Dalmatius the Monk

YEAR 5TH CENTURY UNCERTAIN. DALMATIUS MONACHUS, AFTERWARDS BISHOP OF CYZICUS.

NOTITIA.

Among the prelates of Cyzicus is numbered the most holy Proclus, whom Sisinnius of Constantinople, relying on the authority of a certain rescript of Theodosius the Younger Augustus given to his predecessor Atticus, had ordained bishop of that city without the knowledge of the citizens. But the Cyzicenes, anticipating his arrival, took care that Dalmatius the monk be ordained as their bishop. Dalmatius was present at the Ephesian Council, and when John of Antioch had not arrived with his Orientals by the appointed day, he was one of those who objected by means of a Protest, so that Cyril of Alexandria might not begin the celebration of the council before his arrival. He likewise subscribed to another Protest of the Orientals, who complained that the church of the Apostle John was closed to them, while in the meantime the council was being held in the greater church. These subscriptions indeed may be read in the Collection from the Synodicon or Tragedy of Irenaeus of Tyre (ch. 7 and 8). For in these Protests one reads the subscription of "Dalmatius bishop of Cyzicus," and "Dalmatius metropolitan bishop of Cyzicus." But in the very Greek and Latin acts of the synod, and also in Marius Mercator, it is explicitly said that Dalmatius bishop of Cyzicus was present at the first session of the same council with Cyril of Alexandria and Memnon of Ephesus, and in the subscriptions it is also read: "Dalmatius bishop of the holy Church of God of Cyzicus." Gelasius of Cyzicus, at the beginning of his commentary on the acts of the Council of Nicaea, testifies that he transcribed that work from the ancient parchments of the divine and most praiseworthy Dalmatius, archbishop of the holy and catholic Church of Cyzicus.

LETTERS OF DALMATIUS.

^ALetter sent to the holy synod in the city of Ephesus by Dalmatius the most holy archimandrite.

I received the letter sent to me by the holy synod, and, reading what it contained, I was at first deeply grieved by the evils that have befallen you. For it was written in the letter that some of the holy Fathers living there have died due to the straitened conditions of the place. But henceforth know that I am ready to fulfill every command of yours, and I have not disregarded, overlooked, or neglected anything by any means, especially since the matter concerns the orthodox faith and is fitting toward God. For no one can depart from the living God and devise other counsel. For those who rightly divide the word of the truth of God ^B possess life, both in this age and in the one to come; but those who depart from the grace of God are accursed, cast out into the outer darkness, just like Nestorius and those who think as he does. For God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ has brightened and built up the whole holy synod, and has accepted your labors and sweat. We therefore give thanks to God who has led you in the right way and granted you victory for the faith. Pray for me, I beseech your holiness. ^A

Copy of an epistle written by the clergy of Constantinople to the holy synod.

To our most God-fearing and most holy Fathers, gathered according to the decree of our most pious emperors from the universal world in the metropolis of the Ephesians, Cyril, Juvenal, Memnon, Flavian, Firmus, Theodotus, Acacius, Amphilochius, Eleusius, Palladius, Irenaeus [Berinianus, Verenianus], Iconius, and the whole remaining holy synod, from Dalmatius, Tigrius, Sampsonius, Maximianus, John, Evander, Modestianus, Adelphius, Philotheus, Eulogius, Basiliscus, Florentius, and all the clergy in Constantinople.

Always, and from our early youth, glorying in the orthodox dogma, we have set our zeal towards keeping the tradition of the holy Fathers. Having recently been brought back to ^B the remembrance of this by your holiness, through that which the most God-fearing and most holy Bishop Cyril deigned to write to us, we have offered thanks to God the Savior. For many and great are the deeds which have been excellently performed for the same right faith, which have been made clearly known to us. Wherefore, since we understood that Nestorius, our former prelate, had been removed from his order and place by your piety because he corrupted the apostolic, sincere, and pious teachings, we received the aforementioned letters brought to us by the most pious and Christ-loving emperors, Theodosius and Valentinian, as if sent by your holiness, and we immediately caused them to be read openly in the holy Church of God, with the whole people gathered and listening. Let your holiness therefore know that the people have agreed with us, and have heralded with many praises both your ^C holy and ecumenical synod, and also the victorious emperors, who bestowed such care upon your God-pleasing assembly. We, rejoicing, have written this reply. But now we implore your most celebrated piety to pray to God for us, and to apply all care so that what remains of the holy Church of God that is among us may be perfectly established. For your great providence for the orthodox dogma perceives that this one thing remains, so that in this way all things may be brought to an end, pleasing to our Lord Christ, and be attributed to no other, but to your holiness, and to our most pious and Christ-loving emperors. ^D

APOLOGY OF DALMATIUS

^ADalmatius, presbyter and archimandrite, Father of monasteries, I beseech you, divine and holy assembly, to pray for me.

Saint Dalmatius, when he had ascended the platform, said: "If you desire to hear, be quiet and learn, and do not wish to hinder what is being said, but be eager that you may hear the words accurately. The letter which has now been read to your piety, the most pious emperor also read, and was persuaded. For when he came to me, I had said to the emperor that he ought to have written to the holy synod what had been suggested to him, but it was not fully written down. He sent to me, and they were read. ^B But lest I should cause him any sadness, I provided beforehand what followed; which the bearers did not exhibit, but in their place displayed certain other letters. Therefore, I spoke to him about what was suitable and pertinent to the matter, which it is not necessary to repeat now before your piety, lest I be thought by you to be elated or vainglorious. For God shall break the bones of the dissemblers. The Master heard all things that had occurred in order, and rejoiced with thanksgiving to God, and agreed with the words of the sequence of the holy synod, as befits his majesty, not having followed my words, but the faith of his fathers and ancestors. ^C Nevertheless, as it was fitting, he received and read and was persuaded, and said this: 'If it is so, let the bishops who have arrived come.' And I said to him, 'No one permits them to come.' And he said, 'No one forbids it.' I said, 'They are held, and are forbidden to come.' And I said again, 'From that party many come and go without hindrance, but what is done by the holy synod, no one allows to be reported to your piety.' But concerning the other part, namely that of Cyril, I said to the emperor before all: 'Do you wish to hear six thousand bishops, or one man, and he an impious one?' I said six thousand, ^D who are under the power of the most holy metropolitan bishops. And this was done, that those might be sent and might come, who, by their coming, would make manifest what had been done. I speak, indeed, of the most holy bishops whom the holy synod has now sent hither. And he said that I had asked well. And again he added one word, and said, 'Pray for me.' And I know that the emperor has followed God and the holy synod more, and no longer the perverted men. Pray, therefore, for the emperor, and for us."

The people of Constantinople with one voice cried out: "Anathema to Nestorius!"