The Letter of the Synod of Antioch

This letter is found in Labbe and Cossart’s Concilia, volume 2, column 559. It is really no part of the canons, but I have placed it here because, as Labbe notes, “it is usually set before the canons in the Greek.” [a]

The holy and most peaceful synod gathered together at Antioch from the provinces of Coele-Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Cilicia and Isauria, to our like-minded and holy fellow ministers in every province: greetings in the Lord. [b] The grace and truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has looked upon the holy church of the Antiochenes. By joining it together in unity of mind and harmony and the Spirit of peace, it has likewise bettered many other things as well; and in them all this betterment is worked by the help of the holy, peace-giving Spirit. So we have now brought to your knowledge what was agreed on unanimously, after much examination and inquiry, by us bishops who have come from various provinces and met together at Antioch. We trust in the grace of Christ and in the Holy Spirit of peace that you too will agree with us and stand by us as far as lies in you: striving with us in prayers, and being still more united with us, following the Holy Spirit, joining in our definitions and decreeing the same things as we do, and in the harmony that comes from the Holy Spirit sealing and confirming what has been decided. The canons of the church that have been settled are attached below.