Second Council of Constantinople

Canon 1 Denz. 213

Si quis non confitetur Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti unam naturam sive substantiam, et unam virtutem et potestatem, trinitatem consubstantialem, unam deitatem in tribus subsistentiis sive personis adorandam, talis anathema sit. Unus enim Deus et Pater, ex quo omnia; et unus Dominus Iesus Christus, per quem omnia; et unus Spiritus Sanctus, in quo omnia.

If anyone shall not confess that the nature or essence of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is one, as also the force and the power; [if anyone does not confess] a consubstantial Trinity, one Godhead to be worshipped in three subsistences or Persons: let him be anathema. For there is but one God even the Father of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and one Holy Spirit in whom are all things.

Canon 2 Denz. 214

Si quis non confitetur Dei Verbi duas esse nativitates, unam quidem ante saecula ex patre sine tempore incorporaliter, alteram vero in ultimis diebus eiusdem ipsius qui de coel descendit, et incarnatus de sancta gloriosa Dei Genitrice et semper Virgine Maria, natus est ex ipsa, talis A. S.

If anyone shall not confess that the Word of God has two nativities, the one from all eternity of the Father, without time and without body; the other in these last days, coming down from heaven and being made flesh of the holy and glorious Mary, Mother of God and always a virgin, and born of her: let him be anathema.

Canon 3 Denz. 215

Si quis dicit, aliu esse Deum Verbum qui miracula fecit, et alium Christum qui passus est, vel Deum Verbum cum Christo esse nascente de muliere, vel in ipso esse ut alterum in altero, et non unum eundemque Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Dei Verbum incarnatum et hominem factum, et eiusdem ipsius miracula, et passiones quas voluntarie carne sustinuit, talis A. S.

If anyone shall say that the wonder-working Word of God is one [Person] and the Christ that suffered another; or shall say that God the Word was with the woman-born Christ, or was in him as one person in another, but that he was not one and the same our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, incarnate and made man, and that his miracles and the sufferings which of his own will he endured in the flesh were not of the same [Person]: let him be anathema.

Canon 4 Denz. 216

Si quis dicit, secundum gratiam, vel secundum operationem, vel secundum dignitatem, vel secundum aequalitatem honoris, vel secundum auctoritatem, aut relationem, aut affectum, aut virtutem, unitionem Dei Verbi ad hominem factam esse, vel secundum bonam voluntatem, quasi quod placuit Deo Verbo homo, eo quod bene visum est et de ipso, Sicut TheodoruS [insipiens] dicit: vel secundum homonymiam, per quam Nestoriani Deum Verbum Filium et Christum vocantes, et hominem separatim Christum et Filium nominantes, et duas personas evidenter dicentes, per solam nominationem, et honorem, et dignitatem, et adorationem, unam personam, unum Filium, et unum Christum confingunt dicere: sed non confitetur unitatem Dei Verbi ad carnem animatam anima rationabili et intellectuali, secundum compositionem sive secundum subsistentiam factam esse, sicut sancti Patres docuerunt, et ideo unam eius subsistentiam compositam, qui est Dominus (noster) Iesus Christus, unus de Sancta Trinitate, talis A. S. Cum enim multis modis unitas intelligitur, qui impietatem Apollinarii et Eutychetis sequuntur, interemptionem eorum quae convenerunt colentes, unitionem secundum confusionem dicunt. Theodori autem et Nestorii sequaces, divisione gaudentes affectualem unitatem introducunt. Sancta Dei Ecclesia utriusque perfidiae impietatem reiciens, unitionem Dei Verbi ad carnem secundum compositionem confitetur, quod est secundum subsistentiam. Unitio enim per compositionem in mysterio Christi non solum inconfuse ea, quae convenerunt, conservat, sed nec divisionem suscipit.

If anyone shall say that the union of the Word of God to man was only according to grace or energy, or dignity, or equality of honour, or authority, or relation, or effect, or power, or according to good pleasure in this sense that God the Word was pleased with a man, that is to say, that he loved him for his own sake, as says the senseless Theodorus, or [if anyone pretends that this union exists only] so far as likeness of name is concerned, as the Nestorians understand, who call also the Word of God Jesus and Christ, and even accord to the man the names of Christ and of Son, speaking thus clearly of two persons, and only designating disingenuously one Person and one Christ when the reference is to his honour, or his dignity, or his worship; if anyone shall not acknowledge as the Holy Fathers teach, that the union of God the Word is made with the flesh animated by a reasonable and living soul, and that such union is made synthetically and hypostatically, and that therefore there is only one Person, to wit: our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Holy Trinity: let him be anathema. As a matter of fact the word "union" (tes henoseos) has many meanings, and the partisans of Apollinaris and Eutyches have affirmed that these natures are confounded inter se, and have asserted a union produced by the mixture of both. On the other hand the followers of Theodorus and of Nestorius rejoicing in the division of the natures, have taught only a relative union. Meanwhile the Holy Church of God, condemning equally the impiety of both sorts of heresies, recognises the union of God the Word with the flesh synthetically, that is to say, hypostatically. For in the mystery of Christ the synthetical union not only preserves unconfusedly the natures which are united, but also allows no separation.

Canon 5 Denz. 217

Si quis unam subsistentiam Domini nostri Iesu Christi sic intelligit, tanquam suscipientem plurimarum subsistentiarum significationem, et per hoc introducere conatur in mysterio Christi duas subsistentias, seu duas personas, et duarum personarum quas introducit, unam personam dicit secundum dignitatem, et honorem, etadorationem, sicutTheodorus etNestorius insanientes conscripserunt, et calumniatur sanctam CHALCEDONENSEM Synodum tanquam secundum istum impium intellectum unius subsistentiae utentem vocabulo, sed non confitetur Dei Verbum carni secundum subsistentiam unitum esse, et propter hoc unam eius subsistentiam, seu unam personam, et sic et sanctum CHALCEDONENSE Concilium unam subsistentiam Domini nostri Iesu Christi confessum esse, talisA.S. Necenimaciiectionem personae vel subsistentiae suscepit sancta Trinitas ex incarnato uno cic sancta Trinitate Deo Verbo.

If anyone understands the expression "one only Person of our Lord Jesus Christ" in this sense, that it is the union of many hypostases, and if he attempts thus to introduce into the mystery of Christ two hypostases, or two Persons, and, after having introduced two persons, speaks of one Person only out of dignity, honour or worship, as both Theodorus and Nestorius insanely have written; if anyone shall calumniate the holy Council of Chalcedon, pretending that it made use of this expression [one hypostasis] in this impious sense, and if he will not recognize rather that the Word of God is united with the flesh hypostatically, and that therefore there is but one hypostasis or one only Person, and that the holy Council of Chalcedon has professed in this sense the one Person of our Lord Jesus Christ: let him be anathema. For since one of the Holy Trinity has been made man, viz.: God the Word, the Holy Trinity has not been increased by the addition of another person or hypostasis.

Canon 6 Denz. 218

Si quis abusive et non vere Dei genitricem dicit sanctam gloriosam semper Virginem Mariam, vel secundum relationem, quasi homine puro nato, sed non Deo Verbo incarnato et nato ex ipsa, referenda autem, sicut illi dicunt, hominis nativitate ad Deum Verbum, eo quod cum homine erat nascente, et calumniatur sanctam CHALCEDONENSEM Synodum, tanquam secundum istum impium intellectum, quem Theodorus exsecrandus adinvenit, Dei genitricem Virginem dicentem, vel qui hominis genitricem vocat, aut Christotocon, id est, Christi genitricem, tanquam si Christus Deus non esset, et non proprie et vere Dei genitricem ipsam confitetur, eo quod ipse qui ante saecula ex Patre natus est Deus Verbum, in ultimis diebus ex ipsa incarnatus et natus est, et sic pie et sanctam CHALCEDONENSEM- DONENSEM Synodumeam esse confessam, talis A. S.

If anyone shall not call in a true acceptation, but only in a false acceptation, the holy, glorious, and ever-virgin Mary, the Mother of God, or shall call her so only in a relative sense, believing that she bare only a simple man and that God the word was not incarnate of her, but that the incarnation of God the Word resulted only from the fact that he united himself to that man who was born [of her]; if he shall calumniate the Holy Synod of Chalcedon as though it had asserted the Virgin to be Mother of God according to the impious sense of Theodore; or if anyone shall call her the mother of a man (anthropotokon) or the Mother of Christ (Christotokon), as if Christ were not God, and shall not confess that she is exactly and truly the Mother of God, because that God the Word who before all ages was begotten of the Father was in these last days made flesh and born of her, and if anyone shall not confess that in this sense the holy Synod of Chalcedon acknowledged her to be the Mother of God: let him be anathema.

Canon 7 Denz. 219

Si quis in duabus naturis dicens, non ut in deitate et humanitate, unum Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum cognosci confitetur, ut per hoc significet differentiam naturarum, in quibus inconfuse ineffabilis unitio facta est, neque Deo Verbo in carnis naturam transmutato, neque carne in Verbi naturam transducta (manet enim utrumque hoc quod est natura, etiam facta unitate secundum subsistentiam), sed pro divisione per partem, talem excipit vocem in mysterio Christi, vel numerum naturarum confitendo in eodem Domino nostro Iesu Christo Deo Verbo incarnato, non intellectu tantummodo differentiam excipit earum, ex quibus et compositus est, non interemptam propter unitatem (unus enim ex utroque, et per unum utraque), sed in hoc numero utitur, ut separatim unaquaque natura suam habente subsistentiam, talis A. S.

If anyone using the expression, "in two natures," does not confess that our one Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed in the divinity and in the humanity, so as to designate by that expression a difference of the natures of which an ineffable union is unconfusedly made, [a union] in which neither the nature of the Word was changed into that of the flesh, nor that of the flesh into that of the Word, for each remained that it was by nature, the union being hypostatic; but shall take the expression with regard to the mystery of Christ in a sense so as to divide the parties, or recognising the two natures in the only Lord Jesus, God the Word made man, does not content himself with taking in a theoretical manner the difference of the natures which compose him, which difference is not destroyed by the union between them, for one is composed of the two and the two are in one, but shall make use of the number [two] to divide the natures or to make of them Persons properly so called: let him be anathema.

Canon 8 Denz. 220

Si quis ex duabus naturis deitatis et humanitatis confitens unitatem factam esse, vel unam naturam Dei Verbi incarnatam dicens, non sic ea excipit sicut Patres docuerunt, quod ex divina natura et humana, unitione secundum subsistentiam facta, unus Christus effectus est, sed ex talibus vocibus unam naturam sive substantiam deitatis et carnis Christi introducere conatur, talis A. S. Secundum subsistentiam enim dicentes unigenitum Deum Verbum carni unitum esse, non confusionem aliquam naturarum in se invicem factam esse dicimus, sed magis permanente utraque hoc quod est, unitum esse carni Deum Verbum intelligimus. Propter quod et unus est Christus, Deus et homo, idem ipse consubstantialis Patri secundum deitatem, et consubstantialis nobis idem ipse secundum humanitatem. Aequaliter enim et eos qui per partem dividunt vel incidunt, et eos qui confundunt divinae dispensationis mysterium Christi, reicit et anathematizat Dei Ecclesia.

If anyone uses the expression "of two natures," confessing that a union was made of the Godhead and of the humanity, or the expression "the one nature made flesh of God the Word," and shall not so understand those expressions as the holy Fathers have taught, to wit: that of the divine and human nature there was made an hypostatic union, whereof is one Christ; but from these expressions shall try to introduce one nature or substance [made by a mixture] of the Godhead and manhood of Christ; let him be anathema. For in teaching that the only-begotten Word was united hypostatically [to humanity] we do not mean to say that there was made a mutual confusion of natures, but rather each [nature] remaining what it was, we understand that the Word was united to the flesh. Wherefore there is one Christ, both God and man, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood. Therefore they are equally condemned and anathematized by the Church of God, who divide or part the mystery of the divine dispensation of Christ, or who introduce confusion into that mystery.

Canon 9 Denz. 221

Si quis in duabu naturis adorari dicit Christum, ex quo duas adorationes introducunt, separatim Deo Verbo, et separatim homini: vel si quis ad interemptionem carnis vel ad confusionem deitatis et humanitatis, unam naturam sive substantiam eorum quae convenerunt introducens, sic Christum adorat, sed non una adoratione Deum Verbum incarnatum cum propria ipsius carne adorat, sicut ab initio Dei Ecclesiae traditum est, talis A. S.

If anyone shall take the expression, Christ ought to be worshipped in his two natures, in the sense that he wishes to introduce thus two adorations, the one in special relation to God the Word and the other as pertaining to the man; or if anyone to get rid of the flesh, [that is of the humanity of Christ,] or to mix together the divinity and the humanity, shall speak monstrously of one only nature or essence (phusin egoun ousian) of the united (natures), and so worship Christ, and does not venerate, by one adoration, God the Word made man, together with his flesh, as the Holy Church has taught from the beginning: let him be anathema.

Canon 10 Denz. 222

Si quis non confitetur Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, qui crucifixus est carne, Deum esse verum, et Dominum gloriae, et unum de Sancta Trinitate, talis A. S.

If anyone does not confess that our Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified in the flesh is true God and the Lord of Glory and one of the Holy Trinity: let him be anathema.

Canon 11 Denz. 223

Si quis non anathematizat Arium, Eunomium, Macedonium, Apollinarium, Nestorium, Eutychen, Origenem cum impiis eorum conscriptis, et alios omnes haereticos qui condemnati et anathematizati sunt a sancta catholica et apostolica Ecclesia, et a praedictis sanctis quattuor Conciliis, et eos qui similia praedictis haereticis sapuerunt vel sapiunt, et usque ad mortem in sua impietate permanserunt vel permanent, talis A. S.

If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinaris, Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their impious writings, as also all other heretics already condemned and anathematized by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and by the aforesaid four Holy Synods and [if anyone does not equally anathematize] all those who have held and hold or who in their impiety persist in holding to the end the same opinion as those heretics just mentioned: let him be anathema.

Canon 12 Denz. 224–225

Si quis defendit impium Theodorum Mopsuestenum, qui dixit alium esse Deum Verbum, et alium Christum a- passionibus animae et desideriis carnis molestias patientem, et a deterioribus paulatim recedentem, et sic ex profectu operum melioratum, et a conversatione immaculatum factum, et tanquam purum hominem baptizatum esse in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, et per baptisma Sancti Spiritus gratiam accepisse, et filiationem meruisse, et ad similitudinem imperialis imaginis in persona Dei Verbi adorari, et post resurrectionem immutabilem cogitationibus et impeccabilem omnino factum fuisse. Et iterum dixit idem impius Theodorus, talem factam esse unitionem Dei Verbi ad Christum, qualem dixit Apostolus de viro et muliere: «Erunt duo in carne una» [Gn2, 24]. Et super alias innumerabiles blasphemias ausus est dicere, quod post resurrectionem cum insufflasset Dominus discipulis, et dixisset: «Accipite Spiritum Sanctum» [Io20, 22], non dedit eis Spiritum Sanctum, sed figuratim tantummodo insufflavit. Iste enim et confessionem, quam fecit Thomas cum palpasset manus et latus Domini post resurrectionem, dicens: «Dominus meus et Deus neusf, inquit non esse dictam a Thoma de Christo. (Nec enim dicit Theodorus Deum esse Christum,) sed ad miraculum resurrectionis stupefactum Thomam glorificasse Deum, qui Christum Et, quod peius est, etiam in interpretatione, quam in Actus Apostolorum scripsit Theodorus, similem fecit Christum Platoni, et Manichaeo, et Epicuro, et Marcioni, dicens: Quod sicut illorum unusquisque ex dogmate, quod invenit, suos discipulos fecit vocari Platonicos et Manichaeos et Epicureos et Marcionistas: simili modo et cum Christus dogma invenisset, ex ipso Christianos vocari. Si quis igitur defendit praedictum impium Theodorun, et impia eius conscripta, in quibus tam praedictas, quam alias innumerabiles blasphemias dit contra magnum Deum et Salvatorem Iesum Christum, et non anathematizat eum, et impia eius conscripta, et omnes qui suscipiunt vel defendunt eum, et dicunt orthodoxe eum exposuisse, et qui scripserunt pro eo, et eadem i!b sapuerunt, vel scribunt pro eo, vel impiis eius conscriptis, et eos qui similia illi sapiunt, vel aliquando sapuerunt, et usque ad mortem permanserunt vel permanent in tali impietate, talis A. S.

If anyone defends the impious Theodore of Mopsuestia, who has said that the Word of God is one person, but that another person is Christ, vexed by the sufferings of the soul and the desires of the flesh, and separated little by little above that which is inferior, and become better by the progress in good works and irreproachable in his manner of life, as a mere man was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and obtained by this baptism the grace of the Holy Spirit, and became worthy of Sonship, and to be worshipped out of regard to the Person of God the Word (just as one worships the image of an emperor) and that he is become, after the resurrection, unchangeable in his thoughts and altogether without sin. And, again, this same impious Theodore has also said that the union of God the Word with Christ is like to that which, according to the doctrine of the Apostle, exists between a man and his wife, "They twain shall be in one flesh." The same [Theodore] has dared, among numerous other blasphemies, to say that when after the resurrection the Lord breathed upon his disciples, saying, "Receive the Holy Ghost," he did not really give them the Holy Spirit, but that he breathed upon them only as a sign. He likewise has said that the profession of faith made by Thomas when he had, after the resurrection, touched the hands and the side of the Lord, viz.: "My Lord and my God," was not said in reference to Christ, but that Thomas, filled with wonder at the miracle of the resurrection, thus thanked God who had raised up Christ. And moreover (which is still more scandalous) this same Theodore in his Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles compares Christ to Plato, Manichæus, Epicurus and Marcion, and says that as each of these men having discovered his own doctrine, had given his name to his disciples, who were called Platonists, Manicheans, Epicureans and Marcionites, just so Christ, having discovered his doctrine, had given the name Christians to his disciples. If, then, anyone shall defend this most impious Theodore and his impious writings, in which he vomits the blasphemies mentioned above, and countless others besides against our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and if anyone does not anathematize him or his impious writings, as well as all those who protect or defend him, or who assert that his exegesis is orthodox, or who write in favour of him and of his impious works, or those who share the same opinions, or those who have shared them and still continue unto the end in this heresy: let him be anathema.

Canon 13 Denz. 226

Si quis defendit impia Theodoriti conscripta, quae contra rectam fidem et contra primam EPHESINAM sanctam Synodum, et Sanctum Cyrillum et duodecim eius capitula exposuit, et omnia quae conscripsit pro Theodoro et Nestorio impiis, et pro aliis qui eadem praedictis Theodoro et Nestorio sapuerunt, defendens eos et eorum impietatem, et propter hoc impios vocans doctores Ecclesiae, qui unitatem secundum subsistentiam Dei Verbi ad carnem confitentur, et non anathematizat ea, et eos qui similia eis sapuerunt, vel sapiunt, insuper autem et omnes qui scripserunt contra rectam fidem, et Sanctum Cyrillum et duodecim eius capitula, usque ad mortem in tali impietate permanserunt, talis A. S.

If anyone shall defend the impious writings of Theodoret, directed against the true faith and against the first holy Synod of Ephesus and against St. Cyril and his XII. Anathemas, and [defends] that which he has written in defence of the impious Theodore and Nestorius, and of others having the same opinions as the aforesaid Theodore and Nestorius, if anyone admits them or their impiety, or shall give the name of impious to the doctors of the Church who profess the hypostatic union of God the Word; and if anyone does not anathematize these impious writings and those who have held or who hold these sentiments, and all those who have written contrary to the true faith or against St. Cyril and his XII. Chapters, and who die in their impiety: let him be anathema.

Canon 14 Denz. 227

Si quis defendit epistolam, quam dicitur Ibas ad Marin Persam haereticum scripsisse, quae abnegat quidem Deum Verbum de sancta Dei genitrice semper virgine Maria incarnatum, hominem factum esse, dicit autem purum hominem ex ipsa natum esse, quem templum vocat, ut alius sit Deus Verbum, et alius homo, et Sanctum Cyrillum, qui rectam fidem Christianorum praedicavit, tanquam haereticum et similiter Apollinario imp scripsisse criminatur, et inculpat primam EPHESI- NAM sanctam Synodum tanquam sine examinatione et quaestione Nestorium condemnantem, et duodecim capitula Sancti Cyrilli impia et contraria rectae fidei vocat eadem impia epistola, et defendit Theodorum et Nestorium, et impia eorum dogmata et conscripta. Si quis igitur memoratam impiam epistolam defendit, et non anathematizat eam, et defensores eius, et eos, qui dicunt eam rectam esse, vel partem eius, et eos, qui scripserunt vel scribunt pro ea, vel pro impietate quae in ea continetur, et praesumunt eam defendere vel insertam et impietatem nomine sanctorum Patrum vel sancti CHALCEDONENSIS Concilii, et in his usque ad mortem permanent, talis A. S.

If anyone shall defend that letter which Ibas is said to have written to Maris the Persian, in which he denies that the Word of God incarnate of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and ever-virgin, was made man, but says that a mere man was born of her, whom he styles a Temple, as though the Word of God was one Person and the man another person; in which letter also he reprehends St. Cyril as a heretic, when he teaches the right faith of Christians, and charges him with writing things like to the wicked Apollinaris. In addition to this he vituperates the First Holy Council of Ephesus, affirming that it deposed Nestorius without discrimination and without examination. The aforesaid impious epistle styles the XII. Chapters of Cyril of blessed memory, impious and contrary to the right faith and defends Theodore and Nestorius and their impious teachings and writings. If anyone therefore shall defend the aforementioned epistle and shall not anathematize it and those who defend it and say that it is right or that a part of it is right, or if anyone shall defend those who have written or shall write in its favour, or in defence of the impieties which are contained in it, as well as those who shall presume to defend it or the impieties which it contains in the name of the Holy Fathers or of the Holy Synod of Chalcedon, and shall remain in these offences unto the end: let him be anathema.