ACACIUS, BISHOP OF BERRHOEA: EPISTLES
EPISTLE III
TO THE SAME
It is read in the same *Synodicon*, chapter or epistle 55.
EPISTLE IV
FROM THE EMPERORS TO ACACIUS
Copy of the sacred letter written to Acacius, Bishop of Berrhoea, and to Simeon the anchorite of Antioch, and to A other provinces, to each one separately.
Nothing whatsoever of those things which ought to have been accomplished through our efforts for the sake of our religion has been omitted by us. And your Holiness will be able to learn this clearly, both from the most pious John, Bishop of the Church of Antioch, and from the rest of the holy bishops who are with him. However, some disputes and difficulties have arisen concerning this matter, and although we have tried to clear away and abolish them, we have been hitherto hindered by a multitude of affairs. Nevertheless, our resolve stands firm and fixed: not to desist from this endeavor until the merciful God, through the intercession of your prayers, shall deign to restore union and peace to the Churches. It is fitting, therefore, for your B Holiness to seek these things from God with all diligence and zeal, showing yourself to be an approved priest of the Roman religion.
ACACIUS’S CONFESSION OF FAITH
See *ibid.*, chapter 221.
ANNO DOMINI CDXLI
JOHN OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP
NOTITIA
(Oriens Christianus, tom. II, col. 721.)
John, educated from his early youth in the monastery of St. Euprepius not far from Antioch alongside Theodoret and Nestorius, was made bishop of Antioch after Theodotus in the year 428. For Acacius of Berrhoea, writing to Cyril of Alexandria concerning the new dogma of Nestorius, signified that John had recently attained the episcopate. While he was administering the Church of Antioch, the third general synod of Ephesus was celebrated against Nestorius in the year 431, from which he, when he had come to Ephesus, defected with his Easterners, taking up the defense of the heretic, whom he held to be a man of sounder opinion, more keenly than was fitting; on whose account, after his return to his homeland, he held many synods in his diocese. Afterwards, having discovered the truth more fully, he was brought to better fruit in the following year and was reconciled with Cyril of Alexandria, having sent to him Paul of Emesa with a confession of faith, which Cyril approved together with his entire Church. This compact of his was gradually embraced by the rest of the Churches of the East, with the exception of a few bishops who, on account of their obstinate spirit, were proscribed. All these things can be read in the many extant records of the Council of Ephesus, and especially in the *Synodicon* regarding the tragedy of Irenaeus, which Christian Lupus published. He died in the thirteenth year of his episcopate completed, namely in the year of Christ 441, since it is established by the testimony of Theodoret that the seventh year of Domnus, John's successor, fell in the year of Christ 448.
LETTERS OF JOHN OF ANTIOCH
(Ex Actis concilii Ephesini, ap. Mansi Concil. tom. V, passim.)
Letter I
ACopy of a letter written by John, Bishop of Antioch, to Nestorius.
To my master, most God-fearing and most holy Bishop Nestorius, John, greeting in the Lord.
1. I have made known my purpose regarding your reverence, in all truth, through my lord, the most magnificent Count Irenaeus, to your disposition. And since, as I think, I am now free from all suspicion among you, having used a true justification, I use from now on a frank counsel toward your sincerity. You may take from these things which I am about to advise, a not light proof of our sincerity toward you, and at the same time how great is that charity which is according to