TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH WITH PROLEGOMENA AND EXPLANATORY NOTES,
UNDERTHE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF
PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D.,
AND
HENRY WACE, D.D,
Pro
Pri
IN COT&T CLARK
EDINBURGH
WM. B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY
G RA ND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
VOLUME XIV
THE SEVEN ECUMENICAL COUNCILS
__________________
Volume XIV
Preface
General Introduction
Bibliographical Introduction
Appended Note on the Eastern Editions of Synodical Literature
Excursus on the History of the Roman Law and Its Relation to the Canon Law
The First Ecumenical Council; The First Council of Nice
Historical Introduction
The Nicene Creed
Excursus on the Word Homousios
Excursus on the Words Gennhqe/ta Ou0 Poihqe/nta
The Canons of the 318 Holy Fathers Assembled in the City of Nice, in Bithynia
Excursus on the Use of the Word "Canon."
Excursus on the Word Prosfe/rein
Excursus on the Extent of the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Over the Suburbican Churches
Excursus on the Rise of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Excursus on the Chorepiscopi
Excursus on the Public Discipline or Exomologesis of the Early Church
Excursus on the Communion of the Sick
Excursus on the Translation of Bishops
Excursus on Usury
Excursus on the Deaconess of the Early Church
Excursus on the Number of the Nicene Canons
The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of Nice
Proposed Action on Clerical Celibacy
The Synodal Letter
On the Keeping of Easter
Excursus on the Subsequent History of the Easter Question
The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra Neocaesarea, Antioch and Laodicea
Introductory Note to the Canons of the Provincial Synods
The Canons of the Council of Ancyra
Historical Note
Excursus on Second Marriages, Called Digamy
The Council of Neocaesarea
Historical Note
The Council of Gangra
Historical Introduction
Synodical Letter of the Council of Gangra
The Canons of the Holy Fathers Assembled at Gangra
Epilogue
The Synod of Antioch in Encaeniis
The Synodal Letter
The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria
Synod of Laodicea
Historical Introduction
The Canons of the Synod Held in the City of Laodicea, in Phrygia Pacatiana
Excursus on the Choir Offices of the Early Church
Excursus on the Worship of the Early Church. (Percival, H. R.: Johnson's Universal Cyclopoedia, Vol. V., S. V. Liturgics.)
Excursus on the Vestments of the Early Church
Excursus on the Minor Orders of the Early Church. (Lightfoot, Apostolic Fathers, Ignatius, Vol. I., P. 258.)
The Second Ecumenical Council. The First Council of Constantinople
Historical Introduction
The Holy Creed Which the 150 Holy Fathers Set Forth, Which is Consonant with the Holy and Great Synod of Nice
Introductory Note
Historical Excursus on the Introduction into the Creed of the Words "And the Son."
Historical Note on the Lost "Tome" Of the Second Council
Letter of the Same Holy Synod to the Most Pious Emperor Theodosius the Great, to Which are Appended the Canons Enacted by Them
Introduction on the Number of the Canons
Canons of the One Hundred and Fifty Fathers
Excursus on the Heresies Condemned in Canon I
Excursus on the Authority of the Second Ecumenical Council. (Hefele, History of the Councils, Vol. II., Pp. 370, Et Seqq.)
Council of Constantinople: the Synodical Letter
The Third Ecumenical Council.; The Council of Ephesus
Historical Introduction
Extracts from the Acts. Session I
The Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius
Extracts from the Acts. Session I. (Continued)
Historical Introduction to St. Cyril's Anathematisms
The Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius with the XII. Anathematisms
The XII. Anathematisms of St. Cyril Against Nestorius
Excursus on the Word Qeoto/koj
Excursus on How Our Lord Worked Miracles
Extracts from the Acts. Session I. (Continued)
Decree of the Council Against Nestorius. (Found in All the Concilia in Greek with Latin Versions.)
Extracts from the Acts. Session II
The Letter of Pope Coelestine to the Synod of Ephesus
Extracts from the Acts. Session II. (Continued.)
Extracts from the Acts. Session III
The Canons of the Two Hundred Holy and Blessed Fathers Who Met at Ephesus
Excursus on the Conciliabulum of John of Antioch
Excursus on Pelagianism
Excursus on the Words Pi/stin 0Epe/ran
The Letter of the Same Holy Synod of Ephesus, to the Sacred Synod in Pamphylia Concerning Eustathius Who Had Been Their Metropolitan
The Letter of the Synod to Pope Celestine
The Definition of the Holy and Ecumenical Synod of Ephesus Against the Impious Messalians
Decree of the Synod in the Matter of Euprepius and Cyril
The Fourth Ecumenical Council.; The Council of Chalcedon
General Introduction
Extracts from the Acts. Session I
Extracts from the Acts. Session II
The Letter of Cyril to John of Antioch
Extracts from the Acts. Session II. (Continued)
The Tome of St. Leo
Extracts from the Acts Session II. (Continued)
Session III
The Condemnation Sent by the Holy and Ecumenical Synod to Dioscorus
Extracts from the Acts. Session IV
Session V
The Definition of Faith of the Council of Chalcedon
Extracts from the Acts. Session VI
Decree on the Jurisdiction of Jerusalem and Antioch. Session VII
The Decree with Regard to the Bishop of Ephesus. Session XII
Decree with Regard to Nicomedia. Session XIII
The XXX Canons of the Holy and Fourth Synods, of Chalcedon
Excursus on the Later History of Canon XXVIII
Extracts from the Acts. Session XVI
The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople
Historical Introduction
Excursus on the Genuineness of the Acts of the Fifth Council
Extracts from the Acts. Session I
Extracts from the Acts. Session VII
The Sentence of the Synod
The Capitula of the Council
Excursus on the XV Anathemas Against Origen
The Anathemas Against Origen
The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian Against Origen
The Decretal Epistle of Pope Vigilius in Confirmation of the Fifth Ecumenical Synod
Historical Note
The Sixth Ecumenical Council.; The Third Council of Constantinople
Historical Introduction
Extracts from the Acts. Session I
The Letter of Agatho, Pope of Old Rome, to the Emperor
The Letter of Agatho and of the Roman Synod of 125 Bishops
Extracts from the Acts. Session VIII
The Sentence Against the Monothelites. Session XIII
Session XVI
The Definition of Faith
The Prosphoneticus to the Emperor
Letter of the Council to St. Agatho
Excursus on the Condemnation of Pope Honorius
The Imperial Edict Posted in the Third Atrium of the Great Church Near What is Called Dicymbala
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called the Quinisext Council
Introductory Note
The Canons of the Council in Trullo
Excursus on the Marriage of the Clergy
The Canons of the Synods of Sardica, Carthage, Constantinople, and Carthage
Introductory Note
The Council of Sardica
Introduction on the Date of the Council
The Canons of the Council of Sardica
Excursus on the Other Acts of the Council
Excursus as to Whether the Sardican Council Was Ecumenical
The Canons of the CCXVII Blessed Fathers Who Assembled at Carthage
Introductory Note
An Ancient Introduction
Council of Constantinople Held Under Nectarius
Introductory Note
The Council of Carthage Held Under Cyprian
Introductory Note
The Synod Held at Carthage Over Which Presided the Great and Holy Martyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage.A.D. 257
Epistle LXX
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice
Introduction
The Divine Sacra Sent by the Emperors Constantine and Irene to the Most Holy and Most Blessed Hadrian, Pope of Old Rome
The Imperial Sacra. Read at the First Session
Extracts from the Acts. Session I
Extracts from the Acts. Session II
Part of Pope Hadrian's Letter
Extracts from the Acts. Session III
Extracts from the Acts. Session IV
Extracts from the Acts. Session VI
Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum
Excursus on the Conciliabulum Styling Itself the Seventh Ecumenical Council, But Commonly Called the Mock Synod of Constantinople
The Decree of the Holy, Great, Ecumenical Synod, the Second of Nice
Excursus on the Present Teaching of the Latin and Greek Churches on the Subject
The Canons of the Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Council
The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress
Excursus on the Two Letters of Gregory II. To the Emperor Leo
Excursus on the Reception of the Seventh Council
Examination of the Caroline Books
Excursus on the Council of Frankfort, A.D., 794
Excursus on the Convention Said to Have Been Held in Paris, A.D. 825
Historical Note on the So-Called "Eighth General Council" And Subsequent Councils
Appendix
Prefatory Note
The Apostolical Canons
Introduction
The Letter of the Blessed Dionysius, the Archbishop of Alexandria to Basilides the Bishop
The Canons of the Blessed Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria, and Martyr, Which are Found in His Sermon on Penitence
The Canonical Epistle of St. Gregory
The Epistle of St. Athanasius to the Monk Ammus
The Epistle of the Same Athanasius Taken from the XXXIX. Festal Epistle
The Epistle of St Athanasius to Ruffinian
The First Canonical Epistle of Our Holy Father Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
The Second Canonical Epistle of the Same
The Third Epistle of the Same to the Same
From an Epistle of the Same to the Blessed Amphilochius on the Difference of Meats
Of the Same to Diodorus Bishop of Tarsus, Concerning a Man Who Had Taken Two Sisters to Wife
Of the Same to Gregory a Presbyter, that He Should Separate from a Woman Who Dwelt with Him
Of the Same to the Chorepiscopi, that No Ordinations Should Be Made Contrary to the Canons
Of the Same to His Suffragans that They Should Not Ordain for Money
From Chapter XVII. Of the Book St. Basil Wrote to Blessed Amphilochius on the Holy Ghost
From the Letter of Basil the Great to the Nicopolitans
The Canonical Epistle of St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, to St. Letoius, Bishop of Melitene
From the Metre Poems of St. Gregory Theologus, Specifying Which Books of the Old and New Testament Should Be Read
From the Iambics of St. Amphilochius the Bishop to Seleucus, on the Same Subject
The Canonical Answers of Timothy
The Prosphonesus of Theophilus, Archbishop of Alexandria, When the Holy Epiphanies Happened to Fall on a Sunday
The Commonitory of the Same Which Ammon Received on Account of Lycus
Of the Same to Agatho the Bishop
Of the Same to Menas the Bishop
The Narrative of the Same Concerning Those Called Cathari
The Canonical Epistle of Our Holy Father Among the Saints, Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, on the Hymns
Cyril to Domnus
Of the Same to the Bishops of Libya and Pentapolis
The Encyclical Letter of Gennadius
Preface
The work intrusted to me of preparing this volume evidently can be divided into two separate parts. The first, the collecting of the material needed and the setting of it before the reader in the English tongue; the other, the preparation of suitable introductions and notes to the matter thus provided. Now in each of these departments two courses were open to the editor: the one, to be original; the other, to be a copyist. I need hardly say that of these the former offered many temptations. But I could not fail to recognize the fact that such a course would greatly take from the real value of the work, and therefore without any hesitation I have adopted the other alternative, and have endeavoured, so far as was at all possible, to keep myself out of the question altogether; and as a general rule even the translation of the text (as distinguished from the notes) is not mine but that of some scholar of well-established reputation.
In the carrying out of this method of procedure I have availed myself of all the translations which I could find, and where, after comparing them with the original, I have thought them substantially accurate, I have adopted them and reproduced them. Where I have thought that the translation was misleading, I have amended it from some other translation, and, I think, in no case have I ventured a change of translation which rests upon my own judgment alone. A very considerable portion, however, of the matter found in this volume is now translated into English for the first time. For some of this I am indebted to my friends, who have most kindly given me every assistance in their power, but even here no translation has been made from the Greek without careful reference being had to the traditional understanding, as handed down in the Latin versions, and wherever the Latin and Greek texts differ on material points the difference has been noted. I have not thought it necessary nor desirable to specify the source of each particular translation, but I have provided for the use of the reader a list of all the translations which I have used. I should also add that I have not considered any one text sufficiently well established as to command any deference being paid to it, and that I have usually followed (for my own convenience rather than for any other reason) the text contained in Labbe and Cossart's Concilia. No doubt Hardouin and Mansi are in some respects superior, but old prejudices are very strong, and the reader will remember that these differing Concilia gave rise to a hard-fought battle in the history of the Gallican Church. I should add, however, that where more recent students of the subject have detected errors of importance in Labbe's text, I have corrected them, usually noting the variety of reading. With regard then to the text I entirely disclaim any responsibility, and the more so as on such a matter my opinion would be entirely valueless. And with regard to the translation my responsibility goes no further than the certifying the reader that, to all intents and purposes, the meaning of the original is presented to him in the English language and without interpretation being introduced under the specious guise of translation. Some portions are mere literal translations, and some are done into more idiomatic English, but all-so far as I am able to judge-are fair renderings of the original, its ambiguities being duly preserved. I have used as the foundation of the translation of the canons of the first four synods and of the five Provincial Synods that most convenient book, Index Canonum, by the Rev. John Fulton, D.D., D.C.L., in which united to a good translation is a Greek text, very well edited and clearly printed.
In preparing the other division of the book, that is to say, the Introduction and Notes, I have been guided by the saine considerations. Here will be found no new and brilliant guesses of my own, but a collection of the most reliable conclusions of the most weighty critics and commentators. Where the notes are of any length I have traced the source and given the exact reference, but for the brief notes, where I have not thought this necessary, the reader may feel the greatest confidence that he is not reading any surmises of mine, but that in every particular what he reads rests upon the authority of the greatest names who have written on the subject. In the bibliographical table already referred to I have placed the authorities most frequently cited.
I think it necessary to make a few remarks upon the rule which I have laid down for myself with regard to my attitude on controverted questions bearing upon doctrine or ecclesiastical discipline. It seems to me that in such a work as the present any expression of the editor's views would be eminently out of place. I have therefore confined myself to a bare statement of what I conceive to be the facts of the case, and have left the reader to draw from them what conclusions he pleases. I hope that this volume may be equally acceptable to the Catholic and to the Protestant, to the Eastern and to the Western, and while I naturally think that the facts presented are clearly in accordance with my own views, I hope that those who draw from the same premises different conclusions will find these premises stated to their satisfaction in the following pages. And should such be the case this volume may well be a step toward "the union of all" and toward "the peace of all the holy churches of God," for which the unchanging East has so constantly prayed in her liturgy.
I wish to explain to the reader one other principle on which I have proceeded in preparing this volume. It professes to be a translation of the decrees and canons of certain ecclesiastical synods. It is not a history of those synods, nor is it a theological treatise upon the truth or otherwise of the doctrines set forth by those synods in their legislation. I have therefore carefully restricted my own historical introductions to a bare statement of such facts as seemed needed to render the meaning of the matter subsequently presented intelligible to the reader. And with regard to doctrine I have pursued the same course, merely explaining what the doctrine taught or condemned was, without entering into any consideration of its truth or falsity. For the history of the Church and its Councils the reader must consult the great historians; for a defence of the Church's faith he must read the works of her theologians.
I need hardly say that the overwhelming majority of the references found in this volume I have had no opportunity of verifying, no copy of many of the books being (so far as I know) to be found in America. I have, however, taken great pains to insure accuracy in reproducing the references as given in the books from which I have cited them; this, however, does not give me any feeling of confidence that they may be relied on, especially as in some cases where I have been able to look them up, I have found errors of the most serious kind.
It now only remains that I thank all those who have assisted me in this work, and especially I must mention his Excellency the High Procurator of the Holy Governing Synod of Russia, who directed the bibliographical table of Russian editions of the Canons, etc., which is found in this volume, to be prepared for me by Professor Glubokoffski of the Ecclesiastical Academy at St. Petersburgh. My special thanks are due to the learned professor just named for the very admirable manner in which he has performed the work, and to Mr. W. J. Birkbeck, who has added one more to his numerous labours for making the West better acquainted with the East by translating the Russian ms. into English. I cannot but pause here to remark how deep my regret is that my ignorance of the Russian and Slavic tongues has prevented me from laying before my readers the treasures of learning and the stores of tradition and local illustration which these volumes must contain. I am, however, extremely well pleased in being able to put those, who are more fortunate than myself in this respect, in the way of investigating the matter for themselves, by supplying them with the titles of the books on the subject. I desire also to offer my thanks to Professor Bolotoff for the valuable information he sent me as well as for a copy of his learned (and often most just) strictures upon Professor Lauchert's book, "Die Kanones der wichtigsten altkirchlichen Concilien nebst den Apostolischen Kanones." (Freiburg in B. und Leipzig, 1896.)
The Rev. Wm. McGarvey has helped me most kindly by translating parts of the Second Council of Nice, and one or more of the African Canons; and by looking over the translation of the entire African Code.
The Rev. F. A. Sanborn translated two of St. Cyril's letters, and the Rev. Leighton Hoskins the Sardican Canons. To these and many other of my friends, who in one way or another helped me, I wish to return my deep thanks; also to the Nashotah Theological Seminary and to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mr. Airy, Philadelphia, for having placed their libraries entirely at my disposal; nor can I end this list without mention of my sister, who has assisted me most materially through the entire progress of the work, and without whom I never could have undertaken it.When I think of the great number of authors cited, of the rapidity with which most of the translation has had to be done, of the difficulty of getting access to the necessary books, and of the vast range of subjects touched upon (including almost every branch of ecclesiastical and theological learning), I feel I must throw myself and my work upon the reader's indulgence and beg him to take all this in consideration in making his estimate of the value of the work done. As for me, now that it is all finished, I feel like crying out with the reader, in deep shame at the recollection of the many blunders he has made in reading the lesson,-"Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis!"
In conclusion I would add that nothing I have written must be interpreted as meaning that the editor personally has any doubt of the truth of the doctrines set forth by the Ecumenical Councils of the Christian Church, and I wish to declare in the most distinct manner that I accept all the doctrinal decrees of the Seven Ecumenical Synods as infallible and irreformable.
