Photios on His Reconciliation With the Emperor

¹ Photios, the most holy patriarch, declared: On the contrary, we contrived by every means to bind fast and strengthen our peace with him; which [reconciliations] took place in the palace, when he had come to us, both of us having ⟦fallen⟧ at each other’s feet, and if anything had been done amiss by either toward the other, pardon for these things being ⟦received⟧ from each. After this, when he had been laid low by sickness and had sought our presence, not once, nor twice, but many times we pledged to visit him; and whatever was possible for me, at his own request, I contributed toward relieving the disease. And if any word of consolation had power to bring [comfort], I offered him the healing that comes from this also—so that at the last he, having received much assurance toward us, entrusted into our hands those persons closest to him, that after his departure they might ⟦find⟧ in us both guardians and saviors. And this came to pass by divine grace; and no one could find fault with ⟦any⟧ of them concerning his final care and ordering on their behalf. But when he had departed from human affairs, at once your Christ-loving and great emperor first sounded out my opinion through certain more confidential persons; then openly, through his patricians, he made known what was of his counsel, adding ⟦that⟧ now there is no occasion, nor any reckoning of scandals, ⟦nor⟧ ⟦setting aside⟧ of the peace between you and one another: the choir of bishops ⟦seeks⟧ your return, the freedom of those in exile [seeks it], the hierarchical thrones are in

² accord; ascend to your throne, and shepherd your flock, which the choir ⟦of⟧ the good has established in you. In these terms, then, was the imperial declaration set down; but I said to those who had come: That ⟦we⟧ did not bear without pain the things that had befallen of old, we would not belie my own truth; yet the greatest of the griefs was the affliction of the hierarchs and priests of God and their flight into exile. Let there be for them all, and ⟦before⟧ ⟦every⟧ release, consolation, and recall, and the restoration of their own thrones; and let the slanders against us ⟦perish⟧ as well—not for our own sake, but lest through me ⟦some reproach⟧ be laid upon the Church of God. As for me, I have ⟦no⟧ need of anything; but in place of all things I have the gentleness and serenity of the disposition of our ⟦holy⟧ emperor toward me. ⟦But since⟧ the sending of the patricians, not once but ⟦many times⟧, ⟦had⟧ returned ⟦fruitless⟧, that same benevolent and ⟦good⟧ emperor of ours, having come to us, brought compulsion to bear with many words. Now what was said at that time, and the things by which they persuaded us to assent, it ⟦is⟧ not the present occasion to relate. Yet when all were in agreement, and the three hierarchical thrones had besought us with their synodical votes; and when, moreover, the earlier letters which the most holy pope John had sent to our Christ-loving and exalted emperor [had arrived], promising to assent to all his requests—we ascended to this throne: first, looking to the mercy of God and His compassion; and then, to speak the truth, being as it were astonished at the marvel of the change of what had come to pass, accounting it now to be fighting against God to contradict it; and secondly, ⟦looking⟧ to the disposition of the most holy pope John, and his benevolence and love of justice, knowing that he rejoices and longs for the union of the Churches of God and for Christian concord. Thus, then, do we relate our affairs, as all who are present can attest.