Letter 8

From: Pope Felix III, bishop of Rome To: Peter Mongus, Patriarch of Alexandria Date: ~486 AD Context: Felix writes to Peter Mongus of Alexandria — who had been condemned as a Monophysite but then accepted the Henotikon and returned to communion with Acacius — demanding he declare his acceptance of Chalcedon. Felix, bishop of Rome, to Peter, who calls himself bishop of Alexandria, greetings. We write to you because the situation requires clarity rather than the continuing ambiguity that the Henotikon has allowed to persist. Your history is known: you were condemned by the legitimate church of Alexandria for holding that Christ has only one nature [the Monophysite position], not two as Chalcedon defined. You received the Henotikon's ambiguity as cover for returning to communion without clearly accepting Chalcedon. You have been in communion with Acacius of Constantinople, who has himself now been separated from the apostolic see. What we require of you is simple: a clear and unambiguous acceptance of the Council of Chalcedon and its definition of the two natures of Christ in one person. Not a formula that can be read in different ways by different parties. Not a silence that allows each side to believe what it wishes. The truth, stated plainly. Until that acceptance is clearly given and clearly recorded, we cannot recognize your episcopate as legitimate or your church as in communion with the apostolic see. We offer you the opportunity to return. We do not beg you to take it; we place it before you. The decision is yours. Felix, bishop of Rome