Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 14
The Seven Ecumenical Councils
SECTION 81
Canon LVII.
Canon LVII. Bishops must not be appointed in villages or country districts, but visitors; and those who have been already appointed must do nothing without the consent of the bishop of the city. Presbyters, in like manner, must do nothing without the consent of the bishop. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon LVII. A bishop shall…
1,314 wordsSECTION 82Introduction on the number of the Canons.
Introduction on the number of the Canons. The Canons with the Ancient Epitome and Notes. Excursus to Canon I., on the condemned heresies. Excursus on the Authority of the Second Ecumenical Council. Synodical Letter of the Council of Constantinople, A.D. 382. [202] Theodosius was Emperor of the East. Gratian was Emperor of t…
2,358 wordsSECTION 83For there is one Lord Jesus Christ, not two, the same is God, the same is Lord, the same is King. He suffered in the flesh, and rose again,
For there is one Lord Jesus Christ, not two, the same is God, the same is Lord, the same is King. He suffered in the flesh, and rose again, and ascended into heaven in the same body, and with glory he sat down at the right hand of the Father, and in the same body he will come in glory to judge both the quick and the dead, and of…
2,224 wordsSECTION 84In the first place they declared, "Whosoever believes that there is any other Catholic faith and communion, besides that of the Universal Ch
In the first place they declared, "Whosoever believes that there is any other Catholic faith and communion, besides that of the Universal Church, that Church which holds and honours the decrees of the Councils of Nice, Constantinople, I. Ephesus, and Chalcedon, let him be anathema." After some further anathemas in the same sense…
1,629 wordsSECTION 85Letter of the Same Holy Synod to the Most Pious Emperor Theodosius the Great, to Which are Appended the Canons Enacted by Them.
Letter of the Same Holy Synod to the Most Pious Emperor Theodosius the Great, to Which are Appended the Canons Enacted by Them. (Found in Labbe, Concilia, Tom. II., 945.) To the most religious Emperor Theodosius, the Holy Synod of Bishops assembled in Constantinople out of different Provinces. We begin our letter to your Piet…
904 wordsSECTION 86Canon I.
Canon I. The Faith of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Fathers assembled at Nice in Bithynia shall not be set aside, but shall remain firm. And every heresy shall be anathematized, particularly that of the Eunomians or [Anomæans, the Arians or] Eudoxians, and that of the Semi-Arians or Pneumatomachi, and that of the Sabellians, a…
2,250 wordsSECTION 87The Sabellians.
The Sabellians. (Bright. Ut supra.) "The Sabellians," whose theory is traceable to Noetus and Praxeas in the latter part of the second century: they regarded the Son and the Holy Spirit as aspects and modes of, or as emanations from, the One Person of the Father (see Newman's Arians, pp. 120 et seqq.). Such a view tended direc…
816 wordsSECTION 88Canon II.
Canon II. The bishops are not to go beyond their dioceses to churches lying outside of their bounds, nor bring confusion on the churches; but let the Bishop of Alexandria, according to the canons, alone administer the affairs of Egypt; and let the bishops of the East manage the East alone, the privileges of the Church in Antioc…
763 wordsSECTION 89Canon III.
Canon III. The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative of honour after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon III. The bishop of Constantinople is to be honoured next after the bishop of Rome. It should be remembered that the change effected by this cano…
1,463 wordsSECTION 90Canon IV.
Canon IV. Concerning Maximus the Cynic and the disorder which has happened in Constantinople on his account, it is decreed that Maximus never was and is not now a Bishop; that those who have been ordained by him are in no order whatever of the clergy; since all which has been done concerning him or by him, is declared to be inv…
1,342 wordsSECTION 91Canon V.
Canon V. (Probably adopted at a Council held in Constantinople the next year, 382. Vide. Introduction on the number of the Canons.) In regard to the tome of the Western [Bishops], we receive those in Antioch also who confess the unity of the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Notes. Ancient Epitome…
1,049 wordsSECTION 92Canon VI.
Canon VI. (Probably adopted at a Council held in Constantinople the next year, 382. Vide Introduction on the number of Canons.) Forasmuch as many wishing to confuse and overturn ecclesiastical order, do contentiously and slanderously fabricate charges against the orthodox bishops who have the administration of the Churches, in…
1,689 wordsSECTION 93Canon VII.
Canon VII. Those who from heresy turn to orthodoxy, and to the portion of those who are being saved, we receive according to the following method and custom: Arians, and Macedonians, and Sabbatians, and Novatians, who call themselves Cathari or Aristori, and Quarto-decimans or Tetradites, and Apollinarians, we receive, upon the…
1,679 wordsSECTION 94Council of Constantinople.
Council of Constantinople. a.d. 382. The Synodical Letter. [238] To the right honourable lords our right reverend brethren and colleagues, Damasus, Ambrosius, Britton, Valerianus, Ascholius, Anemius, Basilius and the rest of the holy bishops assembled in the great city of Rome, the holy synod of the orthodox bishops assembled…
2,347 wordsSECTION 95But Nestorius, bishop of the royal city, possessed such influence, had deceived men's minds with such an appearance of piety, had gained so
But Nestorius, bishop of the royal city, possessed such influence, had deceived men's minds with such an appearance of piety, had gained so many bishops and enjoyed such favour with the younger Theodosius and the great men, that he could easily throw everything into commotion; and thus there was need of an Ecumenical Council, th…
2,423 wordsSECTION 96Extracts from the Acts.
Extracts from the Acts. Session I. [Before the arrival of the Papal Legates.] (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia Tom. III., col. 459 et seqq.) The Nicene Synod set forth this faith: We believe in one God, etc. When this creed had been recited, Peter the Presbyter of Alexandria, and primicerius of the notaries said: We have in o…
2,390 wordsSECTION 97Bishop Hefele was at first of opinion that the letter was merely read, being led to this conclusion by the silence of the Acts with regard t
Bishop Hefele was at first of opinion that the letter was merely read, being led to this conclusion by the silence of the Acts with regard to any acceptance of it, and indeed at first wrote on that side, but he afterwards saw grounds to change his mind and expresses them with his usual clearness, in the following words: (Hefele…
2,302 wordsSECTION 98We are careful also how we say about Christ: "I worship the One clothed on account of the One clothing him, and on account of the Unseen, I
We are careful also how we say about Christ: "I worship the One clothed on account of the One clothing him, and on account of the Unseen, I worship the Seen." It is horrible to say in this connexion as follows: "The assumed as well as the assuming have the name of God." For the saying of this divides again Christ into two, and p…
2,203 wordsSECTION 99This anathematism breaks to pieces the chief strength of the Nestorian impiety. For it sets forth two facts. The one that the Emmanuel, that
This anathematism breaks to pieces the chief strength of the Nestorian impiety. For it sets forth two facts. The one that the Emmanuel, that is he who was born of a woman and dwelt with us, is God: the other, that Mary who bare such an one is Mother of God. That Christ is God is clearly proved from the Nicene Creed, and he shews…
2,200 wordsSECTION 100Pearson is mistaken in supposing that the resolution of the compound Theotocos into meter tou Theou was unknown to the early Greek writers.
Pearson is mistaken in supposing that the resolution of the compound Theotocos into meter tou Theou was unknown to the early Greek writers. Dionysius expressly calls Mary he meter tou Theou mou (Contr. Paul. Samos., Quæst. viij.); and among the Latins Mater Dei and Dei Genetrix were (as Pearson himself confesses in note 37) used…
2,295 wordsSECTION 101Nestorius [in his Counter Anathematism] displays the hidden meaning of his heresy, when he says, that the Son of God is not one after the as
Nestorius [in his Counter Anathematism] displays the hidden meaning of his heresy, when he says, that the Son of God is not one after the assumption of the humanity; for he who denied that he was one, no doubt thought that he was two. Theodoret in his criticism of this Anathematism remarks that many of the Ancients, including S…
2,413 wordsSECTION 102In the foregoing will be found the very same arguments used and the same texts cited against the Catholic faith as are urged and cited by th
In the foregoing will be found the very same arguments used and the same texts cited against the Catholic faith as are urged and cited by the Rev. A. J. Mason, The Conditions of Our Lord's Life on Earth, and by several other recent writers. X. Whosoever shall say that it is not the divine Word himself, when he was made flesh a…
2,209 wordsSECTION 103Philip, the presbyter of the Apostolic See and Legate said: The custom has been sufficiently complied with, that the writings of the Apostol
Philip, the presbyter of the Apostolic See and Legate said: The custom has been sufficiently complied with, that the writings of the Apostolic See should first be read in Latin. [259] But now since your holiness has demanded that they be read in Greek also, it is necessary that your holiness's desire should be satisfied; We have…
2,260 wordsSECTION 104Theodotus, the bishop of Ancyra said: The God of the whole world has made manifest the justice of the judgment pronounced by the holy Synod
Theodotus, the bishop of Ancyra said: The God of the whole world has made manifest the justice of the judgment pronounced by the holy Synod by the writings of the most religious bishop Coelestine, and by the coming of your holiness. For ye have made manifest the zeal of the most holy and reverend bishop Coelestine, and his care …
1,443 wordsSECTION 105Canon I.
Canon I. Whereas it is needful that they who were detained from the holy Synod and remained in their own district or city, for any reason, ecclesiastical or personal, should not be ignorant of the matters which were thereby decreed; we, therefore, notify your holiness and charity that if any Metropolitan of a Province, forsakin…
1,780 wordsSECTION 106Canon II.
Canon II. If any provincial bishops were not present at the holy Synod and have joined or attempted to join the apostacy; or if, after subscribing the deposition of Nestorius, they went back into the assembly of apostates; these men, according to the decree of the holy Synod, are to be deposed from the priesthood and degraded f…
1,255 wordsSECTION 107Canon V.
Canon V. If any have been condemned for evil practices by the holy Synod, or by their own bishops; and if, with his usual lack of discrimination, Nestorius (or his followers) has attempted, or shall hereafter attempt, uncanonically to restore such persons to communion and to their former rank, we have declared that they shall n…
2,244 wordsSECTION 108Canon VIII.
4. The Fifth Ecumenical Council, the Second of Constantinople, received both the creeds of Nice and that of Constantinople, as well of the definitions of Ephesus and Chalcedon, and yet at the end of the fourth Session we find in the acts that the fathers cried out, with respect to the creed of Theodore of Mopsuestia: "This creed…
2,383 wordsSECTION 109Therefore we put off the assembling [of the council] after the appointed day of the Holy Pentecost for sixteen whole days; in the meanwhile
Therefore we put off the assembling [of the council] after the appointed day of the Holy Pentecost for sixteen whole days; in the meanwhile many of the bishops and clerics were overtaken with illness, and much burdened by the expense, and some even died. A great injury was thus being done to the great Synod, as your holiness eas…
2,245 wordsSECTION 110Furthermore those convicted of this heresy are no more to be permitted to have the rule of our monasteries, lest tares be sown and increase.
Furthermore those convicted of this heresy are no more to be permitted to have the rule of our monasteries, lest tares be sown and increase. And we give command that the most pious bishops Valerian and Amphilochius, and the rest of the most reverend bishops of the whole province shall pay attention that this decree be carried in…
2,308 wordsSECTION 111(Gallia Orthod., LIX.)
(Gallia Orthod., LIX.) Nor did Anatolius and the other bishops receive it, until they had deliberated, and found that Leo's letter agreed with the preceding councils. (Gallia Orthod., LX.) But here a singular discussion arises between the eminent Cardinals Bellarmine and Baronius. The latter, and with him a large number of ou…
2,309 wordsSECTION 112The most reverend bishops cried; Any other setting forth (ekthesin allen) no one makes, neither will we attempt it, neither will we dare to
The most reverend bishops cried; Any other setting forth (ekthesin allen) no one makes, neither will we attempt it, neither will we dare to set forth [anything new] (ekthesthai). For the fathers taught, and in their writings are preserved, what things were set forth by them, and further than this we can say nothing. Cecropius, …
2,239 wordsSECTION 113Will your holiness vouchsafe to silence those who say that a crasis, or mingling or mixture took place between the Word of God and flesh. Fo
Will your holiness vouchsafe to silence those who say that a crasis, or mingling or mixture took place between the Word of God and flesh. For it is likely that certain also gossip about me as having thought or said such things. But I am far from any such thought as that, and I also consider them wholly to rave who think a shado…
1,969 wordsSECTION 114Accordingly while the distinctness of both natures and substances was preserved, and both met in one Person, lowliness was assumed by majest
Accordingly while the distinctness of both natures and substances was preserved, and both met in one Person, lowliness was assumed by majesty, weakness by power, mortality by eternity; and, in order to pay the debt of our condition, the inviolable nature was united to the passible, so that as the appropriate remedy for our ills,…
2,868 wordsSECTION 115[Next was read a long catena of quotations from the Fathers sustaining the teaching of the Tome. (L. and C., Conc., Tom. IV., cols. 357-368.
[Next was read a long catena of quotations from the Fathers sustaining the teaching of the Tome. (L. and C., Conc., Tom. IV., cols. 357-368.)] [283] The translation here given is that of Rev. Wm. Bright. D.D., found in his Select Sermons of S. Leo the Great on the Incarnation with his XXVIIIth Epistle called the "Tome." London,…
2,685 wordsSECTION 116Following the holy Fathers we teach with one voice that the Son [of God] and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same [P
Following the holy Fathers we teach with one voice that the Son [of God] and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same [Person], that he is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, very God and very man, of a reasonable soul and [human] body consisting, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead,…
2,294 wordsSECTION 117Canon I.
And the whole holy synod cried out: This is a just sentence. This is a pious scheme. These things are fair to look upon. The most reverend bishop Bassianus said: Pray give order that what was stolen from me be restored. The most glorious judges said: If anything belonging to the most reverend bishop Bassianus personally has be…
797 wordsSECTION 118Canon II.
Canon II. If any Bishop should ordain for money, and put to sale a grace which cannot be sold, and for money ordain a bishop, or chorepiscopus, or presbyters, or deacons, or any other of those who are counted among the clergy; or if through lust of gain he should nominate for money a steward, or advocate, or prosmonarius, or an…
1,065 wordsSECTION 119Canon III.
Canon III. It has come to [the knowledge of] the holy Synod that certain of those who are enrolled among the clergy have, through lust of gain, become hirers of other men's possessions, and make contracts pertaining to secular affairs, lightly esteeming the service of God, and slip into the houses of secular persons, whose prop…
1,156 wordsSECTION 120Canon V.
Canon V. Concerning bishops or clergymen who go about from city to city, it is decreed that the canons enacted by the Holy Fathers shall still retain their force. Notes. Ancient Epitome of Canon V. Those who go from city to city shall be subject to the canon law on the subject. Clerical adventurers and brief pastorates are …
801 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.