THE SYNODAL LETTER.

(Found in Gelasius, Historia Concilii Nicaeni, lib. II, cap. xxxiii. ; 

Socr., H. E., lib. I., cap. ; Theodor., H. E., lib. I., cap. .)

To the Church of Alexandria, by the grace of GOD, holy and great; 

and to our well-beloved brethren, the orthodox clergy and laity 

throughout Egypt, and Pentapolis, and Lybia, and every nation under 

heaven, the holy and great synod, the bishops assembled at Nicea, 

wish health in the LORD.

FORASMUCH as the great and holy Synod, which was assembled at 

Niece through the grace of Christ and our most religious Sovereign 

Constantine, who brought us together from our several provinces and 

cities, has considered matters which concern the faith of the Church, it 

seemed to us to be necessary that certain things should be 

communicated from us to you in writing, so that you might have the 

means of knowing what has been mooted and investigated, and also 

what has been decreed and confirmed.

First of all, then, in the presence of our most religious Sovereign 

Constantine, investigation was made of matters concerning the impiety 

and transgression of Arias and his adherents; and it was unanimously 

decreed that he and his impious opinion should be anathematized, 

together with the blasphemous words and speculations in which he 

indulged, blaspheming the Son of God, and saying that he is from 

things that are not, and that before he was begotten he was not, and 

that there was a time when he was not, and that the Son of God is by 

his free will capable of vice and virtue; saying also that he is a 

creature. All these things the holy Synod has anathematized, not even 

enduring to hear his impious doctrine and madness and blasphemous 

words. And of the charges against him and of the results they had, ye 

have either already heard or will hear the particulars, lest we should 

seem to be oppressing a man who has in fact received a fitting 

recompense for his own sin. So far indeed has his impiety prevailed, 

that he has even destroyed Theonas of Marmorica and Secundes of 

Ptolemais; for they also have received the same sentence as the rest.

But when the grace of God had delivered Egypt from that heresy and 

blasphemy, and from the persons who have dared to make disturbance 

and division among a people heretofore at peace, there remained the 

matter of the insolence of Meletius and those who have been ordained 

by him; and concerning this part of our work we now, beloved 

brethren, proceed to inform you of the decrees of the Synod. The 

Synod, then, being disposed to deal gently with Meletius(for in strict 

justice he deserved no leniency), decreed that he should remain in his 

own city, but have no authority either to ordain, or to administer 

affairs, or to make appointments; and that he should not appear in the 

country or in any other city for this purpose, but should enjoy the bare 

title of his rank; but that those who have been placed by him, after they 

have been confirmed by a more sacred laying on of hands, shall on 

these conditions be admitted to communion: that they shall both have 

their rank and the right to officiate, but that they shall be altogether the 

inferiors of all those who are enrolled in any church or parish, and 

have been appointed by our most honourable colleague Alexander. So 

that these men are to have no authority to make appointments of 

persons who may be pleasing to them, nor to suggest names, nor to do 

anything whatever, without  the consent of the bishops of the Catholic 

and Apostolic Church, who are serving under our most holy colleague 

Alexander; while those who, by the grace of God and through your 

prayers, have been found in no schism, but on the contrary are without 

spot in the Catholic and Apostolic Church, are to have authority to 

make appointments and nominations of worthy persons among the 

clergy, and in short to do all things according to the law and ordinance 

of the Church. But, if it happen that any of the clergy who are now in 

the Church should die, then those who have been lately received are to 

succeed to the office of the deceased; always provided that they shall 

appear to be worthy, and that the people elect them, and that the 

bishop of Alexandria shall concur in the election and ratify it. This 

concession has been made to all the rest; but, on account of his 

disorderly conduct from the first, and the rashness and precipitation of 

his character, the same decree was not made concerning Meletius himself, but that, inasmuch as he is a man 

capable of committing again the same disorders, no authority nor 

privilege should be conceded to him.

These are the particulars, which are of special interest to Egypt and to 

the most holy Church of Alexandria; but if in the presence of our most 

honoured lord, our colleague and brother Alexander, anything else has 

been enacted by canon or other decree, he will himself convey it to 

you in greater detail, he having been both a guide and fellow-worker in 

what has been done.

We further proclaim to you the good news of the agreement 

concerning the holy Easter, that this particular also has through your 

prayers been rightly settled; so that all our brethren in the East who 

formerly followed the custom of the Jews are henceforth to celebrate 

the said most sacred feast of Easter at the same time with the Romans 

and yourselves and all those who have observed Easter from the 

beginning.

Wherefore, rejoicing in these wholesome results, and in our common 

peace and harmony, and in the cutting off of every heresy, receive ye 

with the greater honour and with increased love, our colleague your 

Bishop Alexander, who has gladdened us by his presence, and who at 

so great an age has undergone so great fatigue that peace might be 

established among you and all of us. Pray ye also for us all, that the 

things which have been deemed advisable may stand fast; for they 

have been done, as we believe, to the well-pleasing of Almighty God 

and of his only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy 

Ghost, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.