Photios Recounts His Ascent to the Throne

¹ Photios, the most holy patriarch, said: Since indeed your holiness has asked how we came to ascend [to the throne]—our brothers and fellow ministers having anticipated the question and ⟦given⟧ the answer—nevertheless we speak in the Lord, and let no one disbelieve me: I make the judge of the truth not my own opinion, but that which is ⟦known⟧ to others. For I was never in any desire for this throne. ⟦This was⟧ in the presence of our brothers and fellow ministers, things which all, ⟦or⟧ at least the greater part, can attest together; and let there be among you ⟦holy⟧ vicars no word that is doubted. For you will see that even formerly it was with tears ⟦and⟧ much delay of every kind, and under inescapable force, that I ascended to this ⟦hierarchical⟧ throne. For the one who reigned at that time brought to bear an irresistible compulsion; and so too did those who held power under him; and indeed the hierarchs and priests also—though I in no way ⟦was acting⟧ with full awareness ⟦…⟧—prevailed by their unanimous votes and by their common signatures, joining the imperial [will] to the force of ⟦necessity⟧. For this reason I was even handed over to custody and kept under guard; and thus, unwilling and bewailing it, I was raised to this throne.

² When Photios, the most holy patriarch, had said these things, the holy synod cried out: With our own eyes we beheld it—and we are not few; and as many of us as did not see it learned it from those who had seen it, the report having been held unbroken from that time until now, and we know it exactly, that ⟦this⟧ happened so.