Monday, July 13, 2015

The Territory of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem according to the Fourth Ecumenical Council

This is taken from Richard Price and Michael Gaddis, The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon. Liverpool University Press, 2005, vol. II, pp. 247-249.

Compare to this nonsense. For a map of the territories in question, see here. Notice that according to the Council of Chalcedon, most of modern Jordan should be part of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

Session VII (Session VIII in the Greek version of the Acts)

[...]

3. When all had taken their seats in front of the rails of the most holy sanctuary, the most magnificent and glorious officials said: ‘Our most divine and pious master, at the request of the most sacred bishops Maximus and Juvenal, instructed us to discuss with them the proposals that have been moved. The aforementioned most sacred men had a meeting and drafted a joint proposal in unwritten form, which, as they made clear even to us, appears to have been drafted justly by agreement. We therefore thought it essential that both of them should also inform the holy council, so that by our judgement and your decree that which has found approval may be confirmed.’

4. Maximus the most devout bishop of Antioch in Syria said: ‘After much rivalry the most devout Bishop Juvenal and I have decided in agreement that the see of the great city of Antioch, that of Saint Peter, should have the two Phoenices and Arabia, while the see of Jerusalem should have the three Palestines. And we ask that this be confirmed in writing by a judgement of your magnificence and of the holy council.’

5. Juvenal the most sacred bishop of the city of Jerusalem said: ‘I too have decided that the holy [church of the] Resurrection of Christ should have the three Palestines, and the see of Antioch the two Phoenices and Arabia. And I ask that this be confirmed by a judgement of your magnificence and of the holy council.’

[...]

7. Paschasinus and Lucentius the most devout bishops and Boniface presbyter, representing the apostolic see of Senior Rome, said {through the most devout Bishop Paschasinus}: ‘We recognize that this proposal resulting from an agreement between our brothers Maximus the most devout bishop of the church of Antioch and the most devout and holy Bishop Juvenal of Jerusalem was made for the sake of the benefit of peace,that is, that the bishop of the church of Antioch should have the two Phoenices and Arabia and the bishop of Jerusalem the three Palestines. May it be confirmed
in addition by the declaration of our humility, so that from now on no rivalry may remain between the aforesaid churches over this matter.’

8. Anatolius bishop of glorious Constantinople New Rome said: ‘May the agreement between the most God-beloved Maximus bishop of Antioch and the most God-beloved Juvenal bishop of Jerusalem be confirmed by my declaration also, that the most holy church of the great city of Antioch should have the two Phoenices and Arabia, and the most holy church of Jerusalem the three Palestines, so that in future the two churches should have no cause for dispute with each other over this question.’

9. Thalassius the most devout bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia said: The decision agreed between the most God-beloved and holy bishops Maximus and Juvenal we also approve.’

10. Stephen the most devout bishop of Ephesus said: ‘In accordance with the proposal of the most God-beloved and devout Maximus bishop of the city of Antioch and the most God-beloved Juvenal bishop of Jerusalem, that the most holy church of the city of Antioch should have the two Phoenices and Arabia and the most holy church of Jerusalem the three Palestines, I too confirm their joint proposal, so that both churches in future will have no cause for rivalry.’

11. Eusebius the most devout bishop of Ancyra in Galatia said: ‘We give thanks to the Lord God that the dispute between the two fathers has been ended by a friendly agreement, and we therefore wish that the proposal agreed by both parties prevail.’

12. Peter the most devout bishop of Corinth said: ‘We are delighted by the peace and concord between these two fathers, and approve the proposal.’

13. Julian the most devout bishop of Cos said: ‘In accordance with the agreement between both parties, that is, the most devout Maximus bishop of Antioch and Juvenal the most devout bishop of Jerusalem, that the most holy church of the great city of Antioch should have the two Phoenices and Arabia, and the most holy church of Jerusalem the three Palestines, I too pronounce that their joint proposal is confirmed, since the mediation of Christ’s love has brought them both into unity.’

14. Diogenes the most devout bishop of Cyzicus said: ‘I approve the proceedings of the holy fathers.’

15. Amphilochius the most devout bishop of Side said: ‘Since the divine dispensation has manifestly directed that the dispute between the most Godbeloved bishops Maximus and Juvenal should be settled by a friendly agreement, I too give thanks to Christ the Saviour for this peace between them, and approve their splendid decision.’

16. All the most devout bishops exclaimed: ‘We too say the same and agree with the statements of the fathers.’

17. The most magnificent and glorious officials said: ‘This too is the work of the holy Trinity and of the policy of our most divine and pious emperor, so that the dispute between those who appeared to be rivals should be cut short by an agreed policy. The accord that has been reached, then, through agreement between Maximus the most holy bishop of Antioch and Juvenal the most sacred bishop of Jerusalem, as revealed in their joint proposal, now that it has been confirmed both by our judgement and by the decree of the holy council, will last for all time, that is, that the most sacred Bishop Maximus and the most holy church of Antioch is to have the two Phoenices and Arabia under its authority, while the most sacred Juvenal bishop of Jerusalem and the most holy church under him is to have the three Palestines under its authority. This decision abrogates, according to the command of our most divine and pious lord, all mandates and all rescripts otherwise procured by the two parties and the penalties contained in them relating to this matter.’

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