Reference:CPG 8653
Incipit:Οὐδὲν παντελῶς ἡμῖν παραλέλειπται
Date:later November, 430
Greek Text:ACO 1.1.1:112
English Translation:FCC (below);  CE #30

In connection with his letter announcing a large council at Ephesus the following Pentecost (CPG 8652), Theodsius II wrote several letters to accompany it and addressed to important leaders. A copy was preserved in the Collectio Vaticana version of the council’s proceedings with an address indicating the letter went separately to both the aged Acacius of Beroea (Aleppo) and the famous monk Simeon Stylites. Acacius was about 90 years old at the time, but was still highly regarded in the church; he would play an important role in bringing John of Antioch and Cyril together in the years after the council. Simeon Stylites (the Elder), was only in his 30s at this time, but already had become famous for his austerities and godly counsel, and certainly would not leave his isolation to attend the council. Apparently Theodosius wanted to ensure that these and other similar leaders understood his motivations and therefore would also be favorable to the upcoming meeting.    

The Greek text provided below is taken from the ACO. The English translation was done for FCC by Timothy Manning and Glen Thompson.

Ἴσον σάκρας γραφείσης πρὸς Ἀκάκιον τὸν τῆς Βεροιαίων καὶ Συμεῶνα τὸν Ἀντιοχείας ἀναχωρητὴν καὶ ἄλλας ἐπαρχίας ἰδίᾳ ἑκάστῳ.A copy of the written imperial sacra written to Acacius of Beroea, to Symeon the anchorite of Antioch, and to other provinces (sent to each individually).
Οὐδὲν παντελῶς ἡμῖν παραλέλειπται τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἑαυτῶν ὀφειλόντων σπουδασθῆναι θρηισκείας καὶ τοῦτο ἀκριβῶς εἴσεταί σου ἡ ὁσιότης παρὰ τοῦ εὐλαβεστάτου ἐπισκόπου Ἀντιοχέων καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν μαθοῦσα τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ ἁγίων ἐπισκόπων. γεγένηνται δέ τινες περὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα φιλονεικίαι καὶ δυσκολίαι, ἃς ἐξαλεῖψαι πειραθέντες ὑπὸ τῶν πολλῶν τέως πραγμάτων διεκωλύθημεν· οὐ μὴν ἀποστῆναι ταύτης τῆς σπουδῆς αἱρησόμεθα, πρὶν ἂν ἡμῖν ὁ ἀγαθὸς θεὸς τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ἐκκλησιῶν ἕνωσιν χαρίσοιτο δι’ ὑμετέρων εὐχῶν, ὥστε προσήκει μετὰ πάσης σπουδῆς ταῦτα παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν σὴν αἰτεῖν ἁγιότητα, τῆς Ῥωμαικῆς θρηισκείας ἱερέας ἐπιδείξαντα εὐδοκίμους.  We have avoided absolutely none of the matters concerning religion which are in need of serious attention. Your Holiness will have received the details from the most reverent bishop of Antioch and the other holy bishops with him. Concerning this matter, some disputes and difficulties have arisen and  our attempt to end them was hindered by our many other duties. However, we will not abandon this zeal until our virtuous God grants us a unity of the holy churches through your prayers. So it is proper for your Holiness to most zealously ask these things of God, thus showing the priests of the Roman religion to be of good repute.

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Last updated 9/8/2026 by JSW

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