His Letter Urging the Egyptians to Peace

And now, when everyone else was at peace, among the Egyptians alone a relentless quarrel still raged, so that it once more disturbed the emperor’s calm, though it did not rouse his anger. For he treated the quarreling parties with every respect, as fathers, or rather as prophets of God. Once again he summoned them into his presence, once again he patiently acted as mediator between them, honored them with gifts, and also sent them his decision as arbiter by letter. He confirmed and approved the decrees of the council, and called on them to work earnestly for harmony, not to tear the church apart and divide it, but to keep the thought of God’s judgment before them. And the emperor sent these instructions in a letter written in his own hand. [a]