Extracts from
the Acts.
Session II.
(Labbe and Cossart,
Concilia
, Tom. III., col.
609.)
The most pious and God-beloved bishops, Arcadius and
Projectus, as also the most beloved-of-God Philip, a presbyter and
legate of the Apostolic See, then entered and took their
seats.
258
Philip the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See
said: We bless the holy and adorable Trinity that our lowliness
has been deemed worthy to attend your holy Synod. For a long time
ago (
πάλαι
) our most holy and
blessed pope Cœlestine, bishop of the Apostolic See, through his
letters to that holy and most pious man Cyril, bishop of Alexandria,
gave judgment concerning the present cause and affair (
ὥρισεν
) which
letters have been shown to your holy assembly. And now again for
the corroboration of the Catholic (
καθολικῆς
)
faith, he has sent through us letters to all your holinesses, which you
will bid (
κελούσατε
)
to be read with becoming reverence (
πρεπόντως
)
and to be entered on the ecclesiastical minutes.
Arcadius, a bishop and legate of the Roman Church
said: May it please your blessedness to give order that the
letters of the holy and ever-to-be-mentioned-with-veneration Pope
Cœlestine, bishop of the Apostolic See, which have been brought by
us, be read, from which your reverence will be able to see what care he
has for all the Churches.
Projectus, a bishop and legate of the Roman Church said,
May it please, etc. [
The same as Arcadius had said
verbatim!]
And afterwards the most holy and beloved-of-God Cyril,
bishop of the Church of Alexandria, spoke as is next in order
contained; Siricius, notary of the holy Catholic (
καθολικῆς
)
Church of Rome read it.
Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria said: Let the
letter received from the most holy and altogether most blessed
Cœlestine, bishop of the Apostolic See of Rome be read to the holy
Synod with fitting honour.
Siricius, notary of the holy Catholic (
καθολικῆς
)
Church of the city of Rome read it.
And after it was read in Latin, Juvenal, the bishop of
Jerusalem said: Let the writings of the most holy and blessed
bishop of great Rome which have just been read, be entered on the
minutes.
And all the most reverend bishops prayed that the letter
might be translated and read.
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 taken care that this be done, and that the Latin be
turned into Greek. Give order therefore that it be received and
read in your holy hearing.
Arcadius and Projectus, bishops and legates said, As
your blessedness ordered that the writings which we brought should be
brought to the knowledge of all, for of our holy brethren bishops there
are not a few who do not understand Latin, therefore the letter has
been translated into Greek and if you so command let it be read.
Flavian, the bishop of Philippi said: Let the
translation of the letter of the most holy and beloved of God, bishop
of the Roman Church be received and read.
Peter, the presbyter of Alexandria and primicerius of
the notaries read as follows:
258
It should be noted
that in the Acts Cyril is described as having “the place of the
most holy and sacred Archbishop of the Roman Church
Cœlestine.” Hefele says “that Cyril presided as
Pope’s vicar is asserted also by Mennas of Constantinople and
other Greek bishops in their letter to Pope Vigilius, in Mansi, t. ix.,
p. 62; Hardouin, t. iii., p. 10.” (Hef.,
Hist. of the
Councils
, Vol. III., p. 46, n. 4.)
259
This seems to me to be
the climax of improbable statements. There are many other things
which will induce the curious reader to suspect that the Acts are not
in good shape.