We believed that your clemency could grant this to our desire, that—the present necessity being considered—you would command the sacerdotal synod to be deferred to a more opportune time: so that, the priests being summoned from all the provinces, it might truly be able to be a universal council. But since you, out of love for the catholic faith, have willed the assembly to take place now, lest I should seem to oppose your devout will, I have directed my brother and fellow-bishop Paschasinus, summoned from that province which seems to be more secure, who may be able to fill the office of my presence, with my brother and fellow-presbyter Boniface joined to him, and with those whom we had sent before added; adding also as their companion my brother Julian the bishop.
Whom we believe, the Lord helping, will conduct all things with such moderation that whatever things have come into complaint and disturbance may, with all dissension suppressed, be recalled to the unity of peace and faith; and that no trace either of Nestorian or of Eutychian impiety may be left in the hearts of any of the priests: since the catholic faith, which—the Spirit of God instructing us—we have learned through the holy Fathers from the blessed apostles and do teach, permits neither error to creep in, most glorious emperor. If therefore there be anything of diseases, if anything of wounds, that can be cured by sincere correction, we desire that it may be recalled to true health.
Which then indeed will not be doubtful, nor thereafter harmful to anyone's simplicity, if he be unwilling to shroud himself with any excuses; since he does not obtain the abolition of sin except by true confession. But because certain of the brethren—which we do not say without sorrow—were not strong enough to hold the catholic constancy against the whirlwinds of falsehood, it befits the aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop of mine to preside over the synod in my stead. For I am certain that there, by those to whom we have committed this, labor will be spent without hatred and without favor, so that, with the destruction of heretical impiety alone, in all the Churches of God truth and charity may reign. Given on the eighth day before the Kalends of July, in the consulship of the most illustrious man Adelfius. CHAPTER I.
— I had indeed asked of your most glorious clemency that you would command the synod—which, as necessary for restoring the peace of the Eastern Church, and sought also by us, you judge necessary—to be deferred for a little while to a more opportune time: so that with minds freer from all disturbance, those bishops also, whom the fear of hostility detains, might come together. But since with pious zeal you set divine matters before human affairs, and reasonably and religiously believe it will profit the strength of your reign, if there be no dissonance in the perceptions of the priests, no discord in the preaching of the Gospel:
I too do not resist your dispositions, wishing that amid the defilements of all, the catholic faith—which cannot but be one—may be established. From the integrity of which both Nestorius formerly, and now Eutyches, have deviated by different paths indeed, yet by an impiety not unequal: utterly to be abominated in their persuasions, which, against the sincere fountain of the true light, they have drawn from the muddy pools of diabolical falsehood. The former synod of Ephesus therefore deservedly and justly condemned Nestorius together with his dogma: and whoever persists in that error can pertain to the hope of no remedy. But the following one in the aforesaid city cannot be called a council, since it is established to have been conducted for the overthrow of the faith;
and which your clemency, out of love of the truth, has annulled for catholics with a view to the future, by decreeing otherwise, most glorious emperor. CHAPTER II. — Wherefore, through our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who is the author and ruler of your reign, I entreat and beseech your clemency that in the present synod you would not suffer the faith which our blessed Fathers preached as handed down to them from the apostles to be re-examined as though doubtful; and that you would not permit those things which were of old condemned by the authority of our elders to be stirred up again by revived attempts;
but rather that you would command that the constitutions of the ancient Nicene synod also, the interpretation of the heretics being removed, should remain in force. Nor believe me too, as your clemency has wished, to be absent from that council, since in these brethren whom I have directed—that is, the bishops Paschasinus and Lucentius, the presbyters Boniface and Basil, and also in my brother Julian, whom I willed to be a partaker with them—my own presence too is to be reckoned. Whom, Christ helping, I trust will so act that those things which are pleasing to our Lord may be decreed, your pious zeal being added, which may profit both peace, and religion, and the guardianship of the truth. Given on the sixth day before the Kalends of July, in the consulship of the most illustrious man Adelfius.