The Thirteenth Session: Nicomedia and Nicaea

When the reading of the imperial letters was finished, the most glorious judges said: “These divine letters say nothing whatever about the office of bishop; both of them refer to the honor that belongs to metropolitan cities. But the sacred letters of Valentinian and Valens, of divine memory, which at that time granted the rights of a metropolis to the city of Nicaea, carefully provided that nothing should be taken away from other cities. And the canon of the holy fathers decreed that there should be one metropolis in each province. What, then, is the pleasure of the holy synod in this matter?” [a] The holy synod cried out: “Let the canons be kept! Let the canons be enough!”

Atticus, the most reverend bishop of Old Nicopolis in Epirus, said: “The canon defines it this way: that a metropolitan should have jurisdiction in each province, and should appoint all the bishops who are in that province. That is the meaning of the canon. Now the bishop of Nicomedia, since this city has been a metropolis from the beginning, ought to ordain all the bishops who are in that province.” The holy synod said: “This is what we all wish! This is what we all pray for! Let this be kept everywhere! This pleases all of us!”

John, Constantine, Patrick (or Peter), and the rest of the most reverend bishops of the diocese of Pontus, speaking through John, who was one of them, said: “The canons recognize the more ancient one as the metropolitan. And it is plain that the most religious bishop of Nicomedia has the right of ordination, since the laws, as your magnificence has seen, have honored Nicaea with the name of metropolis only, and so have made its bishop superior to the other bishops of the province in honor only.” [c] The holy synod said: “They have taught in keeping with the canons; they have taught beautifully! We all say the same thing!”

Aetius, archdeacon of Constantinople, then entered a plea to save the rights of the throne of the royal city. [d]

The most glorious judges said: “The most reverend bishop of Nicomedia shall have the authority of metropolitan over the churches of the province of Bithynia. Nicaea shall have only the honor of metropolitan rank, and shall submit, after the example of the other bishops of the province of Nicomedia. For this is the pleasure of the holy synod.”