O the audacity! A Later, he openly made priests and archbishops of those who held such ungodliness, while persecuting and excommunicating those who spoke against them, adding also those of like mind with them, and not even showing respect to that most pious emperor of ours, who was manifestly in agreement with the monks. Therefore, we beseech and beg your holy majesty that the affairs of the Church and those of piety may not be endangered by one man, and he one who is manifestly condemned. For just as the synod against Arius condemns all those who at any time have manifested themselves as Arians, so too does the synod against Barlaam condemn all those who defend his views and fight against those who speak against them. B This man, with head uncovered, as the saying goes, having both spoken and written and ordained and cast votes, has demonstrated his fellow-feeling for those who hold the views of Barlaam; he certainly no longer has a share with the pious; let him be driven away like a wolf, like a snake, like a wild lion, from the lambs of Christ. And if he has need of defense and thinks he has some apology, let him be brought to trial. We therefore beseech you, and we beseech you again, that the affairs of Christianity may not be endangered any further, because many Christians are dying on his account denied communion of the immaculate mysteries of Christ, and others do not even enter the church. And many of the priests have also ceased from officiating altogether. These things, as is our duty, and as petitioners, and as servants, we report, and for the sake of credibility we have signed with our own signatures. In the month of September, indiction 15. It also contained signatures:
The humble Metropolitan of Ephesus, Matthew. D The humble Metropolitan of Cyzicus, Athanasius. The humble Metropolitan of all Alania and Soteriopolis, Laurence. The humble Metropolitan of Christoupolis, Macarius. The humble Metropolitan of Aprus, Chariton. The humble Archbishop of Lopadium, Hierotheus. This present copy, having been collated with its original and found to be in all respects equivalent, has been signed by me for security. The humble Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Macarius.
EDICT
Of the most pious Emperor John Cantacuzenus, confirming the synodical decisions against the same Patriarch of Constantinople, John Calecas, the Barlaamite.
Most loyal and most faithful inhabitants of my majesty, all of you of God-glorified, God-guarded, and God-magnified Constantinople, both the clergy, the monks, and all those of the state, and all the common people, regarding the things stirred up by that Barlaam against piety, and how they were refuted by the most holy among the hieromonks, Lord Gregory Palamas, and were condemned synodically in the presence of my majesty, and how Acindynus a little later, thinking his thoughts, was himself refuted synodically, with my majesty presiding at the synod at that time, and to that same condemnation [they were subjected].
A synodal tome was also issued concerning these matters, comprehensively cutting off from the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Christ and from the whole body of the Orthodox any who might appear to be followers or supporters of any of the things spoken or written by Barlaam against the monks—and specifically against the most revered Lord Gregory Palamas and those with him. I believe no one among you is ignorant of any of this, but you know that after a short time, following the wicked and ambition-driven design of certain men fabricated against my majesty, and from there a severe confusion having taken hold of the Roman realm, Acindynus, having used this misery of the time as a windfall, and having deceived many and made them his associates—among whom was the one who functioned as patriarch—he fomented a terrible sedition against the Church, yielding nothing to the one [that took place] in the political realm, defending those evil dogmas of Barlaam, but while the name of the latter remained, he himself, for the sake of deception, proclaimed [them], even if it escaped no one who listened intelligently. B Since the one who functioned as patriarch became the guarantor and protector of Acindynus and his followers—and he even deemed Acindynus worthy of ordination and promoted some of those who thought as he did to ecclesiastical offices, and at the same time, while openly declaring such dogmas to the most high Lady of the Romans and most beloved sister of my majesty, he also attacked again those who were justified by the pious monks—she, having understood from this that those synodal judgments and decisions for piety were being invalidated, and that the synodal tome concerning them was being completely rejected and overturned by him, having examined the matters concerning these things many times before with the most holy archbishops, then also convokes a synod, according to which, after an accurate examination and judgment took place, they all submit him to a common deposition, and if he does not repent, they eject Acindynus and his followers and cut them off from the portion of the Orthodox. This God-pleasing work having been accomplished—for, according to him who said it, the punishment of evil is also commendable—the Lord dissolves the civil strife and grants peace to the realm of the Romans. And thus, when my majesty entered this great city, God willing, I found him already deposed, and Acindynus and those with him having been excommunicated again synodically; this was done by those assembled here, not only in this synod, but even the most holy metropolitans who were living in their own cells, C having voted in writing, adding to this, along with the error in dogmas, his other lawless deeds committed against the Church and the realm; which also those who were away from my majesty—both the most holy patriarch of Jerusalem and all the remaining most holy metropolitans—having themselves also convoked a synod, declared, among other things, that for the sake of communion with Acindynus, he was stripped of all priesthood.
The present copy, having been compared with the imperial and venerable edict displayed to me, and having found everything to be in agreement, I have signed. The humble Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Macarius.
Let the Papists see what kind of patriarch—heretical, base-minded, simoniacal, double-dealing, anathematized by so many synods, and rejected by emperors—they praise, and [let them see them] saying that he deposed Palamas, together with Rome’s Clement; see page 32.
D Since at various times scandals have occurred in the Church of Christ, and from there dissensions and divisions followed, and it happened also some time ago that these things took place in the Church of Christ at the instigation of certain wicked and heterodox men, Barlaam and Acindynus, who troubled and confused it—some things saying themselves, others accusing others, and because most things were left unexamined by us while we were still in Ephesus—we judged it necessary to retreat into ourselves and to depart from their holy communion. But now, God having mercy through the oversight and anxious care of our mighty and holy master and emperor, Cantacuzenus, an accurate examination took place through the divine and spiritual words of the holy Fathers and teachers.