The Synodical Letter of the Council of Constantinople to the Emperor Theodosius

To the emperor Theodosius, most observant of religion and piety, and most loving of God, the holy council of bishops who assembled at Constantinople from diverse provinces. At the very beginning of our present writing to your piety, we give thanks to God, who established the rule of your piety for the common peace of the Churches and the confirmation of sound faith: and while giving to God the thanks that are due, we must also necessarily report to your piety the things that have been done in the holy council; namely, that from the time when, according to the letters of your piety, we assembled at Constantinople, we first renewed mutual concord among ourselves: then we also pronounced brief definitions, by which we confirmed the faith of the fathers who were gathered at Nicaea; and we rejected, with the utmost execration and detestation, the perverse heresies and depraved opinions that had arisen against it.

Moreover, for the right constitution and ordering of the state and discipline of the Churches, we established certain canons: all of which we have appended to this our letter. We ask, therefore, your clemency, that by a letter of your piety also the decree of the council be ratified: so that just as by the letters by which you summoned us, you honored the Church, so also you may set your seal upon the conclusion of what has been decreed. May the Lord establish your rule in peace and justice, and prolong it for many ages and generations, and add to your earthly rule the joy and fruit also of the heavenly kingdom. May God grant favor to the whole world, that it may see you, who are truly most zealous for piety and most loving of God as emperor, in good health, and flourishing and excelling in all glorious things: which the saints also ask and pray for from Him with prayers and vows.