The Council Opens: The Roman Memorandum

Aurelius the bishop said: “Most blessed brothers, you remember that after the day set for the synod we discussed many things while we were waiting for our brothers who have now been sent as delegates and have arrived at this synod, and these things must be entered in the minutes. So let us give thanks to our Lord for bringing so great an assembly together. It remains for us to bring forward the acts of the synod of Nicaea which we now have, as the fathers determined them, together with what was enacted by our predecessors here who confirmed that same synod, and whatever has been usefully enacted on the same pattern by all ranks of the clergy, from the highest to the lowest.” The whole council said: “Let them be brought forward.” [a]

Daniel the notary read: “The profession of faith, or statutes, of the synod of Nicaea are as follows.” [c]

While he was still speaking, Faustinus, bishop of the people of Potentia in the Italian province of Picenum and a legate of the Roman church, said: “Certain matters have been entrusted to us by the Apostolic See in writing, and certain others as instructions, to be taken up with your blessedness, as we recalled in the minutes above. They concern the canons made at Nicaea, that their decrees and customs be observed; for some things are observed by decree and canon, and some by custom. So, if it please your blessedness, let us inquire into these matters first, and afterward let the other measures that have been adopted or proposed be confirmed. In this way you will be able to show the Apostolic See by your written replies, and declare to the same venerable pope, that we have carefully called these things to mind, even though the headings of what was done had already been entered in the minutes. “In this matter we should act, as I said above, as shall please your beloved blessedness. So let the memorandum be brought out before you, so that you can see what it contains and an answer can be given to each point.” [d]

Aurelius said: “Let the memorandum be brought forward which our brothers and fellow ministers lately placed in the minutes, and let the rest of what has been done, or is still to be done, follow in order.”

Daniel the notary read the memorandum: “Zosimus, the bishop, to our brother Faustinus and to our sons, the presbyters Philip and Asellus. You remember well that we entrusted certain business to you. Now carry everything out as if we ourselves were there, for indeed our presence is there with you, especially since you have this command of ours and the words of the canons, which for greater certainty we have inserted in this memorandum of ours. For this is what our brothers said in the Council of Nicaea when they made these decrees about the appeals of bishops: “‘But it seemed good that if a bishop has been accused…’ and the rest.” [g]