Proclus, Bishop of Constantinople

- ^A clus, a man pious and practiced in wrestling against those who pervert what is right, and accustomed to bearing away the victory through the assertion of the truth.

II.

SOCRATES, Eccl. Hist., lib. VII, cap. 26

After the death of Atticus, much contention arose regarding the ordination of a bishop, while some sought one man, others another: for some, he says, sought Philippus the presbyter, and others Proclus; and he too was a presbyter. But the whole people collectively desired Sisinnius to be ordained.

IDEM ibid., cap. 28

When the bishop of the Cyzicenes had died, Sisinnius ordained Proclus as bishop of Cyzicus. When Proclus, therefore, was about to set out for it, the Cyzicenes forestalled him and ordained a religious man named Dalmatius. And they did this having neglected the law which commands that no ordination of a bishop take place without the opinion of the Bishop of Constantinople. They neglected this law because they believed it had been enacted and pertained only to the person of Atticus. Proclus therefore remained at Constantinople, and although he did not preside over his own Church, yet he flourished by teaching in the churches of Constantinople.

IDEM ibid., cap. 35

After the deposition of Nestorius, there was again a dispute about electing a bishop. ^B And many indeed chose Philippus, but more chose Proclus; and the election of Proclus would certainly have prevailed, had not some of the powerful resisted, saying that an ecclesiastical canon forbade a bishop once attached to one church from being transferred to another city. This having been said and believed, it compelled the people to acquiesce.

IDEM ibid., chapter 36

Those who then attempted to say these things were either infected by envy towards Proclus, or were ignorant of both the canons and what had frequently and usefully been done in the Churches.

IDEM ibid., chapter 40

Maximianus, having presided over the Church in peace for two years and five months, died ^C in the consulate of Areobindus and Aspar, on the twelfth day of the month of April. It happened, moreover, that it was the week of the fasts, near to the feast of Pascha; and that day was the one called the fifth. Then, indeed, the Emperor Theodosius also wisely provided for this matter: for, so that a dispute might not again arise regarding the election of a bishop and stir up turmoil in the Church, without delay, while the body of Maximianus was still lying [unburied], he commanded the bishops who were present to enthrone Proclus; for to this matter the letters of Celestine, the ^D Roman bishop, which had been brought, also consented, which he had sent to Cyril of Alexandria, and to John of Antioch, and to Rufus of Thessalonica, teaching that nothing hindered him who might be named for another Church, or even if he were a bishop, from being transferred to another...

Having been enthroned, then, Proclus performed the translation of the body of Maximian. *Idem ibid., cap. 41.*

Proclus from his earliest years was a reader, and he frequented teachers, and became a follower of rhetoric. When he had grown into a man, he was often with Bishop Atticus, and was the amanuensis of that man’s books. Proclus, however, made progress, and Atticus promoted him to the order of the diaconate; and afterwards, having attained the presbyterate, as I said before, he was promoted to the episcopate of Cyzicus. Then, indeed, he obtained the see of the Church in Constantinople. He was a man of good character, and, if any other person was, he was instructed by Atticus, and imitated whatever good things were in him; but he exercised gentleness more than he had. For he showed himself ^A terrible to heretics in that time; but this man was mild to all, and in this way he thought he could more easily win them over than by violence; since he wished to harass no heresy, he restored to the Church her dignity through gentleness; and in that respect he was imitating the Emperor Theodosius.

*Idem ibid., cap. 42.*

In this way, therefore, the emperor praised Proclus; for he himself also imitated true priests, and in no way approved of those who were eager to persecute.

*Idem ibid., cap. 43.*

The leader of the barbarians, by name Rugas, died struck by lightning; and the pestilence that followed destroyed the greatest part of those men who had been under him. And not even this sufficed, but also fire descended from heaven and consumed many of those who remained. Then, indeed, Bishop Proclus, while expounding in church the prophecy of Ezekiel concerning the salvation granted by God, was greatly admired. And the words of the prophecy are these: *And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, prince of Rhos, Meshech and Tubal; for I will judge him with ^B death, and with blood and with a violent downpour, and with stones of hail; and fire, and sulphur I will rain upon him, and upon all those who are with him, and upon many nations with him. And I will be magnified, and I will be glorified, and I will be known in the sight of many nations; and they shall know that I am the Lord.* Proclus, as I said, was greatly admired for these things.

III. From the Council of Antioch under Domnus, inserted into the acts of the Acts of the XIV of the Council of Chalcedon, Venetian edition Labb. tom. IV, pp. 1659, 1662, 1663.

Domnus, Bishop of Antioch, said: I also know that the bishop Athanasius has departed; for he brought me letters from the most God-beloved and most holy bishops, I mean of the Lord Proclus and of the Lord Cyril.

Theodorus the bishop said: Divinely inspired letters from the most holy and God-beloved bishops have been brought through the most God-beloved bishop Athanasius. May your holiness order these to be read before the holy council.

Theoctistus the bishop of Berrhoea said: I too have perceived the same things, namely that the most reverend bishop Athanasius has taught false things to the most holy and most venerable archbishops, Proclus and Cyril.

Sabbas the bishop said: If the most reverend bishop Athanasius loved quiet, it would not have been right for him, after a refusal and an oath, to be troublesome to the most holy Fathers and archbishops Proclus and Cyril. ^B

IV.

THEODORET, Epistle LXXXVI, to Flavian, Opera, vol. III, p. 964.

Know, lord, that he was of a gentle mind toward us, ever since we composed the synodical acts in your city, in the time of Proclus of blessed memory, following the canons of the holy Fathers.

The same, Epistle CX, to Domnus, ibid., p. 980.

Therefore we have followed custom, and men who are distinguished and celebrated both for their doctrine and for their life. Proclus, bishop of Constantinople of blessed memory, being informed of many other things of this kind, himself also received the ordination, and praised it, and approved it with his letters.

V.

From the petition of Eusebius, bishop of Dorylaeum, in the acts of the First Council of Chalcedon.

I believe in the faith of the three hundred and eighteen holy Fathers gathered at Nicaea, ^C and in those things which were thought and set forth by the most blessed Cyril, once bishop of the great city of Alexandria, and by the great Athanasius, and Gregory, and Proclus, the holy bishops.

From the acts of the XIth session of the same Council of Chalcedon.

Lucianus the most reverend bishop of Byzia said: Proclus of blessed memory received him.

The most glorious judges said: If Proclus of holy memory, who was archbishop of the royal city of Constantinople, received Bassianus the most reverend bishop, and communicated with him as bishop of the metropolis of Ephesus, let the most reverend clergy of the holy Church of Constantinople inform us. ^D

Theophilus the most reverend presbyter of the most holy Church of Constantinople said: As before God, Proclus of holy memory received him into communion, and honoring him with synodical letters, sent him away to Ephesus; and he placed his name in the diptychs, and it was recited until a short time ago.

All the most reverend clergy of the most holy Church of Constantinople said: We too learned these same things. For the blessed Proclus did receive him, and communicated with him, and wrote synodical letters, and placed him in the diptychs.

^A Athanasius the most reverend bishop said: My case has been long pending; Cyril and Proclus of blessed memory heard it, and they wrote certain letters to Domnus, who was bishop of Antioch, and he promised to fulfill them. I request, therefore, if it pleases your authority, that the letters of the archbishops be read. The most glorious judges said: Let the letters of Proclus and Cyril of blessed memory be read.

VI. Ex epistola Quintiani episcopi Asculani ad Petrum Fullonem episcopum Antiochiæ, ex tom. V Concil. edit. Ven. Labb., pag. 226.

These twelve depositions I have sent to you, knowing that it is necessary to follow the revelation of the most holy Proclus, bishop of the Church of Constantinople; when he ran to the field with the entire people, as the city itself was reeling ^B under the earthquake, and wailing was sent up by all, suddenly a boy was lifted into the air by some power, and it was commanded that he intone the Trisagion in supplication and say: Holy God, holy strong, holy immortal, have mercy on us. And he was told to announce these things to the bishop. Who also for three hours remained in the tribunal, at the feet of the bishop himself, and recounted these things. And thus, as they prayed, the earthquakes ceased.

VII. [Ex epistola Acacii episcopi CP. ad eumdem Petrum Fullonem, ibid. pag. 231.]

For you have not only corrupted that cherubic hymn, through which our city was also strengthened when it was once shaken by earthquakes from the depths of the earth, a young child having been snatched to the ether in the sight of the *entire city* even unto the third heaven, just like the divine Paul. And there he heard this unutterable hymnology; at which hour in the field the multitude with tears was calling out, "Lord, have mercy," to God, together with holy Proclus, our Father, and archbishop of this royal and God-beloved city. ^C

VIII. Ex epistola Justini episcopi in Sicilia ad eumdem Petrum Fullonem, ibid. pag. 227.

Receive, therefore, as the admonition of your brother; and become a shepherd of the sheep, and not a wolf; and become a follower of the blessed Proclus, and of his revelation in the field.

IX. Ex Hist. eccl. Tripartita, lib. XII, cap. 5, apud Cassiodorum, Opp. tom. 1, pag. 348.

Sisinnius ordained Proclus at Cyzicus; yet before he could set out for Cyzicus, the citizens, anticipating him, ordained Dalmatius the monk as their bishop, paying little heed to the rule which orders that an ordination should not take place there without the bishop of Constantinople. The people of Cyzicus neglected this for the reason ^D that this law seemed to have been granted personally to Atticus alone. Proclus therefore remained without having an own church of his own: he flourished, however, greatly in the doctrine of the churches of Constantinople.

^A Maximianus, when he had governed the Church for two years and six months, died during the consulship of Ariobindus and Aspar, on the twelfth day of the month of April, on Thursday in the Great Week of the fasts. The Emperor Theodosius, therefore, wisely foresaw the situation, so that no question of sedition or tumult might again arise in the Church regarding the episcopate. While the body of Maximianus was still lying in state, and with the bishops present, there arrived the letters of the Roman bishop Celestine, which he had sent to Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, and to John of Antioch, and to Rufus of Thessalonica, stating that nothing prevented a bishop existing in another city from being transferred to another. Proclus, therefore, having been enthroned, celebrated the funeral rites for the body of Maximianus.

^B Ibid. Cap. 11, page 352. Proclus was a reader from his early youth, yet he was an observer of the doctors and also a zealot in rhetoric: when he had reached the age of maturity, he was mostly with Bishop Atticus as a taker-down of his sermons. And as he progressed, he was ordained deacon by Atticus, and afterwards presbyter. By Sisinnius, however, he was ordained bishop of Cyzicus. These things indeed happened to him at first; later he attained the throne of the Church of Constantinople. For he was a man of the best character; and, having been usefully educated by Atticus, he imitated all his ways. But in this man, patience appeared more excellent. And he indeed knew how to show himself terrible to heretics when appropriate; but he was gentle to everyone, and thus strove to sway them rather than use violence, being unwilling to weary any heresy; in this part of his conduct, he imitated the Emperor Theodosius. For he (the Emperor) judged it better not to use imperial power against the guilty; and he (Proclus) cared little if someone did not think about God exactly as he did. In these things, therefore, the Emperor also praised him, since he himself imitated the true priests and would by no means admit that those who were willing should be persecuted.

X. Ex Confessione fidei Joannis Maxentii, in Biblioth. PP. Paris. tom. IV, part. I, page 437. But more clearly than these, blessed Proclus, the bishop of this city, whom even the venerable Council of Chalcedon received, spoke to the Armenians on this opinion, saying, etc., when, against the blasphemies of Theodore, who impiously dogmatized a quaternity instead of the Trinity, he was requested by the people themselves to write and refute his blasphemies. ^C Quapropter if anyone dares to censure this opinion of this most blessed Father, which shines brighter than the splendor of the sun, he is discovered to believe, clearly with Sabellius, in one subsistence of the whole Trinity, that is, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

XI. Ex libro IV Ephræmii episcopi Theopolitani ad orientales monachos, apud Photium Bibl. cod. CCXXIX, page 827. And indeed Proclus of Constantinople and Cyriacus, bishop of Paphos, one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, have these same things. The former, indeed, in his sermon in the Pulcherianae after the Nativity, and the latter in his sermon on the Epiphany: he who also has the same things in his sermon On the Incarnation.

Ex oratione ejusdem ad Domnum et Joannem monachos, ibid. pages 806, 807. In addition to these, Cyril of Jerusalem, Amphilochius of Iconium, and Proclus, bishops of Constantinople; who in his sermon for Lent has this: The divine nature is uncreated, and the taking up of our flesh is undefiled; and the Son is one . . . But also Peter, martyr and bishop of Alexandria, testifies to similar things, and Proclus, bishop of Constantinople, in his sermon On the Nativity of the Lord. ^D

Ex libro ejusdem Ephræmii de verbis Cyrilli, ibid. page 794. Great Basil the Cappadocian too, whose fame pervades the entire world, teaches that form and essence are the same. Proclus, bishop of Constantinople, likewise: for at one time he called essence "form," and at another time "nature."

XII.

XIII.

*From the same Council of Constantinople, collation VI, ibid. p. 156.* The holy synod said: It is manifest to all, we believe, from the letter written by Proclus of religious memory, that he is not free from the accusation brought against him in the letter to Maris the Persian; for he vindicates Nestorius and approves in all things the writings of the impious Theodore, which the Proclus of holy memory had commanded him to anathematize.

*From the same Council of Constantinople, collation V, Cyril’s epistle to Acacius, ibid. p. 79.* It ought not to have escaped your holiness—perhaps you even knew it—that all the most religious bishops of the East gathered in Antioch when my lord, the most holy bishop Proclus, had sent to them the *tomus*, full of good understanding and correct dogmas; for there was much reasoning ^B and long discourse regarding the dispensation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He also added certain chapters collected from the codices of Theodore, which have an understanding consonant with the perfidies of Nestorius, and he exhorted them to anathematize even those.

XIV.

*The same, ibid. chap. 6, p. 46.* Again, what testimonies does he bring forward asserting two natures in Gregory, John, Cyril, Athanasius, Ambrose, Proclus, and other distinguished doctors, whose books and sentiments he could not refute, since it is established throughout all the world that they themselves affirm two natures in Christ.

*The same, ibid. chap. 7, pp. 52, 53.* After Artemon arose Paul of Samosata, and Diodorus and Theodore of Antioch, from whom Nestorius drew ^D countless dogmas of division, as holy Proclus and blessed Cyril bear witness.

Cyril praises Proclus, his contemporary, with great accolades. For in his explanation of the Symbol, he writes thus: "This choir of holy Fathers, most beloved by Christ, thinks these things with us; and he himself, who now holds the throne of the holy Church of Constantinople,"

^A the most holy and most religious brother and co-bishop, Proclus."

In the very age of Nestorius, when Proclus was teaching these things, the divine Cyril calls him of the same mind with himself, honors him with the appellation of "Most Holy" and "Pious," and praises him for clearly asserting two natures in Christ.

XV. FACUNDUS, Bishop of Hermiane, Book VIII, chap. 2, pp. 645, 646.

If this reasoning is not mine, but that of the most prudent and most holy Proclus, is it now to be contemned? ... And with a few things inserted: By such clear reasoning as this was the good and wise man Proclus led, etc.

XVI. LEONTIUS, *De sectis*, act. III, from the *Bibliotheca Patrum*, Paris, vol. XI, p. 505.

From the beginning of the Constantinian empire up to the ^B gathering of the Synod of Chalcedon, these teachers and Fathers lived: Silvester, Bishop of Rome, Alexander, John, Proclus, and Flavianus, of Constantinople.

XVII. GEORGIUS ALEXANDRINUS, from the book *On the Life of Chrysostom*, in Savile, vol. VIII.

The prince, being prepared, summons Proclus to himself, whom he had appointed to undertake this very office: a man undoubtedly of exceptional piety toward God, and adorned with all the ornaments of the virtues.

XVIII. JOANNES DAMASCENUS, in *Epistola de Trisagio*, § 6, *Opp.*, vol. I, p. 487.

In the time of the most blessed Proclus, by divine revelation, ^C they sang the trisagion hymn: *Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, have mercy on us*: indeed, when they say that a certain child was caught up on high from the midst of the throng of supplicants and carried into the air by some angelic power, and learned this hymn; and how much divinity was contained in this hymn, the alleviation of the calamity which was then raging was to have been testimony.

XIX. From the Second Council of Nicaea, General Council VII, act. 1, Cyril to Gennadius, from the Venice edition of Labbe, vol. VIII, p. 719.

"But I write these things because I have heard that your Piety is ill-affected toward our most holy and God-fearing brother and co-minister, Bishop Proclus. Therefore, I would in no way wish your ^D Piety to flee from communion with the most holy and God-loving Bishop Proclus; for the same intention belonged to his holiness and to me; nor did the manner of this dispensation displease any of the prudent."

XX. THEOPHANES, in *Chronographia*, p. 80, Paris edition.

Under Proclus of holy memory, a great earthquake occurred in Constantinople for four months, so that the Byzantines, being afraid, fled outside the city to the place which is called the Campus, and were spending their days with the bishop

in supplications and processions. On one day, therefore, with the earth shaking and all the people crying out intently, "Kyrie eleison," around the third hour, while all were looking on, it happened by divine power that a certain young man was lifted into the air and a divine voice was heard commanding him to announce to the bishop and the people that they should conduct the litanies in this way and say: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us," adding nothing else. Saint Proclus, having received this decision, ordered the people to chant thus, and immediately the earthquake ceased. ^B Furthermore, the blessed Pulcheria and her brother, being exceedingly struck with admiration at the miracle, ordained that this divine hymn be chanted throughout the entire inhabited world. And from then on, all the Churches received the custom of chanting it to God every day.

XXI. Photius, Bibliotheca, cod. 48, p. 43. But [Constantius] wrote a decree against him [Caelestius] to Volusianus, the prefect of the city, who was the uncle of the holy Melania, and of the pagan sect. But when death came upon him while he was performing the office of an embassy in Constantinople, he passed over to the orthodox faith, and was baptized by the holy Proclus, the bishop of Constantinople. At which same time that holy woman arrived in the imperial city from Jerusalem.

XXII. Georgius Cedrenus, Hist. Compend., vol. 1, p. 270, 271. ^C In the 28th year . . . after Maximian had died, the most holy Proclus, bishop of Constantinople, was selected and ordained, who brought back the relics of Chrysostom in the 30th year of the reign of Theodosius, and deposited them in the church of the holy Apostles, etc. In the 39th year, Cyril of Alexandria and Proclus of Constantinople piously passed from this life.

XXIII. Joannes Zonaras, Annal., vol. 2, p. 33. After Maximian, who had held the pontificate for two years, Proclus, a disciple of Chrysostom, was made patriarch; he had previously been ordained bishop of Cyzicus by Patriarch Sisinnius, but, not having been accepted by the people there who had chosen another ^D bishop, he had spent the intervening time at leisure. This man, therefore, having been enthroned in the see of Constantinople, requested the emperor that the most sacred body of Chrysostom be brought back from Pityus, so that the holy man would not remain in exile even after his death. The emperor agreed, and the holy man's corpse was brought back, and being received with signal honor, it was deposited within the sanctuary of the church whose name is that of the holy Apostles.

XXIV. Nicephorus Callistus, Hist. eccl., lib. 14, cap. 29, vol. 2, p. 501. When the bishop of Cyzicus died, Sisinnius ordained the divine Proclus as bishop of the Church of Cyzicus. But Pro-

Proclus, ^A when he was ready to depart in order to go there, those men came beforehand and ordained a certain man, Dalmatius by name, a venerable man and one exercised in monastic labors. This they did, having despised that sanction which forbids an ordination to take place without the judgment of the bishop of Constantinople. When this had been done, Proclus did not resist; and he presided over no church, but in the churches of Constantinople he flourished by teaching.

Idem ibid. cap. 38, pag. 522.

Proclus, having used instructors from early youth, labored most in the art of rhetoric. And when his adolescence was completed, at a very young age, having passed beyond the status of a youth, being admitted into the order of readers, he was first a follower of the divine John Chrysostom, who was administering the Church of Constantinople, and he was an assistant for the writing of books and a caretaker of his body. He saw Paul whispering in the ear of the great John, and revealing a more hidden sense of his epistles, by looking through the cracks. And when he lived in exile, not departing from his affection, he was with his successor, Bishop Atticus, as a scribe of his discourses. Him, as he was progressing in the divine manner of life, he raised to the degree of deacon. Then, indeed, when he was praising the Lord in the chair of the presbyters, he was designated bishop by Sisinnius for the Church of Cyzicus. A long time after, however, the episcopate of the Constantinopolitan Church was entrusted to him. ^C And because he was a man most placid in character and conduct, he expressed whatever was excellent in John and in Atticus. He was even superior to them in the tolerance of evils. For Atticus had often seemed terrible even to those who did not dissent from him in faith. But this man was very placid and gentle towards these and all others, having in mind to draw them to himself by benevolence rather than by force. And since he provided a cause of disturbances to no one, he preserved intact the dignity of the Church, consisting in humanity and mildness. . . . This man, however, cared less if someone did not think about God as he himself thought. But applying himself constantly to doctrine, he bound the people to himself placidly, not violently.

XXV. From Book IV of the Greco-Roman Law in the List of Bishops of Byzantium.

Proclus, having been ordained bishop of Cyzicus by Sisinnius, and not being received, remained idle. ^D But after the death of Maximian he became bishop of Constantinople, when his corpse was lying in the diaconicon; he presided over the priesthood for twelve years.

Ibid. On the translations of bishops.

In the thirteenth year of the reign of Theodosius the Younger, son of Arcadius, the great Proclus, having been ordained bishop of Cyzicus by the patriarch Sisinnius, remained idle, not having been received. But after the deposition of Nestorius, the episcopate of Constantinople was indeed decreed to him, but he was not placed on the throne because of the envy of the pontiffs who...

^A exerted their influence. Afterwards, when the appointed Maximianus died, while his body was still lying in state, he was summoned and enthroned at Constantinople, with the consent also of Pope Celestine of Rome, and with the votes of the great Cyril and John of Antioch joined to theirs.

XXVI. Ex Menologio Græcorum Basilii imper. part. I, pag. 140.

On the same day, the 24th of October, the commemoration of our holy Father Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople. Our holy Father Proclus, being pious, wise, and virtuous, was ordained bishop of Cyzicus by the holy Patriarch Sisinius of Constantinople. When he went there and was not received by the clergy of that place, who were heretical, he returned to ^B Constantinople, where he remained for a time free from administrative duties, devoting himself to study and reading. When the Patriarch Maximianus died, while his body was still lying in the sanctuary of the most holy and great church of God, he was chosen patriarch of Constantinople. And he was enthroned during that very Holy Week, on Holy Thursday of the salutary passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having conducted himself well after his ordination and having benefited many through his teaching, he served as bishop for twelve years and three months, and having reached his perfection, he rested.

XXVII. Ex Menologio Græc. card. Sirleti, sub die XXIV Octobr. Apud Canisium in Thesaur. tom. III, part. I, pag. 486.

On this same day, the commemoration of our holy Father Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople: who being distinguished by his knowledge ^C of Holy Scripture and by his probity of character, having governed the episcopate well for twelve years and three months, departed in peace to the Lord.

XXVIII. Ex Menologio Horologii Græc., edit. Venet. 1532.

November 21st, the pre-feast of the entry of the all-holy Theotokos into the temple; and of our holy Father Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople. Appropriately, the city more precious than all cities truly celebrates today thy venerable passing, O Proclus, most wise Father of Fathers.

XXIX. Ex Menologio Græc., edit. Venet. 1551.

On the 25th day of September, in the reign of Theodosius the Younger, before the day of the Resurrection, a terrible earthquake occurred. For this reason, the whole populace, together with the Emperor Theodosius and Proclus the Patriarch, ^D with the entire clergy of the Church and the whole city, went out of the city to the place called the Campus to pray in their fear. Already the wicked and diabolical heresy of the Theopaschites was taking its beginning through the malice of the devil, and into the Trisagion they were inserting the blasphemy: "Who was crucified for us." Suddenly a child was caught up into the air and was carried aloft, while all cried out in astonishment and fear,