Sermons & Letters 136

CHAPTER I. — Both the divine and the human writings agree that the Divinity is above all to be venerated, and that there the almighty God is propitious where religion is rightly observed. Therefore we have found that which we were seeking, and our vows have attained their fulfilment. A religious devotion has found the faith of religion; nor is it doubtful that, by God's authorship, that which was sought concerning the majesty has been defined. And so, the contention and discord being exploded which envy, the enemy of the faith, had cast in the way, all men with one mind acknowledge God. No longer do we accuse the faithless, nor are we ungrateful. The enemies of religion have furnished us the occasion to seek God more studiously and to find Him more manifestly. For that light seems the greater which has shone after darkness;

the drink is sweeter to the thirsty, rest to the weary. Let your sanctity therefore rejoice in the victory of the faith, whose laurel is to be ascribed to almighty Christ, who has led the triumph over the faithless. And for this reason we ourselves hastened to be present at the holy synod, although expeditions and public necessities detained us in other places. CHAPTER II. — And so all things which befit the faith have been ordained, God being their author, according to the vows and prayer of your religion.

When the most reverend bishops of the whole world that is under our empire had been convened at Chalcedon, and a discussion had been held, after many contests the true faith prevailed, and, in accordance with the letters of your sanctity, all assented to the exposition as truth demanded. Nor do we doubt that the rejoicing over this matter is common to us and to your sanctity, and that those rejoice alike whom it is manifest to have alike desired the truth. It remains that, all things being settled for the catholic faith and truth, and peace restored to the Churches, your sanctity may with all vows provoke the divine majesty unto the ruin of the enemies; which it is most certain that you do even before our letters. CHAPTER III.

— And since this too has been decreed, that those things which the hundred and fifty most holy bishops under Theodosius the Elder established concerning the honour of the venerable Church of Constantinople, and those things which have now been decreed by the holy synod concerning the same matter, should be kept firm: namely, that after the apostolic see the prelate of the city of Constantinople should hold the second place, since that most splendid city is also called the younger Rome — may your sanctity deign to lend your own consent to this part also, although the most reverend bishops who acting in place of your religion came to the holy synod contradicted it. For they were vehemently forbidding that anything be ordained by the synod concerning this venerable Church. CHAPTER IV.

— And we hope that, the priests throughout the whole world being in concord, the divine favour will deign to bestow those things which shall profit the Roman commonwealth. Concerning which matter, through Lucianus, a religious man and bishop, and Basil the deacon, the bearers of these letters, we have judged that all things ought truly to be made known. And we ask that those things which the holy synod has decreed, your religion too may command to be observed in perpetuity. And in another hand: May the Divinity preserve you through many years, holy and most religious Father. Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of January, at Constantinople, our lord Marcian Perpetual Augustus, and he who shall have been named, being consuls. The victorious VALENTINIAN and MARCIAN, glorious triumphant Augusti, to the most holy and truly venerable father, archbishop LEO. CHAPTER I.

— Both the divine and the human writings agree that the Divinity is above all to be adored, and that there the almighty God is propitious where the faith is rightly observed. This therefore which we were seeking we have found and obtained by our prayers. For a faithful devotion has found the faith of religion, and there is no doubt that, by God's help, that has been defined which was sought concerning His power. For, every contention and discord being expelled which the envious demon had cast against the faith, all men with one mind acknowledge God. Moreover, we do not accuse the unfaithful; nay, we even are grateful to the enemies of religion: for they have furnished us the occasion to seek God most studiously and to know Him manifestly. For that light seems the greater which appears after darkness:

the drink is sweet to the thirsty, rest to the weary. Let your sanctity therefore rejoice over the victory of the faith, whose crown is to be ascribed to almighty Christ; for it is He who gave the victory over the unfaithful. And therefore we ourselves hastened to be present at the holy synod, although expeditions and public necessities detained us in other places. CHAPTER II. — Therefore all things which are consonant with the faith have been defined according to the vows of your sanctity, the most pious bishops of the whole world that is under our empire having been convened at Chalcedon, and after deliberation was held, after many contentions the true faith prevailed, and in accordance with the letters of your sanctity all assented to the exposition, as truth demanded;

and we in no wise doubt that the grace of this matter is common to us and to your sanctity, and that those rejoice equally who are plainly seen to love the truth with equal zeal. It remains that, all things being settled according to the catholic faith and truth, and peace restored to the Churches, your sanctity may with the vows of all provoke the divine power unto the ruin of the enemies: which it is acknowledged that you do even before our letters. CHAPTER III.

— And since this too has been constituted, that those things which were established by the hundred and fifty bishops under Theodosius the Elder of blessed memory, in honour of the venerable Church of Constantinople, and those things which have now been sanctioned by the holy synod concerning the same matter, should be kept firm, namely that after the apostolic see the bishop of Constantinople should immediately hold the second place, since that most splendid city is called the younger Rome — may your sanctity deign to lend your assent to this part also; although the most reverend bishops who came to the holy synod in place of your charity in God contradicted it: for they most vehemently forbade that anything be decreed in the synod concerning the same venerable Church.

But we hope that, the priests of the whole world being in agreement, the divine providence will deign to bestow those things which are useful to Roman affairs. Wherefore, through Lucianus the most God-loving bishop and Basil the deacon, we have decreed that all things be signified to you, and we ask that those things which have been constituted by the holy synod, your piety toward God too may command to be observed in perpetuity. May the divine providence preserve you for many seasons, most holy and most God-loving Father. Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of January, at Constantinople, in the consulship of our lord Marcian ever Augustus, and of him who shall have been announced.