The Synod’s Letter to the Church of Alexandria

To the church of Alexandria, by the grace of God holy and great, and to our dearly loved brothers, the orthodox clergy and laity throughout Egypt, and Pentapolis, and Libya, and every nation under heaven: the holy and great synod, the bishops assembled at Nicaea, wish you health in the Lord. [a]

The great and holy synod which was assembled at Nicaea through the grace of Christ and our most religious sovereign Constantine, who brought us together from our various provinces and cities, has considered matters that concern the faith of the church. So it seemed necessary to us that certain things should be sent from us to you in writing, so that you might have the means of knowing what has been raised and examined, and also what has been decreed and confirmed.

First of all, then, in the presence of our most religious sovereign Constantine, the impiety and transgression of Arius and his followers were examined. And it was unanimously decreed that he and his impious opinion should be anathematized, together with the blasphemous words and speculations he indulged in. He blasphemed the Son of God, saying that he is from things that are not, and that before he was begotten he was not, and that there was a time when he was not, and that the Son of God is by his own free will capable of vice and virtue; and saying also that he is a creature. All these things the holy synod has anathematized, not even bearing to hear his impious teaching and madness and blasphemous words. Of the charges against him and of how they turned out, you have either already heard the details or will hear them, so that we may not seem to be pressing hard on a man who has in fact received a fitting recompense for his own sin. So far indeed has his impiety prevailed that he has even destroyed Theonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais; for they too have received the same sentence as the rest. [b]

But when the grace of God had freed Egypt from that heresy and blasphemy, and from the persons who dared to cause disturbance and division among a people that until then had been at peace, there remained the matter of the insolence of Meletius and of those who have been ordained by him. Concerning this part of our work we now, dear brothers, go on to inform you of the synod’s decrees. The synod, then, being inclined to deal gently with Meletius, for in strict justice he deserved no leniency, decreed that he should remain in his own city, but have no authority either to ordain, or to manage affairs, or to make appointments; and that he should not appear in the countryside or in any other city for this purpose, but should keep only the bare title of his rank. But those who have been appointed by him, after they have been confirmed by a more sacred laying on of hands, shall be admitted to communion on these conditions: that they shall have both their rank and the right to minister, but that they shall rank wholly below all those who are enrolled in any church or parish and have been appointed by our most honored colleague Alexander. So these men are to have no authority to appoint persons who may please them, or to put forward names, or to do anything whatever without the consent of the bishops of the catholic and apostolic church who serve under our most holy colleague Alexander. But those who, by the grace of God and through your prayers, have been found in no schism, but on the contrary are without spot in the catholic and apostolic church, are to have authority to appoint and nominate worthy persons among the clergy, and in short to do everything according to the law and ordinance of the church. But if it happens that any of the clergy now in the church should die, then those who have lately been received are to succeed to the office of the one who has died, always provided that they appear to be worthy, and that the people elect them, and that the bishop of Alexandria agrees to the election and confirms it. This concession has been made to all the rest. But because of his disorderly conduct from the first, and the rashness and hastiness of his character, the same decree was not made concerning Meletius himself. Rather, since he is a man capable of committing the same disorders again, no authority or privilege is to be granted to him. [d]

These are the particulars that especially concern Egypt and the most holy church of Alexandria. But if anything else was enacted by canon or other decree in the presence of our most honored lord, our colleague and brother Alexander, he will himself convey it to you in greater detail, since he was both a guide and a fellow worker in what was done.

We further bring you the good news of the agreement concerning the holy Easter: this matter too has, through your prayers, been rightly settled. So all our brothers in the East who formerly followed the custom of the Jews are from now on to celebrate the most sacred feast of Easter at the same time as the Romans and yourselves and all those who have kept Easter from the beginning. [e]

Therefore, rejoicing in these wholesome results, and in our common peace and harmony, and in the cutting off of every heresy, receive with all the greater honor and with increased love our colleague, your bishop Alexander, who has gladdened us by his presence, and who at so great an age has undergone such great fatigue so that peace might be established among you and all of us. Pray also for us all, that the things which have been judged best may stand firm; for they have been done, as we believe, to the good pleasure of Almighty God and of his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory forever. Amen.