition of the Eastern Commissioners to the Emperor, Your piety has been informed on several occasions, both by ourselves and by our emissaries, that the doctrine of the true faith is in danger of being corrupted, and that the body of the Church is being torn apart by men who are turning everything upside down, trampling on all church order and imperial law, and throwing everything into confusion in order to confirm the heresy proposed by Cyril of Alexandria. When we were first summoned to Ephesus to investigate the disputed question and confirm the apostolic faith laid down by the holy Fathers, before all the bishops had arrived, the organizers of their own private council confirmed in writing the heretical Chapters -- Chapters that agree with the impiety of Arius, Eunomius, and Apollinaris. Some they deceived; some they terrified; others already charged with heresy they received into communion; and others who had not communicated with them were bribed into doing so. Still others were lured by the hope of offices for which they were unfit. So these men assembled a great crowd of supporters, as though they did not realize that true religion is shown not by numbers but by truth. Your piety's dispatch was read a second time by Count Candidian, ordering that the disputed questions be examined in a calm and fraternal manner. When all the pious bishops were assembling, the reading had no effect. Then came the noble Palladius Magistrianus, bearing another dispatch from your majesty: all measures passed privately and separately must be rescinded, the council must reassemble, and true doctrine must be confirmed. But as usual, this pious mandate was treated with contempt by these shameless men. Then the right honorable Master John, at that time Count of the Imperial Largesses, arrived with yet another pious letter: the depositions of the three had been decreed, the irregularities were to be corrected, and the faith laid down at Nicaea was to be ratified by all. As usual, these inveterate mockers transgressed this law too. After hearing the letter they did not change their behavior. They held communion with the deposed, addressed them as bishops, and refused to allow the Chapters -- the source of all the turmoil -- to be examined. We do not understand how they can claim to be orthodox while shielding from scrutiny the very documents that caused all the disruption. We therefore petition your piety once again: order a formal investigation of the Chapters. Let the truth be tested in open debate, and let the faith of Nicaea be the standard by which all are measured.

Letter 167 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 Petition of the same, sent from Chalcedon to Theodosius Augustus. Your piety has been informed on several occasions, both by ourselves in person and by our emissaries, that the doctrine of the true faith seems to stand in danger of being corrupted, and that the body of the Church is apparently being rent asunder by men who are turning everything upside down, trampling upon all church order, and all imperial law, and throwing everything into confusion that they may confirm the heresy propounded by Cyril of Alexandria. For when we were first summoned by your piety to Ephesus, to enquire into the question which had arisen and to confirm the evangelic and apostolic faith laid down by the holy Fathers, before the arrival of all the bishops who had been convened, the holders of their own private Council confirmed in writing the heretical Chapters, which are at one with the impiety of Arius, Eunomius and Apollinarius. Some they deceived; some they terrified; others already charged with heresy, they received into communion; and others who had not communicated with them were bribed into so doing; others again were fired with the hope of dignities for which they were unfit; so these men gathered round them a great crowd of adherents, as though they had no idea that true religion is shown not by numbers, but by truth. The dispatch of your piety was read a second time by the most honourable Count Candidianus, ordering that the questions recently raised be examined in a quiet and brotherly manner. When however all the pious bishops were assembling, the reading had no effect. Then came the noble Palladius Magistrianus, bringing another dispatch from your majesty, to the effect that all enactments passed privately and apart must be rescinded; that the Council must be assembled afresh and the true doctrine ratified; but, as usual, this your pious mandate was treated with contempt by these unscrupulous persons. Then again arrived the right honourable Master John, at that time Comes Largitionum, bringing another pious letter to the effect that the depositions of the three had been decreed, that the offenses which had sprung up were to be removed, and the faith laid down at Nicæa by the holy and blessed Fathers was to be ratified by all. As usual these universal mockers transgressed this law too. For after hearing the letter they did not change their mode of action; they held communion with the deposed; spoke of them as bishops, and refused to allow the Chapters, which had been propounded to the loss and corruption of the pious faith to be rejected; notwithstanding their having been frequently summoned by us to discussion. For we had ready to hand a plain refutation of the heretical Chapters. In evidence of these statements we have the right honourable Master, who when both sides had been summoned a third and a fourth time, not venturing to make this conduct an excuse on account of their disobedience, thought it worth while to summon us hither. We came at once; on our arrival we allowed ourselves no rest making our petition, both before your piety and before the illustrious assembly, that they would take up the quarrel for the Chapters and enter into discussion concerning them, or on the other hand reject them as contrary to the right faith, abiding by the faith as laid down by the blessed fathers in council at Nicæa. They refused to do anything of the kind; they persisted in their heretical procedure; yet they were allowed to attend the churches, and to perform their priestly functions. We, however, alike at Ephesus and here, have been for a long time deprived of communion; alike there and here we have undergone innumerable perils; and while we were being stoned and all but slain by slaves dressed up as monks, we took it all for the best, as willingly enduring such treatment in the cause of the truth. Afterwards it seemed good to your majesty that we and the opposite party should assemble once again, that the recalcitrant might be compelled to examine the doctrines. While we were waiting for this to come to pass your piety set out for the city, and ordered the very men who were being accused of heresy and had been therefore some of them deposed by us, and others excommunicated and thereafter to be subjected to the discipline of the Church, to come to the city and perform priestly functions, and ordain. We however who in the cause of true religion have undertaken a struggle so tremendous; we who have shrunk from no peril in our battle for right doctrine, have neither been bidden to enter the city to serve the cause of the imperilled Faith and strive for orthodoxy; nor have we been permitted to return home; but here we are in Chalcedon distressed and groaning for the Church oppressed by schism. Wherefore since we are in receipt of no reply we have thought it necessary to inform your piety by this present letter, before God and Christ and the Holy Ghost, that if any one shall have been ordained (before the settlement of right doctrines) by these men of heretical opinions, he must necessarily be cut off from the whole church, as well from the clergy as the dissentient laity. For none of the pious will endure that communion be granted to heretics, and their own salvation be nullified. And when this shall have come to pass, then your piety shall be compelled to act against your will. For the schism will grow beyond all expectation, and thereby the champions of true religion will be saddened, unable to endure the loss of their own souls, and the establishment of those impious doctrines of Cyril which the contentious are desirous of defending. Many indeed of the supporters of true religion will never allow the acceptance of Cyril's doctrines; we shall never allow it, who all are of the diocese of the East of your province, of the diocese of Pontus, of Asia, of Thrace, of Illyricum and of the Italies, and who also sent to your piety the treatise of the most blessed Ambrose, written against this nascent superstition. To avoid all this, and the further troubling of your piety, we beg, beseech, and implore you to issue an edict that no ordination take place before the settlement of the orthodox faith, on account of which we have been convened by your Christ-loving highness.