Extracts from the Acts.
Session VII.
(From the Paris manuscript found in Hardouin
Concilia, Tom. III., 171 et seqq.; Mansi, Tom. ix., 346 et
seqq. This speech is not found in full in any other
The Ballerini [Hefele notes] raise
objections to the genuineness of the additions [in Noris. Opp., Tom. IV., 1037], but Hefele does not consider the objections of serious moment. [Hist. of the Councils, Vol. IV., p. 323, note 2.] All the agree that The most glorious quæster of the sacred palace, Constantine, was sent by the most pious Emperor, and when he had entered the Council spake as follows: “Certum est vestræ beatitudini, quantum, etc.” The rest of the speech differs in the different manuscripts. I follow that of Paris.)
You know how much care the most invincible Emperor has
always had that the contention raised up by certain persons with regard
to the Three Chapters should have a termination.…For this intent
he has required the most religious Vigilius to assemble with you and
draw up a decree on this matter in accordance with the Orthodox
faith. Although therefore, Vigilius has already frequently
condemned the Three Chapters in writing, and has done this also by word
of mouth in the presence of the Emperor, and of the most glorious
judges and of many members of this synod, and has always been ready to
smite with anathema the defenders of Theodore of Mopsuestia, and the
letter which was attributed to Ibas, and the writings of Theodoret
which he set forth against the orthodox faith and against the twelve
capitula of the holy Cyril: yet he has
refused to do this in communion with you and your synod.
Yesterday Vigilius sent Servus Dei, a most reverend
Subdeacon of the Roman Church, and invited Belisarius, Cethegus, as also Justinus and Constantine the most glorious consuls, as well as bishops Theodore, Ascidas, Benignus, and Phocas, to come to him as he wished to give through them an answer to the Emperor. They came, but speedily returned and informed the most pious lord, that we had visited Vigilius, the most religious bishop, and that he had said to us: “We have called you for this reason, that you may know what things have been done in the past days. To this end I have written a document about the disputed Three Chapters, addressed to the most pious Emperor, pray be good enough to read it, and to carry it to his Serenity.” But when we had heard this and had seen the document written to your serenity, we said to him that we could not by any means receive any document written to the most pious Emperor without his bidding. “But you have deacons for running with messages, by whom you can send it.” He, however, said to us: “You now know that I have made the document.” But we, bishops, answered him: “If your blessedness is willing to meet together with us and the most holy Patriarchs, and the most religious bishops, and to treat of the Three Chapters and to give, in unison with us all, a suitable form of the orthodox faith, as the Holy Apostles and the holy Fathers and the four Councils have done, we will hold thee as our head, as a father and primate. But if your holiness has drawn up a document for the Emperor, you have errand-runners, as we have said; send it by them.” And when he had heard these things from us, he sent Servus Dei the Subdeacon, who now awaits the answer of your serenity. And when his Piety had heard this, he commanded through the aforesaid most religious and glorious men, the before-named subdeacon to carry back this message to the most religious Vigilius: “We invited him (you) to meet together with the most blessed patriarchs and other religious bishops, and with them in common to examine and judge the Three Chapters. But since you have refused to do this, and you say that you alone have written by yourself somewhat on the Three Chapters; if you have condemned them, in accordance with those things which you did before, we have already many such statements and need no more; but if you have written now something contrary to these things which were done by you before, you have condemned yourself by your own writing, since you have departed from orthodox doctrine and have defended impiety. And how can you expect us to receive such a document from you?”
And when this answer was given by the most pious
Emperor, he did not send through the same deacon any document in
writing from himself. And all this was done without writing as
also to your blessedness.