The Second Session: The Legates from Rome Arrive

The most devout and God-beloved bishops Arcadius and Projectus, and also the most God-beloved Philip, a presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See, then came in and took their seats. [a] Philip, presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See, said: “We bless the holy and adorable Trinity that our lowliness has been counted worthy to attend your holy synod. Long ago our most holy and blessed Pope Celestine, bishop of the Apostolic See, gave his judgment on the present case and matter in his letters to that holy and most devout man Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, and those letters have been shown to your holy assembly. And now again, to strengthen the catholic faith, he has sent through us letters to all your holinesses. Please order them to be read with fitting reverence and entered in the church’s minutes.” [c] Arcadius, a bishop and legate of the Roman church, said: “May it please your blessedness to order that the letters of the holy Pope Celestine, ever to be named with veneration, bishop of the Apostolic See, which we have brought, be read. From them 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…” and so on. He said, word for word, the same as Arcadius had said. [d]

After this the most holy and God-beloved Cyril, bishop of the church of Alexandria, spoke, as is set down next; and Siricius, notary of the holy catholic church of Rome, read it. Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, said: “Let the letter received from the most holy and altogether most blessed Celestine, bishop of the Apostolic See of Rome, be read to the holy synod with fitting honor.” Siricius, notary of the holy catholic church of the city of Rome, read it. And after it had been read in Latin, Juvenal, bishop of Jerusalem, said: “Let the writings of the most holy and blessed bishop of great Rome, which have just been read, be entered in the minutes.” [e] And all the most reverend bishops asked that the letter be translated and read.

Philip, presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See, said: “The custom has been sufficiently observed, that the writings of the Apostolic See should first be read in Latin. But now, since your holiness has demanded that they be read in Greek as well, your holiness’s wish must be satisfied. We have taken care that this be done, and that the Latin be put into Greek. Order it, then, to be received and read in your holy hearing.” Arcadius and Projectus, bishops and legates, said: “As your blessedness ordered that the writings we brought should be made known to all, and since not a few of our holy brothers the bishops do not understand Latin, the letter has been translated into Greek; and if you so command, let it be read.” Flavian, bishop of Philippi, said: “Let the translation of the letter of the most holy and God-beloved bishop of the Roman church be received and read.” Peter, presbyter of Alexandria and chief of the notaries, read as follows: [f]