Letter 164: Second Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon,

Second Letter of the Eastern Commissioners from Chalcedon, Through your holiness's prayers, our most pious emperor has granted us an audience, and by God's grace we have gotten the better of our opponents. All our positions have been accepted by the most Christ-loving emperor. The reports of others were read, and what seemed unfit to be received -- having no further importance -- he rejected. These reports were full of Cyril, petitioning that he be summoned to account for himself. So far our opponents have not prevailed. Instead, they heard discourses on true religion -- that is, on the system of the faith -- and the faith of the blessed Fathers was confirmed. We further refuted Acacius, who had stated in his commentaries that the Godhead is capable of suffering. Our pious emperor was so shocked at the enormity of this blasphemy that he flung off his cloak and stepped back. We know that the whole assembly welcomed us as champions of true religion. It has pleased our most pious emperor that each side should explain its own position and submit it in writing. We have replied that it is impossible for us to make any other statement of faith than the one made by the blessed Fathers at Nicaea [325 AD], and this has satisfied his majesty. We therefore presented the formula subscribed by your holiness. Moreover, the entire population of Constantinople keeps coming out to us, imploring us to fight courageously for the faith. We do our best to restrain them, to avoid giving offense to our opponents. We have sent a copy of the statement so that two copies may be made and you may sign them both.

Letter 164