Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIV/The Seventh Ecumenical Council/Extracts from the Acts 5

Extracts from the Acts.

Session VI.

(Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 389.)

the most renowned secretary said:&#160; The holy and blessed Synod know how at the last session we examined divers sayings of the God-forsaken heretics, who had brought charges against the holy and spotless Church of the Christians for the setting up of the holy images.&#160; But to-day we have in our hands the written blasphemy of those calumniators of the Christians, that is to say, the absurd, and easily answered, and self-convicting definition (&#8005;&#961;&#959;&#957;) of the pseudosyllogus, in all respects agreeing with the impious opinion of the God-hated heretics.&#160; But not only have we this, but also the artful and most drastic refutation thereof, which the Holy Spirit had supervised.&#160; For it was right that this definition should be made a triumph by wise contradictions, and should be torn to pieces with strong refutations.&#160; This also we submit so as to know your pleasure with regard to it.

The holy Synod said:&#160; Let it be read.

John, the deacon and chancellor [of the most holy great Church of Constantinople, in Lat. only] read.

[John, the deacon, then read the orthodox refutation, and Gregory, the bishop of Neoc&#230;sarea, the Definition of the Mock Council, the one reading the heretical statement and the other the orthodox answer.]