The Synod’s Letter Against Aetius

After all this, the emperor ordered that Aetius be condemned by a formal letter, and in obedience to his command, Aetius’s companions in wickedness condemned their own associate. So they wrote to George, bishop of Alexandria, the letter about him that I shall include in my history, to expose their wickedness; for they treated their friends exactly as they treated their enemies. [a]

A copy of the letter written by the whole council to George against Aetius, his deacon, because of his wicked blasphemy:

“To the most honorable lord George, bishop of Alexandria, the holy synod assembled at Constantinople sends greetings.

“Aetius has been condemned by the synod on account of his unlawful and most offensive writings, and the bishops have dealt with him according to the canons of the church. He has been removed from the office of deacon and expelled from the church. We have also sent out our warnings that no one is to read his unlawful letters, but that they are to be thrown aside because they are useless and worthless. We have further added an anathema against him, if he holds to his opinion, and against his supporters.

“It would naturally have followed that all the bishops gathered in the synod would loathe a man who is the author of offenses, disturbances and schisms, of unrest over all the world, and of church rising against church, and that they would approve the sentence passed on him. But in spite of our prayers, and against all our expectation, Seras, Stephen, Heliodorus and Theophilus and their party have not voted with us, and have not even agreed to sign the sentence passed on him. Yet Seras himself charged this same Aetius with another piece of insane arrogance. He alleged that Aetius, with still bolder impudence, had sprung forward to declare that what God had hidden from the apostles had now been revealed to him. Even after these wild and boastful words, reported by Seras about Aetius, the bishops we have named were not put to shame, nor could they be persuaded to vote with us for his condemnation. “We, however, bore with them very patiently for a great length of time, now indignant, now pleading, now pressing them to join with us and make the synod’s decision unanimous. We persevered a long while in the hope that they might listen and agree and give way. But when, in spite of all this patience, we could not shame them into accepting our declarations against this offender, we counted the rule of the church more precious than friendship with men. We pronounced against them a decree of excommunication, allowing them six months for conversion and repentance, and for expressing a desire for union and harmony with the synod. “If within the given time they should turn and accept agreement with their brothers, and assent to the decrees about Aetius, we decided that they should be received into the church, regaining their own authority in synods and our affection. But if they obstinately persisted, and preferred human friendship to the canons of the church and to our affection, we judged them deposed from the rank of bishop. If they are degraded, other bishops must be appointed in their place, so that the lawful church may be rightly ordered and at unity with herself, while all the bishops of every nation, teaching the same doctrine with one mind and one counsel, keep the bond of love. [b]

“To acquaint you with the synod’s decree, we have sent this letter to your reverence, and we pray that you will abide by it, and by the grace of Christ govern the churches under you rightly and in peace.”