On the Diseased and Healthy Portions of the Church

Source: Семь Вселенских Соборов [The Seven Ecumenical Councils], Archbishop Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery, “Axion Estin” Publishing House, Moscow-Saint Petersburg, 1996, pp. 70-71.

 

Concerning the establishment of the dogmatic definition, the Fathers of the [Fourth Ecumenical] Council informed the emperor by a special report, which had the following form: “Letter of the Council of Chalcedon to the Emperors Valentinian and Marcian”:

“To the most pious, most faithful, and most Christian emperors, victors and triumphant ones, Valentinian and Marcian, the holy and great Council, by the grace of God and by the command of your piety assembled in the city of Chalcedon (for severe illnesses require both a strong medicine and a wise physician). Therefore, the Lord of all appointed your piety over the sufferings of the world as the best physician, that you might heal them with fitting remedies. And you, most Christian ones, having received the Divine determination, before all others applied fitting care to the Church, prescribing to the bishops the medicine of concord. For, having gathered us together from everywhere, you used every means to abolish the discord that had arisen and to strengthen the teaching of the paternal faith. And we, reflecting and seeking out the cause of the storm that had arisen in the world, found that the culprit of this matter is Dioscorus, former bishop of Alexandria. First, because he forbade the most venerable bishops assembled in Ephesus to read the letter of the most holy archbishop of ancient Rome, Leo, sent to the holy memory of Flavian, former bishop of the city of Constantinople, and this after his promises and many oaths, as we learned while being present there. Secondly, because he unlawfully restored to Eutyches, who was suffering from the impiety of Mani and had been lawfully deposed, both the priesthood and the leadership over the monks, before a conciliar decision, and this at a time when the most holy and most blessed archbishop of great Rome, Leo, in the same letter defined what was proper (for him) and condemned the criminal impiety of Eutyches, who said: ‘I confess our Lord Jesus Christ before the union of the two natures, and after the union one nature.’ Further, because he inflicted insults upon the most God-beloved bishop Eusebius. And also, because by his own authority he admitted into communion certain persons condemned by various councils, whereas the holy canons prescribe that those deprived of communion by some are not to be received into communion by others.

And meanwhile he could have obtained forgiveness for such and so many transgressions, if through proper repentance he had sought healing from this Ecumenical Council. But since, in addition to his other unseemly acts, he rose up even against the Apostolic See itself and attempted to compose a document of excommunication against the most holy and most blessed Pope Leo, arrogantly persisted in his former transgressions, and proved audacious toward the present holy Ecumenical Council—because he did not wish to answer the accusations brought against him, completely despising them, and also, having been summoned a first, second, and third time, according to the holy canons, he disregarded this and did not appear—therefore he has been justly deprived of the priesthood by the Ecumenical Council and sentenced to removal from episcopal dignity, in order to present an example of order and strictness to others who might dare to do the same. For even the divine laws command, saying: “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Cor. 5:13). What could be worse than one who errs in such matters, thus trampling upon the divine canons, filling the whole world with agitation and storm, scattering the members of the Church and arming them against one another? Truly, anyone who sees that a member of the body has been afflicted with an incurable disease and may infect the whole body will seek a physician who would apply iron and cut off the diseased part, in order to preserve the other parts of the body healthy. Of this we truly inform your pious authority, so that you may consider both his criminality and the purity of the just sentence pronounced against him, as it were, before the face of God.

We are confident that you also, most pious and most Christian emperors, will agree with us; we know what fear your venerable authority instills in the wicked and what care you show for ecclesiastical peace, having been taught by experience. And so that your most Christian authority may know more clearly that what has been determined is correct and in accordance with the holy canons and the will of God, we have appended to this report the very documents of the acts that took place, with the signatures of us all.”

 

Online: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Averkij_Taushev/sem-vselenskih-soborov/#0_4