Chapter I. — Much cause for rejoicing is mine in all the letters of your Clemency, while I experience, out of the great mercy of divine providence, that it has been granted to human affairs, that you deign with most pious zeal to aid ecclesiastical peace, which is guarded only by the unity of evangelical preaching: so that the glory of your faith may be increased not only by the utility of the commonwealth, but also by the advances of religion, most glorious Augustus. Wherefore I give ineffable thanks to God, who at that time in which He foreknew the scandals of the heretics about to arise, placed you at the summit of empire; in which both the royal power and the priestly diligence might be vigorous for the salvation of the whole world.
For since it has been effected chiefly by your work that, the defenders of the impious dogma being condemned through the synodal council, the sacrilegious error might lose all its forces, it pertains to the palm of the same devotion, if the evil which has been crushed in its leaders be also blotted out in whatever remnants. Which your Clemency judges the more easily to be fulfilled, if through all the Churches the definitions of the holy Synod of Chalcedon are shown to have pleased the Apostolic See. Concerning which indeed there was no ground for doubting, since to that faith which was set forth by me according to the form of apostolic doctrine and paternal tradition there acceded the consent of all who subscribed;
and through my brother Lucian the bishop I directed such writings both to your Glory and to the bishop of Constantinople, as would evidently show that I approve those things which had been defined concerning the catholic faith in the aforesaid synod. But because in those same letters I had reprehended those things which, by occasion of the synod, were wrongly attempted, the aforesaid prelate preferred to keep silent about my congratulation, rather than to publish his own ambition. But to me much confidence, God working through you, has been conferred, in that by the addresses of your Piety you have indicated that you approved my observance concerning the guardianship of the canons of the Fathers.
And deservedly my joy is doubled, since I recognize that it pleases you most religiously, that both the Nicene faith may hold its firmness, and the privileges of the Churches may remain inviolate. Chapter II. — But although your Piety has indicated nothing concerning the illustrious work of your faith, yet I signify that it has been made known to me specially through your venerator, together with me, my brother Julian the bishop, with what pious response you deigned both alike to restrain and to instruct the minds of the untaught monks; so that, if the divine compassion has not utterly forsaken them, they may perceive that they have learned what to believe, and have recognized what to fear.
But since in all ways obedience must be rendered to the most religious will of your Piety, I have willingly added my opinion to the synodal constitutions, which pleased me concerning the confirmation of the catholic faith and the condemnation of the heretics; which, that it may come to the knowledge of all priests and Churches, your Clemency's ordinance will deign to arrange. I believe and hope that the grace of God will be present, which may make so holy a care of so great a prince obtain the fullest fruit of its desire, so that, all occasions of dissent being cut away, the peace and truth of apostolic doctrine may reign everywhere.
But concerning my brother Julian the bishop, let your Clemency know that I have specially delegated this to him, that whatever there he shall have proved to pertain to the guardianship of the faith, he may confidently suggest to your Piety in my name: since I am certain that you, with God aiding, suffice for the amending or defending of all these things. Given on the twelfth day before the Kalends of April, in the consulship of Opilio, a most illustrious man.