Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
Remember, the main work of the Second Council of Constantinople was to confirm the condemnation issued by edict in 551 by the Emperor Justinian against the Three Chapters (or three heretical groups).
I located this section which shows how those in authority wanted to keep the Church pure and unified. Notice, they anchored to the work of the Council of Chalcedon, which affirmed the earlier creeds and canons.
“After issuing this imperial edict, a great conference was held in the residence of the Pope, the Placidia Palace. Greek and Latin bishops of different neighborhoods, and the priests, deacons, and clerics of Constantinople, were present. Even Theodore Ascidas was present.
Both Vigilius and Dacius of Milan warned them against receiving the new imperial edict; and the former, in particular, said: “Beseech the pious Emperor to withdraw the edicts which he has had drawn up, and await the (projected) ecumenical decree on the matter in question, until the Latin bishops, who have taken offence (at the condemnation of the three chapters), shall be either personally present at a Synod, or send their votes in writing. If he should not listen to your petitions, then you ought to give your assent to nothing which tends to a rending of the Church.
If, however, you should do so, which I do not believe, you must know that, from that day, you are excommunicated from the apostolic see of Peter.”
In a similar sense spoke Bishop Dacius of Milan: “I and a part of those bishops in whose neighborhood my church lies, namely, from Gaul, Burgundy, Spain, Liguria, Æmilia, and Venetia, testify that whoever assents to those edicts, loses the Church communion of the bishops of the forenamed provinces, because I am convinced that those edicts infringe the sacred Synod of Chalcedon…”
Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553) in “Section 264” in History of the Councils of the Church, Volume 4; by Charles Joseph Hefele, 278.
Again, see the mural in the header photo I shot in the cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv of this council. Patriarch Eutychius of Constantinople sits presiding over the council which seemed to clean up messes.
1. Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicaea (A.D. 787)
Today’s post highlights how they dealt with a mess that aimed to divide them. They stated this message plainly to bishops “you ought to give your assent to nothing which tends to a rending of the Church.
This is an interesting use of the idea of giving. Yesterday they reminded the bishops that each would have to “give an account” and today they must “give their assent” to nothing divisive.
This gets to the heart of the Scripture today. One form of giving is doing good when it is within our power to act. Let us resolve to do this where God has placed us so that our generosity preserves the Christian faith and strengthens the church.
Do good, and as far as it is within your power, help to preserve the integrity of the Christian faith and the unity of the church for the advancement of the gospel in our generation.