CHAPTER XI

THE CONFESSION OF EUSTATHIUS, SILVANUS, AND THEOPHILUS, THE DEPUTIES OF THE MACEDONIANS, TO LIBERIUS, BISHOP OF ROME

“To Liberius, our Lord and Brother, and Fellow Minister—Eustathius, Silvanus, and Theophilus, send greeting in the Lord.

“THE desire of suppressing the absurd dogmas which heretics are perpetually broaching, to the scandal of the Catholic Churches, has impelled us to assent to the decrees enacted at Lampsacus, at Smyrna, and at councils in other places, by the orthodox bishops. Having been sent on an embassy to your Holiness, as likewise to all the other bishops of Italy and of the West, we hereby attest and declare that we adhere to the Catholic faith which was established at the holy Council of Nicæa, by the blessed Constantine and three hundred and eighteen inspired fathers. This form of belief has ever since remained inviolate; and it most justly admits the term ‘con-substantial,’ in testimony against the errors of Arius. We attest, by these our signatures, that we have always held this faith, that we still hold it, and that we shall adhere to it to the last. We condemn Arius, his impious dogmas, and his disciples. We also condemn the heresies of Patropassius, of Sabellius, of Marcion, of Marcellus, of Paul of Samosata, and all who maintain such doctrines, as well as the doctrines themselves. We anathematize all heresies opposed to the holy faith established by the saintly fathers at Nicæa. We anathematize Arius, and condemn all such decrees as were enacted at Ariminum in opposition to the faith established by the holy Council of Nicæa. We were formerly deluded by the guile and perjury of certain parties, and subscribed to these decrees when they were transmitted to Constantinople, from Nicæa, a city of Thrace.”

At the conclusion of this document, they subjoined a copy of the entire formulary of Nicæa, and having received from Liberius a written account of all that they had transacted, they embarked on board a ship then sailing from Sicily.