An Ancient Introduction to the Council of Carthage

After the consulship of the most glorious emperors and Augusti, Honorius for the twelfth time and Theodosius for the eighth time, on the 25th of May, at Carthage, in the council hall of the basilica of Faustus. Pope Aurelius had taken his seat, together with Valentine, who held the primate’s see of the province of Numidia, and Faustinus of the church of Potentia, in the Italian province of Picenum, a legate of the Roman church. With them were the legates of the different African provinces, that is, of the two Numidias, of Byzacena, of Mauretania Caesariensis, and of Tripoli, and Vincent Colositanus, Fortunatian and other bishops of the proconsular province, two hundred and seventeen in all. With them also were Philip and Asellus, presbyters and legates of the Roman church, while the deacons stood by. Then Aurelius the bishop said what follows below. [a]