The Synod Anathematizes Rejectors of the Seventh Council
1 The holy synod said: Better still, [let there be], with all concord, the acceptance and union of the Church of the Romans through the mediation of our most holy patriarch Photios; and on this matter let it be voiced to us, so that not even in this should there be…
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3 …disagreement among us. Whoever does not so hold and name the holy and ecumenical Second Council of Nicaea, as the most God-fearing presbyter and cardinal also declared above, let him be anathema.
4 Eugenius, the most God-beloved bishop and legate of elder Rome, said: Whoever does not hold the ecumenical Second Council of Nicaea—held under the most holy Pope Adrian and Tarasius the patriarch of Constantinople who is among the saints—as a holy and Seventh Council, and does not honor it as the remaining six ecumenical councils, let him be anathema.
5 Basil, the most God-beloved bishop of Martyropolis and legate of Antioch, said: We both received it beforehand, and now, in agreement with your Holiness, we accept the holy and ecumenical Second Council of Nicaea, calling it the Seventh and holy, numbering it together with the six ecumenical councils that preceded it and proclaiming it together with them; and those who do not so hold we consign to anathema.
6 Elias, the most God-fearing presbyter and legate of Jerusalem, said: Whoever does not accept the holy and ecumenical council that convened at Nicaea the second time, neither does he accept the other six councils. For just as in those councils all the hierarchical thrones came together—some in their own persons, some through legates—and established the firm assurance of the doctrines, so also there: legates came both from the most holy Pope of Rome and likewise from the thrones of the East that are among us; and its doctrines were kindred, proper, and of one mind with those of the six ecumenical councils. Therefore whoever does not receive this council, nor names it an ecumenical and Seventh Council, even if he does not dare to say so, repudiates the others as well. Wherefore if anyone does not accept it as he does those holy and ecumenical six councils, let him be anathema. The holy synod said: Anathema.
7 The most holy legates of elder Rome said: We ask your Holiness to go to Metrophanes and to say to him: This holy synod, presiding here together with the holy legates, summons you, wishing to learn fully your purpose and your will concerning the union of the holy Church of God. Accordingly, having been summoned, Basil the most God-beloved archbishop of Crete, Niketas the most God-beloved metropolitan of Smyrna, and Gregory the most God-beloved archbishop of Selge were sent by the most holy legates and by the presiding synod. And coming to Metrophanes the most reverend, they said to him: The most holy bishops and legates of elder Rome, together with the presiding synod, make known to you these things through us: Clear up for us the state of your mind, and give an account to this holy and ecumenical synod for what cause you separate yourself from the Church. Metrophanes the most reverend said: I am ill, and for this reason I cannot say much. But this I say briefly: as for the cause for which I stand apart from you—had I been able, I would willingly have come and given an account of whatever was just. But my conscience bears witness to me that I have not the strength to set foot before you and to stand in your presence. For this reason I beg ⟦the syn-⟧
8 ⟦od⟧, since I am exceedingly ill; and when I am able, if it be possible, I beg you, allow me until the strength of my nature is restored; and ⟦then in this way I will give my account⟧.
9 Those who had been sent to the most reverend Metrophanes carried such words of his back to the synod. And the most holy legates of elder Rome answered: We, according to the charge we received from the most holy Pope John, not once but twice and many times, have admonished, enjoined, and entreated him to depart from his error and to come to the Church of God. But since now too, when we were sent, he makes excuses in his sins, and is able to utter empty babblings and words of apostasy, yet is not able to speak one right and saving word—namely, to say, “Behold, I am in communion with no dissenting church, according to the charge of the most holy Pope of Rome”—but his sickness in no way hinders him from his long babbling, while, being unwilling to make the saving confession, he blames his sickness: behold, according to the charge of the most holy and ecumenical Pope John, and according to the ecclesiastical ordinances handed down to us, we separate him from all ecclesiastical communion and fellowship, until he return to his own shepherd. For we wish you to know that the apostolic Pope John enjoined upon us these things, which we have duly proclaimed and announced beforehand: namely, that we should jointly depose and jointly absolve those whom Photios the most holy patriarch should subject either to deposition or to absolution, we and you being of one mind with us; and that whomever the most holy and ecumenical Pope John holds canonically deposed, in whatever order or rank, Photios the most holy patriarch should also hold as deposed; and likewise whomever Photios the most holy patriarch holds deposed or absolved, the most holy and ecumenical Pope John should also hold as condemned or absolved. Only, if it seem good to your Holiness, let this present matter also be taken up into the form of a canon.
10 The holy synod said: Let it be taken up. And when the canon had been issued, Peter the most God-beloved deacon and protonotary took it and read it.