A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

598 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[547]nothing, either by myself or by those whom we can trust, eitherof the clerical or lay order, in behalf of the chapters, against thewill of your piety, or to speak or to give counsel secretly in behalfof those chapters. And if any one should say anything to me tothe contrary, either concerning these chapters or concerning thefaith, or against the State, I will make him known to your piety,without peril of death, and also what has been said to me, so thaton account of my place you do not abandon my person; and youhave promised, because I observe these things toward your piety,to protect my honor in all respects, and also to guard my personand reputation and to defend them with the help of God and toprotect the privileges of my see. And you have also promisedthat this paper shall be shown to no one. I promise further thatin the case of the three chapters, we shall treat in common as towhat ought to be done, and whatsoever shall appear to us usefulwe will carry out with the help of God. This oath was given thefifteenth day of August, indiction XIII, the twenty-third year ofthe reign of our lord Justinian, the ninth year after the consulshipof the illustrious Basil. I, Theodore, by the mercy of God bishopof Cæsarea, in Cappadocia, have subscribed hereunto as a witnessto this oath; I, Flavius Cethegus, patrician, have subscribedhereunto as a witness to this oath.(d) Vigilius, Constitutum, May 14, 553. (MSL, 69:67.)The synod known as the Fifth General Council met May5, 553, and proceeded to condemn the Three Chapters, asdirected by the Emperor. Vigilius refused to attend, butconsented to pronounce his judgment on the matter apart fromthe council. This he did in his Constitutum ad Imperatorem,May 14, 553. In it he condemns the teaching of Theodoreof Mopsuestia, but opposes the condemnation of Theodorehimself, inasmuch as he had died in the communion of theChurch. He also opposes the condemnation of Theodoret