A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 93. The Age of Justinian 597and equally venerate the holy synods of Nicæa. of Constantinople,the first of Ephesus, and the synod of Chalcedon as mostholy synods, agreeing in the one and immaculate faith of theApostles, and confirmed by the pontiffs of the Apostolic See,and whoever wishes to correct as badly said, or wishes to supplyas imperfect, those things which were done in the same councilswhich we have mentioned.(c) Vigilius, Oath to Justinian, August 15, A. D. 550. Mansi.IX, 363. (MSL, 69: 121.)The Judicatum met with great opposition in the West. Vigilius,to still the clamor against it, withdrew it and proposed othermeasures in consultation with Justinian. In connection withthis he bound himself with an oath to support Justinian inputting through the condemnation of the Three Chapters, andthis oath Justinian produced later, when Vigilius had presentedhis Constitutum to him refusing to condemn the chapters. TheEmperor thereupon suppressed the Constitutum.The most blessed Pope Vigilius has sworn to the most pious lordEmperor in our presence, that is of me, Theodorus, bishop ofCæsarea, in Cappadocia [see DCB, Theodorus of Askidas], andof me, Cethegus, the patrician, by the sacred nails with whichour Lord God Jesus Christ was crucified and by the four holyGospels, as also by the sacred bridle, 205 so also by the fourGospels; that, being of one mind and will with your piety, weshall so will, attempt, and act, as far as we are able, so thatthe three chapters, that is, Theodore of Mopsuestia, the epistleattributed to Ibas, and the writings of Theodoret against theorthodox faith and his sayings against the twelve capitula of theholy Cyril, may be condemned and anathematized; and to do[546]205 Sanctum frenum. Query: Does this refer to the tradition that Constantinemade out of the nails of the cross a bit for his horse?