Chapter I. — By the letters of your clemency, which you long ago sent to the see of blessed Peter the apostle out of love for the Catholic faith, we conceived such great confidence in the truth and peace to be defended through you, that in a cause so simple and so fortified we thought that nothing could exist which might harm it;
especially since to the episcopal council which you ordered to be held at Ephesus, men were sent so well instructed that, if the Alexandrian prelate had permitted the writings which they brought either to the holy synod or to bishop Flavian to be published to the ears of the bishops, then, by the manifestation of the purest faith — which we have both received as divinely inspired and hold — the noise of all contentions would have been stilled, so that neither would ignorance rave on any further, nor would rivalry find occasion for harming.
But while private causes were carried on under the pretext of religion, there was committed, through the impiety of a few, that which might wound the whole Church. For we have learned, not from an uncertain messenger, but from our most faithful narrator of the things that were done, our deacon Hilary — who scarcely escaped, lest he be forced by violence to subscribe — that very many priests had convened to the synod, whose frequency would surely have profited the deliberation and judgment, if he who claimed for himself the chief place had been willing to keep priestly moderation; so that, as is the custom, with the opinions of all brought forth in liberty, that might be established by tranquil and equitable examination which both agreed with the faith and came to the aid of the erring.
But in the judgment itself we have learned that not all who had convened were present. For some we learned were rejected, others let in, who by the will of the aforesaid priest gave their captive hands to impious subscriptions, and knew that it would harm their own standing unless they did what was commanded; and that such a sentence was brought forth by him, that while one man is assailed, there might be raging against the whole Church. Which our men, directed from the apostolic see, saw to be so impious and contrary to the Catholic faith, that by no oppression could they be compelled to consent, and steadfastly in that same synod, as was fitting, they were before the authority, declaring that the apostolic see would by no means receive that which was being established:
since in very truth the whole sacred mystery of the Christian faith — may it be far from the times of your piety — is cut off, unless this most wicked crime, which exceeds all sacrileges, be abolished. CHAPTER II. — But because diabolical wickedness subtly deceives the incautious, and so mocks the imprudence of certain men through a semblance of piety that it persuades them of harmful things as though salutary, remove, we beseech you, from the conscience of your piety the peril of religion and faith; and that equity of your laws which is granted in secular affairs, bestow in the handling of divine matters: that human presumption may offer no violence to the Gospel of Christ.
Behold, I, most Christian and venerable emperor, together with my fellow priests, fulfilling toward the reverence of your clemency the office of sincere love, and desiring that you please God in all things — to whom on your behalf the Church makes supplication — lest before the tribunal of Christ the Lord we be judged guilty on account of silence, beseech you, in the presence of the inseparable Trinity of the one Godhead, which is injured by such a deed, since it is itself both the guardian and author of your empire, and in the presence of the holy angels of Christ, that you order all things to be in that state in which they were before every judgment, until a greater number of priests from the whole world be gathered.
Let not yourselves be burdened by another's sin: because — what it is necessary for us to say — we fear lest the indignation of Him whose religion is being dissipated be provoked.
Have before your eyes, and with the whole keenness of your mind reverently behold, the glory of blessed Peter, and the crowns common with him of all the apostles, and the palms of all the martyrs, whose was no other cause of suffering than the confession of the true divinity and true humanity in Christ. CHAPTER III. — To which sacred mystery, since it is now impiously opposed by a few imprudent men, all the Churches of our parts, all the priests supplicate your gentleness with groanings and tears, that — since both our men faithfully protested and bishop Flavian gave them a petition of appeal — you would order a general synod to be celebrated within Italy, which may so repel or mitigate all offenses that nothing further be either doubtful in the faith or divided in charity; with the bishops of the Eastern provinces likewise convening — of whom, if any, overcome by threats and injuries, have deviated from the path of truth, let them be restored to soundness by salutary remedies;
and let those very ones whose case is harsher, if they acquiesce in better counsels, not fall away from the unity of the Church. But that this is necessarily demanded after an appeal has been interposed, the decrees of the canons held at Nicaea attest, which were established by the priests of the whole world, and which are annexed below. Favor the Catholics after your own manner and that of your parents. Grant liberty for the defense of the faith, which — saving the reverence of your clemency — no force, no worldly terror shall be able to take away.
For we plead the causes of the Church and likewise those of your kingdom and salvation, that you may hold your provinces by an untroubled right. Defend against the heretics the unshaken standing of the Church, so that your empire too may be defended by the right hand of Christ. Given on the first day before the Ides of October, in the consulship of the most illustrious men Asturius and Protogenes.