A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

525position; the see of Rome can reject the canons of councilseven though general; apostolic sees connected with Peter maynot have their authority diminished. For the twenty-eighthcanon of Chalcedon, v. infra, § 90, d.Ch. 3. Let the city of Constantinople have, as we desire, its glory,and may it, under the protection of God's right hand, long enjoythe rule of your clemency. Yet the basis of things secular is one,and the basis of things divine another; and there can be no surebuilding save on that rock which the Lord laid as a foundation.He that covets what is not his due, loses what is his own. Let it beenough for the aforesaid [Anatolius, bishop of Constantinople]that by the aid of your piety and by my favorable assent he hasobtained the bishopric of so great a city. Let him not disdaina royal city, which he cannot make an apostolic see; and lethim on no account hope to be able to rise by injury to others.For the privileges of the churches, determined by the canons ofthe holy Fathers, and fixed by the decrees of the Nicene synod,cannot be overthrown by an unscrupulous act, nor disturbed byan innovation. And in the faithful execution of this task by the aidof Christ, it is necessary that I show an unflinching devotion; for [479]it is a charge intrusted to me, and it tends to condemnation if therules sanctioned by the Fathers and laid down under the guidanceof God's spirit at the synod of Nicæa for the government ofthe whole Church are violated with my connivance (which Godforbid) and if the wishes of a single brother have more weightwith me than the common word of the Lord's whole house.(c) Leo the Great, Ep. 105, ad Pulcheriam Augustam A. D. 452.(MSL, 54:997.)Condemnation of all canons contravening those of Nicæa.§ 3. Let him [Anatolius] know to what sort of man he has succeeded,and, expelling all the spirit of pride, let him imitate the