CHAPTER I. — How vigilantly and how devotedly your Fraternity keeps watch for the Catholic faith, the text of your letters shows; by whose instruction my own solicitude is much relieved, with the addition of the most religious piety of a religious emperor, which manifestly appears to have been prepared by the Lord for the strengthening of the universal Church: so that, while Christian princes labour with holy zeal for the faith, the Lord's priests may confidently make supplication for their reign.
What therefore the most clement emperor deemed necessary, I have willingly fulfilled, namely that I should send letters to all the brethren who took part in the Synod of Chalcedon, wherein I might demonstrate that those things pleased me which were confirmed by our holy brethren concerning the rule of faith: that is, on account of those who, for an occasion of veiling their own perfidy, wish the enactments of the council to seem weak or doubtful — enactments strengthened by no sentence of my consent, so they allege; whereas, after the return of the brethren whom I had sent in my stead to the bishop of Constantinople, I sent a letter, so that, had he wished to publish it, from it alone it could abundantly have been recognized with what joy I approved those things which the synod had decreed concerning the faith.
But because in that same letter was contained what answer his ambition had received, he wished it to be unknown what I felt concerning my brethren's constitutions, lest at the same time it should be known that I had written back on behalf of the inviolable authority of the Nicene canons. Wherefore let your Love strive to admonish the most pious prince with frequent suggestions, that with his own addresses annexed he may command the writings of the Apostolic See to be conveyed to the priests of the several provinces: lest henceforth any enemy of the truth presume to excuse himself by my silence. CHAPTER
II. — But concerning the edict of the most Christian emperor, by which he showed what the ignorant madness of certain monks deserved, and concerning the response of the most pious Augusta, by which she rebuked the superiors of the monasteries, I signify that I rejoice greatly; not being ignorant that this very fervour of faith is bestowed upon them by divine inspiration, so that to all their excellence may appear to be one not only of royal eminence but also of priestly holiness. Among them, that your Fraternity may enjoy a more familiar confidence, I have both now and formerly made request, trusting in their good disposition that they will not with difficulty deign to grant necessary suggestions. CHAPTER
III. — And because the most clement emperor deigned to charge me more privately, through our son Paul, concerning the admonishing of our daughter the most clement Augusta Eudocia, I did what he wished, that by my letters she might recognize how fruitful it would be for her, if she favoured the Catholic faith; and I obtained that she should be admonished upon this matter by the letters of her son, the most clement prince; not doubting that she too would labour with pious zeal, so that the authors of the seditions might acknowledge the intent of their own profession, and, if they do not understand the preaching of those who teach, might at least fear the power of those who punish. With what profit therefore this our care may obtain its end, I desire straightway to learn by your Love's letters, and whether at length the rebellious ignorance is quieted;
and if she thinks she must waver concerning our doctrine, let her at least not reject the writings of Athanasius, Theophilus and Cyril, priests of Alexandria of blessed memory; with whom the form of our faith so agrees that he who professes to consent to them in no respect disagrees with us. CHAPTER IV. — With our son Aetius the presbyter, in his grief, we sympathize; and since in the place of his office one has been taken up who had been judged worthy of reprobation, there is no doubt that this exchange pertains to the injury of the Catholics. But these things must for the present be borne patiently, lest we seem to exceed the measure of our accustomed moderation:
since for the time being it may suffice for the aforesaid man that he is protected by the favour of the most clement princes, to whom I have lately so commended him in my letters, that I do not doubt his grace with those most religious minds is to be increased. CHAPTER V. — This too we wish you to know, that Anatolius the bishop, after our reproof, so persists in the temerity of his presumption that he approached the bishops of Illyricum to subscribe; which the bishop who was sent as a messenger of ordination from Thessalonica reported to us. To him therefore we were unwilling to write, although you yourself asked that this ought to be done, because we perceived that he is unwilling to be corrected. I have made two letters of like tenor to the synod:
one, to which I have caused copies of the letter given by me to Anatolius the bishop to be appended; the other, which does not have the copies appended; leaving it to your judgement, so that whichever one you judge should be given to the most clement prince, this you may hand over, the other being retained by you. Given on the twelfth day before the Kalends of April, in the consulship of the most illustrious Opilio.