Canon on the Common Bond of Rome and Constantinople

¹ Chapter 1. The holy and ecumenical synod has decreed that if any of the clergy or laity or bishops from Italy, sojourning in Asia or Europe or Libya, have come under bond and deposition or anathematization by the most holy Pope John, such persons shall be under the same sentence of penalty by Photios the most holy patriarch of Constantinople also—that is, either deposed, or subjected to anathema, or excommunicated. And whatever cleric or layman, or whoever of the hierarchical and priestly order in any parish whatsoever, Photios our most holy patriarch shall place under excommunication or deposition or anathematization, the most holy Pope John and the holy Church of the Romans under him shall hold them under the same judgment of penalty—none of the prerogatives and privileges belonging to the most holy throne of the Church of the Romans, nor to its president, being in any way prejudiced thereby, neither now nor for the time to come.

² The most holy legates of elder Rome said: It is approved. And the holy synod said: It is approved. Elias the most God-fearing presbyter and legate of Jerusalem said: May God grant that the thrones of the East also, with which the most holy Pope John

³ and our most holy patriarch Photios are concerned, may be of one soul and one accord, and that their will may be common and indivisible.

⁴ Basil the most God-beloved bishop of Martyropolis and legate of Antioch said: The greatest hierarchs of the thrones among us, holding an ever more indissoluble disposition toward the most holy patriarch Photios from the time he was raised to the hierarchical rank, sent us also for this purpose, giving authority and sanction to Photios the most holy patriarch, that if anyone—whether he be of the priestly register or of the lay order—should set himself apart, separating himself from the holy Church of God, whatever seems good to his Holiness might be ratified upon such persons. So that he, having received authority also from the Eastern thrones and having taken on the validity of the Roman sanction as well, as we have just now heard—or rather, as a great hierarch anticipating it from God—whomever he should bind with the indissoluble bond of the all-holy Spirit, we too hold bound; and whomever he should loose, we also hold loosed.

⁵ The most holy legates of elder Rome said: Blessed be God, that thus the minds and wills of all the most holy commanders have come together into one, and that through the common concord and peace all the things initiated and done by the holy and ecumenical synod have come to a good end. The holy synod said: That the things done by us have received a good end—even if we should be silent, the stones will cry out. Whoever does not conform to the things done by this holy and ecumenical synod shall be separated from the holy and ⟦consubstantial⟧ Trinity. But we ask your Holiness concerning those who separate themselves from the Church: if, after the synod is completed, they return in repentance, what is your view? Concerning this the most holy legates of elder Rome said: We have already said that the most holy Pope John conferred all this authority upon Photios the most holy patriarch, so that he has authority both to receive those who return, and to condemn by excommunication those who do not repent. Only, let those appointed go to Metrophanes the most reverend, carrying our answers and the bond made against him. The holy synod said: It is just. The holy legates of elder Rome said: Let those who are to go be appointed. There went John the most God-beloved metropolitan of Heraclea, Daniel of Ancyra, and George of Nicomedia, who announced to Metrophanes the things said above concerning him. And returning, they gave this answer: As, according to the Apostle, the law is not laid down for the righteous, so neither for one who is sick and grievously ill. The things, therefore, which your Holiness proposes, as with the authority of the Pope, are not now suited to our lowliness; for we are ailing, as we said before, and we are not able to come. But if you wish to receive a complete answer concerning the ecclesiastical union, let the three of you alone take the trouble to come to our lowliness, that I may speak with you; and then may what is pleasing in the sight of God come to pass.

⁶ When this utterance, therefore, had been carried back and read, the most holy legates said: His

⁷ sickness did not hinder him, that through many words the light of God should not be kindled in him, and that he should declare to us, “I am in communion with the Church.” Wherefore, behold, delaying will profit him nothing; rather, he wishes to deliver himself from the penalty imposed upon him.

⁸ Prokopios the most God-beloved archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia said: That man often pleads sickness, often incapacity; in every way he has been eager to escape the judgment that rests with your Holiness. The most holy legates of elder Rome said: As for what concerns him, we have given our verdict, just as our most holy and ecumenical Pope ordained. For let your Holiness call to mind that in your presence we read the letter of the most holy Pope John, and it contained, concerning the peace of the Church, the reception of those who come to it sincerely and in repentance, and that whatever things are bound, the shepherds are able to loose.

⁹ Prokopios the most God-beloved archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia said: If they do not loose the things that are bound, what else can they do? Peter the most God-fearing presbyter and cardinal said: The ecumenical and apostolic Pope John, having received this authority from Peter the chief of the apostles, has given the same authority of binding and loosing to the most holy patriarch Photios also. But Metrophanes, by these and such-like pretexts, wishes to escape the condemnation that hangs over him; and he will not be able to evade it. For the most holy patriarch Photios, having the authority given him by the most holy Pope John, will impose upon him the fitting condemnation even without our presence.

¹⁰ Photios the most holy patriarch said: What is your view concerning those of the hierarchical order who enroll themselves into the rank of the monks? Can these same men, while delivering themselves over into subjection, still retain the same pastoral office? The most holy legates said: This is not so among us, nor is it permitted. For whoever is numbered from the hierarchical order into that of the monks—that is, of the penitents—can no longer hold the distinguishing dignity of the hierarchy. And Basil and Elias, the most holy legates of the Eastern thrones, said: Neither among us has this ever been found to have happened. On the contrary, monks advance to become hierarchs; but those who descend from being hierarchs to being monks cannot remain hierarchs.

¹¹ The holy synod said: Let a canon be defined concerning this also; for often disputes arise among us concerning this matter, some saying that hierarchs who have become monks are not prevented from still performing the functions of hierarchs, while others do not concur in this. The most holy legates said: Let a canon be set forth. And the holy synod said: We wish, moreover, that a canon be set forth also concerning those of the laity who have come to such madness and folly as to strike or imprison hierarchs or priests of God. For even if this has happened but rarely, yet we know it to have occurred from many years past. For if there be no defined and conspicuous punishment for those who dare this, all the more will the evil one prevail to

¹² ⟦drag men into⟧ this godless deed. Basil and Elias, the most holy legates of the East, said: It is fitting that a canon be laid down concerning this also. And when the canons had at once been issued, Photios the most holy patriarch said: If your Holiness so commands, let the canons be read. And Peter the most God-beloved deacon and protonotary took them and read.