The Acts of the Council of Constantinople of 553
With Related Texts on the Three Chapters Controversy
Distributed for Liverpool University Press
Because it condemned two of the greatest biblical scholars and commentators of the patristic era, the Council of Constantinople of 553 has long been considered the most controversial of the ecumenical councils. The council and its organizer, the Byzantine emperor Justinian, used brutality toward their opponents and the falsification of documents in order to pass decrees. However, this translation of the Council’s Acts by Richard Price reveals that the theology of the council was both opportune and constructive and its contributions to Christian unity were well-intentioned and not wholly unsuccessful. In his commentary, Price thoughtfully reevaluates material neglected by historians of the period.
“Price must be congratulated for a translation that will remain indispensable both for historians and for scholars of historical theology.”
VOLUME ONE
Preface
Abbreviations
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
I. The Road from Chalcedon 451-518
II. The Ecclesiastical Policy of the Emperor Justinian
III. The Trials of Pope Vigilius
IV. The Theology: Problems and Solutions
V. The Three Chapters
1. Theodore of Mopsuestia
2. The Controversial Writings of Theodoret
3. The Letter of Ibas to Mari the Persian
VI. The Reception of the Council
VII. Texts and Versions
LETTER FROM AFRICA (545-6)
- Bishop Pontianus to Justinian
- Ferrandus, Letter 6 to Deacon of Rome
JUSTINIAN, EDIT ON THE ORTHODOX FAITH (511)
LETTERS BY OR ON POPE VIGILIUS
1. Letter of Excommunication to Ascidas and Menas
2. Letter from the Church of Milan to the Frankish Envoys
3. Encyclical Letter, Dum in Sanctae Euphemiae
THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF 553
Session I, 5 May
Session II, 8 May
Session III, 9 May
Session IV, 12 May
Session V, 17 May
VOLUME TWO
Abbreviations
THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF 553
Session VI, 19 May
Session VII, 26 May
Session VIII, 2 June
VIGILIUS, THE TWO CONSTITUTA (553-4)
1. First Constitutum
2. Second Letter to Eutychius of Constantinople
3. Second Constitutum
APPENDICES
I. The Anti-Origenist Canons (543 and 553)
1. Canons of 543
2. Letter of Justinian to Council (553)
3. Canons of 553
II. The Attendance and Subscription Lists
MAPS
- Patriarchates and Provinces
- The Balkans
- Western Asia Minor
- Eastern Asia Minor
- Syria and Palestine
- Egypt
- Italy and Africa
GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Primary Sources
- Secondary Literature
INDICES
- Persons in the Texts
- Documents
- The Commentary
History: British and Irish History
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