the actions of the two natures in the one hypostasis, or one person, of Christ our God, does it transmit? And after a little: Then, for our sake, having become man, He became visible and tangible; and having been manifested through divine and human actions as subsisting in deity and humanity, He has given us to know that in those things in which He was known, He consists of them. Thus, therefore, the holy Fathers, confessing both expressions—that is, both that which is from the deity and that from the humanity—transmit through each of them the unconfused and undivided economy A of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
GOLDEN BULL OF THE RENOWNED EMPEROR JUSTINIAN, WHICH HE GRANTED TO THE ABBOT OF MOUNT SINAI
DECREE OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS JUSTINIAN, GIVEN TO THE ABBOT OF MOUNT SINAI
If those who are skilled in assisting kings, and who know how to lead armies, administer cities, govern nations, and perform whatever brings utility to the Roman empire, are pursued with due honor by all citizens who are well-disposed; how much more does it befit princes, who are able to weigh in a just balance the purpose of counsels proceeding from men who are venerable and in life and character similar to God—counsels which do not look to external matters but are more excellent and beneficial to the soul itself, and indeed provide both one and the other, B by the favor of divine power—how, I say, does it not befit kings to lend a ready ear and bring to completion that which is requested? But if a good matter increases in value when it comes with prayers, not because they have asked, but because the thing itself, considered on its own merits, deserves to be brought to effect; it is much more the duty of princes to accede to their prayers and grant what they have requested, so that they may satisfy not only them, but also justice. This now happens to me to see done, C as I bestow an eminent honor upon the inhabitants of Mount Sinai, moved by the prayers of the most holy and most venerable metropolitan of Ptolemais. For I considered it altogether unjust not to lend a ready ear to one petitioning for what is just, or to deny things which seemed to pose no harm to what is just. Furthermore, that mountain, from my own
opinion, is worthy of all veneration and honor A, so much so that I consider my own kingdom to be honored through the honor shown to him, since God also knows how to honor those who pursue Him with honor. For this mountain, the highest of all within the borders of our kingdom, is a divine and holy mountain, shady and dark, illustrious with the works of the saints and every kind of virtue. If anyone wishes to call it a place of sanctification and the house of the God of Israel, he will come very close to the truth; and if one inquires more accurately, this divine house is indeed filled with much glory, so much so that at this very time a little of that glory redounds to my kingdom. Thus also, the glory which it had of old is increased more and more, according to the prophet. The most holy and venerable Metropolitan of Ptolemais. For I did not consider it at all worthy not to give ear to him A when he was making reasonable requests and such which, had they not been fulfilled, would have caused some harm to justice. This I did also because I consider such a mountain to be in every way venerable and worthy of enjoying every honor, and I believe my empire to be more honored by the honor shown to it, since God knows how to glorify those who glorify Him. For this is a mountain exalted above those in our lands, a divine mountain and the "shady, wooded" mountain of Habakkuk, covered with the works of the saints and every kind of virtue. And if anyone wishes to call it a place of sanctification and the house of the God of Jacob, the matter is appropriate and clings strictly to the truth; and if one considers it more clearly, this divine house is full of much glory, yet in these last times it will have a portion of the glory distributed by my empire. Thus also, the glory which it had of old, one might see increasing ever more, according to the prophet.
But I will now B say what this royal decree means. Whoever in subsequent times shall preside over Mount Sinai, let him rejoice in the dignity of the first, and among those who are of equal dignity, let him always hold the third place, and let him enjoy that honor in processions, chairs, councils, and assemblies; furthermore, let him be clothed in the vestments of the high priests, who were placed in the same honor both formerly and now, and thus whatever is fitting for them shall also be fitting for him, so that he is in no way inferior. For this reason this decree of my kingdom was given. In the month of the Greeks, Panemus or July, indiction 14.
THE SAME EMPEROR JUSTINIAN'S NOVELS AND ECCLESIASTICAL LAWS
(Exstant Patrologiæ Latinæ t. LXXII, col. 921-1110.)