An Important Document by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

An Important Document

By Editor

[The epistle of the Emperor Justinian was a decisive factor in establishing the authority of the papacy. It is here given first in the original Latin and then in an English translation.—Ed.]

Epist. Justiniani ad Joannem Rom. Pont., A. D. 533

REDDENTES honorem apostolicae sedi et vestrae sanctitati (quod semper nobis in voto et fuit et est) ut decet patrem honorantes vestram beatudinem, omnia quae ad Ecclesiae statum pertinent, festinavimus ad notitiam deferre vestrae sanctitatis: quoniam semper nobis fuit magnum studium, unitatem vestrae, apostolicae sedis et statum sanctarum Dei Ecclesiarum custodire, qui hactenus obtinet et incommote permanet, nulla intercedente contrarietate. Ideoque omnes sacerdotes universi Orientalis tractus et subjicere et unire vestrae sanctitati properavimus. In presenti ergo quae commota sunt, quamvis manifesta et indubita sint, et secundum apostolicae vestrae sedis doctrinam ab omnibus semper sacerdotibus firme custodita et praedicata: necessarium duximus ut ad notitiam vestrae sanctitatis perveniant. Nec enim patimur quicquam quod ad Ecclesiarum statum pertinet, quamvis manifestum et indubitatum sit quod movetur, ut non etiam vestrae innotescat sanctitati, quae caput est omnium sanctarum Ecclesiarum. Per omnia enim (ut dictum est) properamus honorem et auctoritatem crescere vestrae sedis.—Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici, tom VII, p. 204, Ed. Antverpiae, 1758.

The Epistle of Justinian to John, the Roman Pontiff, A. D. 533

Rendering honor to the apostolic see, and to your holiness (as always was and is our desire), and, as it becomes us, honoring your Blessedness as a father, we have laid without delay before the notice of your holiness, all things pertaining to the state of the church: Since it has always been our earnest study to preserve the unity of your holy see, and the state of the holy churches of God, which has hitherto obtained, and will remain, without any interfering opposition. Therefore we hasten to subject and to unite to your holiness, all the priests of the whole East. As to the matters which are presently agitated, although clear and undoubted, and, according to the doctrine of your apostolic see, held assuredly resolved and decided by all priests, we have yet deemed it necessary to lay them before your holiness. Nor do we suffer any thing which belongs to the state of the church, however manifest and undoubted, that is agitated, to pass without the knowledge of your holiness, who are the head of all the holy churches. For in all things (as has been said or resolved) we are prompt to increase the honor and authority of your see.—The Ecclesiastical History of Baronius, Vol. VII, page 204, Antwerp Edition, 1758.