The Decree with Regard to the
Bishop of Ephesus.
Session XII.
(Labbe and Cossart,
Concilia
, Tom. IV., col.
706.)
The most glorious judges said: Since the
proposition of the God-beloved archbishop of royal Constantinople,
Anatolius, and of the most reverend bishop Paschasinus, holding the
place of Leo, the most God-beloved archbishop of old Rome, which orders
that because both of them [i.e., Bassianus and Stephen] acted
uncanonically, neither of them should rule, nor be called bishop of the
most holy church of Ephesus, and since the whole holy synod taught that
uncanonically they had performed these ordinations, and had agreed with
the speeches of the most reverend bishops; the most reverend Bassianus
and the most reverend Stephen will be removed from the holy church of
Ephesus; but they shall enjoy the episcopal dignity, and from the
revenues of the before-mentioned most holy church, for their
nourishment and consolation, they shall receive each year two hundred
gold pieces; and another bishop shall be ordained according to the
canons for the most holy church.
288
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 been
taken from him, either by the most reverend bishop Stephen, or by any
other persons whatsoever, this shall be restored, after judicial proof,
by them who took it away or caused it to be taken.
288
The English
translation of Hefele asserts twice (
Hist. of the Councils,
Vol.
III., pp. 173 and 376), that Bassianus was “deposed.”
This is entirely a mistake, he was deprived of his diocese, but
retained his episcopal rank.