APOCRISARY. - From the Greek ἀποκρίνο, “I answer,” Latin responsalix, but also apocrisarius and apocrisarius, in the late Empire this was an official entrusted with conducting the affairs assigned to him by the sovereign. The Church too had its a., sent by patriarchs to the court or to other bishops for the discharge of temporary duties. The first a. of the Church of Rome of whom there is record was Giuliano, bishop of Cos, appointed by Pope s. Leone Magno as his representative at the imperial court. The office became permanent in the time of Giustiniano and lasted until 742.
The pontifical a., chosen from the Roman clergy and invested with the diaconate, resided in Constantinople in the palace of Placidia adjoining the imperial palace; his duties were so arduous and varied, not only because of Italy’s political affairs but also because of the religious affairs of the East, that, according to Pope Pelagio II, an a. could not absent himself even for an hour from the imperial palace. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the reports they sent to the Roman Pontiff. Several popes, including Vigilio, Pelagio II, and Gregorio Magno, were a. before ascending the tiara.
During the early Middle Ages, at the Carolingian court, the keeper of the imperial seal and also the chief chaplain of the royal palace were called a.; the latter, however, never had the functions of a nuncio. The office of pontifical a. was the germ of those of legate a latere, for temporary missions, and nuncio, for the Pope’s permanent missions.