The Confession of Cyril Loukaris, Patriarch of Constantinople (1631)

Prepared for HTML by Prof. Stephen J. Shoemaker, University of Oregon

Source: J. N. W. B. Robertson, trans., The Acts and Decress of the Synod of Jerusalem (London: 1899), 185-215

[185] THE EASTERN CONFESSION OF THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Cyril, Patriarch of Constantinople, to those that ask and inquire concerning the faith and worship of the Church of the Greeks, that is, of the Eastern Church, how forsooth it thinketh concerning the Orthodox faith, in the common name of all Christians publisheth this concise Confession, for a testimony both before God and before man, with a sincere conscience, and devoid of all dissimulation.

CHAPTER I.
We believe [in] one God, true, almighty, and infinite, tri-personal, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Father unbegotten; the Son begotten of the Father before the ages, and consubstantial with Him; and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father through the Son, and consubstantial [186] with the Father and the Son. These three Persons in one essence we call the All-holy Trinity-by all creation to be ever blessed, glorified, and adored.

Deut. iv., 3 5 ; vi., 4. Esai. xl., 4, 6; xlvi., 9.
I Cor. viii., 4, 6. Luke i., 37.
Matt. xix., 26. Apoc. i., 20.
Jer. xxiii., 24. 3 Reigns [I Kings] viii., 2 7.
Rom. xi., 33- 1 Tim. i., 17.
Gen. i., 26; iii., 12. 1 John v., 7.
Matt. xxviii., 19. i Cor. xii., 4.
Eph. iv., 4, 5, 6. John XV., 26.
Gal. iv., 6. 2 Cor. xiii., 13.

CHAPTER I I.
We believe the Sacred Scriptures to be God-taught; whose Author is the Holy Spirit, and none other. Which we ought to believe without doubting; for it is written: 'We have [as] more sure the prophetical word, whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a darksome place.' And so the witness of the Sacred Scriptures is of higher authority than that of the Church. [187] For it is not the same for us to be taught by the All-holy Spirit, and [to be taught] by man ; for man by reason of his ignorance, is liable to err, and to deceive, and be deceived ; but the Sacred Scriptures, neither deceive, nor are deceived, nor are subject to error ; but are infallible and have perpetual authority.

2 Tim. iii 16. 2Pet. i., 8.
John xvi., 13. Matt. x., 20.
Actsxv., 28. Gal. i., 11.
i Thes. ii., 13. Eph. ii., 20.
i Cor. iii., 10. Jer. xxiii., 28.
John iii., 31. Ps. lx. [lxi.], 9.
Ps. cxv. [cxvi.]. Rom. iii., 4.
Acts v., 29. Col. ii., 8.
Matt. xv., 9. Ezech. xx., 18.
Gal. i., 8. Prov. xxx. 5.
Ps. xi. [xii.], 7. Ps. xviii. [xix.], 8.
Ps. cxviii. [cxix.], 86, 104, 142. Heb. iv., 12.
Rom. i., 17; xv., 4. John xx., 31 ; x., 35.
Matt. v., 18; xxiv., 35. Esai. xl., 7.
I Peter i., 34.

CHAPTER I I I.
We believe the most good God to have, before the foundation of the world, predestinated [188] unto glory those whom He hath chosen, without having in any wise regard to their works, and having, forsooth, no actuating cause for this election, except His good pleasure, the Divine mercy. In like manner to have, before the world was, rejected those whom He hath rejected; and of this rejection, if any one will look to the absolute power and authority of God, he will find the undoubted cause to be the Divine Will; and, if again any one will turn to the laws and rules of the good order which the Providence above useth in the governing of the world, he will perceive the cause to be His righteousness. For God is merciful, and withal righteous.

Eph. i., 4. 2 Tim. i., 9.
Rom. ix., 11, 12 iii, 9 ; v., 12. 1 Cor. iv., 7.
Eph. ii., 3. Tit. iii.1 3.
John xvii., 6, 9. Rom. viii., 28, 29.
Acts xiii., 48. 2 Thes. iii., 2.
Tit. i.,1. Luke x., 21.
Matt. xiii., 10. Mark iv., 11.
John vi., 37, 44; xii., 37. Rom. xi., 7.
2 Tim. ii., 19. John i., 27.
Matt. xv., 13. 1 John ii., 19.

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Apoc. xiii., 20. Matt. xx., 16.
Rom. ix., 13, 18. Deut. x., 14; vii., 6.
PS. cxlviiii., 9 [20]. Acts xiv., 6.
Rom. xi., 33, 34, 35, 36.

CHAPTER IV.
We believe the tri-personal God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to be the Maker of visible and invisible creatures. And by invisible we mean the Angelic Powers, but by visible, heaven and what is under heaven. And because the Maker is good by nature, He made all things good whatsoever He hath made; nor can He ever be the Maker of evil. But if there be aught evil in nature, it is either of the devil or of man. For it is a true and infallible rule that God is in no wise the author
of evil, nor can any such by just reasoning be attributed to God.

Gen. i., 1. John i., 1.
Col. i., 16. Ps. xxxii. [xxxiii.], 6.
Acts xvii., 24. Gen. i., 27.
Eccles. vii., 30. Ps. viii., 4.
James i., 13. John viii., 44.
Deut. xxxii., 4. 1 John ii., 16.

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CHAPTER V.
We believe all things to be governed by the providence of God, which we ought to adore, but not to curiously pry into, as being above our comprehension ; nor are we able of ourselves to accurately attain unto the comprehension of the reasons thereof Wherefore, concerning this matter, we feel we ought rather in humility to observe silence than to indulge unedifyingly in vain discourse.

Ps. cxiii., 11 [cxv., 3]. Eph. xi., 1.
Heb. i., 3. Matt. i., 29.
Exod. vii., 3. 2 Reigns [I Kings] xii., 11; xxiv., 1.
I Paral. [Chron.] xxi., 1. 3 Reigns [I Kings] iii., 22, 23.
John i., 12, 21. Esai. x., 5.
John xix., 11. Acts ii., 23 ; iv., 27.
Rom. i., 24; xi., 33. Jer. xxxii., 19.
Deut. xxix., 29.

CHAPTER V1.
We believe the first man created by God to have fallen in Paradise, when, disregarding the Divine commandment, he yielded to the deceitful [191] counsel of the serpent. And hence hereditary sin flowed to his posterity; so that none is born after the flesh, who beareth not this burden, and experienceth not the fruits thereof in this present world.

Eccles. vii., 30. Rom. v., 12, 15, 19.
Ps. l. [li.], 6. Job. xiv., 4; v., 14.
John iii., 6. Eph. ii., 3.
Gen. viii., 21. Rom. viii., 7.
Gal. iii., 22. Rom. iii., 9, 26.
John iii., 3. Eccles. vii., 21.
Rom. iii., 12. 3 Reigns [i Kings] viii., 46.
I John i., 8. James iii., 2.
Prov. xx., 9. Rom. vii., 7.
Rom. vi., 23.


CHAPTER VII.
We believe the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have emptied Himself, that is, to have taken into His own Person human flesh, being conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the ever-virgin Mary; and becoming [192] man, to have been born, to have suffered, to have been buried, and to have risen again in glory, and so to have procured for all believers salvation and glory. Whom also we look for to come to judge the living and the dead.

Phil. ii., 6. Matt. i., 22.
Luke i., 35. Gal. iv., 4.
Rom. i., 3. John i., 14.
Heb. ii., 14. 1 Cor. xv., 3.
Rom. iv., 25. 1 Tim. iii., 16.
2 Tim. iv., 1.

CHAPTER VIII.
We believe our Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father, to be there a mediator, and to intercede for us, alone exercising the office of a true and genuine High-Priest and mediator; wherefore also He alone is solicitous for His own, and presideth over the Church, adorning her with all variety of blessings, and ever enriching her.

1 John ii., 1. Rom. viii., 34.
1 Tim. iii., 5. John xiv., 6; x., 9.
Matt. xi., 28; xviii., 19. John xvi., 23; xiv., 13.

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Acts iv., 12. Rom. v., 1, 5, 9.
Eph. ii., 18; iii., 12. Heb. iv., 15; v., 4.
Heb. xii., 22 ; vii., 24; x., 12, 18.

CHAPTER IX.
We believe no one to be saved without faith. And that we call faith which justifieth in Christ Jesus, and which the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ hath procured for us, and the Gospel proclaimeth, and without which it is impossible to please God.

Heb. xi., 6. Rom. xiv., 23.
Heb. xi., 1. Rom. x., 17.
John v., 24; xx., 21.. Luke viii., 11.
Gal. v., 6. James ii., 14, 17, 22.
Eph. ii., 8. Phil. i., 29.
Rom. v., 2. Eph. iii., 12; i., 13.
Rom. viii., 16. 1 John iv., 13; iii., 19.
Heb. x., 22. Rom. xiv., 5.

James i., 6. John iii., 18.

CHAPTER X.
We believe that what is called the Catholic Church containeth generally the Faithful in Christ, whether fallen asleep and in their home in the Fatherland, or yet pilgrims on [194] their journey; of which Church, since a mortal man can in no wise be head, our Lord Jesus Christ is Himself sole head, and Himself holding the rudder, is at the helm in the governing of the Church ; yet, nevertheless, because the particular Churches sojourning here are visible, and for order have each their President, he is not properly called the head of that particular Church, but by abuse, because he is the leading member therein.

Gal. iv., 26. Heb. xii., 23.
Eph. ii., 14; i., 10; iv., 4. Col. iii., 11.
Gal. iii., 26. 1 Cor. xii., 12.
Acts iv., 32; ii., 42. Heb. x., 24.
Matt. xviii., 20; xxviii., 10.  John x., 24.
Eph. iv., 5. James iv., 12.
Heb. v., 4. John iii., 27.
Eph. v., 23. 1 Cor. xi., 3.
Col. i., 18. Eph. i., 22; iv., 15; ii., 19.
Matt. xvi., 18. 1 Peter ii., 6.
PS. cxvii. [cxviii.], 21. Acts iv., 11, 12.
1 Cor. iii.,11. Matt. xx., 25.
Matt. xxiii., 8. Luke xxii., 25.

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i Tim. iii., 1. 1 Peter v., 2.
i Cor. xiv., 32. 2 Cor. i., 24.
Heb. xiii., 17. 1 Cor. iv., 1.
2 Cor. v., 20 ; xii., 11. Gal. ii., 6.

CHAPTER XI.
We believe that the members of the Catholic Church are the Saints that are elected unto eternal life; from whose lot and fellowship hypocrites are excluded; though we perceive and see that in the particular Churches the chaff is mingled with the wheat.

Rom. viii., 29; ix., 23. John v., 35, 36; xii., 32.
Acts ii., 39; xiii., 48. Matt. xx., 16; xiii., 24, 47.
Matt. vii., 21. Luke xiii., 26.
Rom. ii., 18. Esai. iv., 7.
Apoc. xxi., 27. Heb. xii., 22.
Gal. iv., 26. John xvii., 6, 10, 28.
Rom. ix., 19. 1 John ii., 19.
2 Tim. ii, 19.


CHAPTER XII.
We believe that during its sojourn here the Church is hallowed and taught by the All-holy Spirit. For he is the true Paraclete [196] whom Christ sendeth from the Father to teach the truth, and to drive away darkness from the minds of the Faithful. For it is true and certain, that the Church while on its way is liable to err, and, instead of truth, to choose falsehood. From which error and deception the teaching and light of the Allholy Spirit alone delivereth us, and not that of a mortal man; though this may be wrought through the instrumentality of such as faithfully minister in the Church.

1 Cor. iii., 16; vi., 11. 2 Thes. ii., 13.

John xvii., 17; vi., 45. Esai. liv., 13.
Jer. xxxviii. [xxxi.], 32. Ezech. xi., 19..
Eph. i., 13. John xiv., 16; xvi., 13.
Joel ii. Acts ii., 16; x., 44; xiii., 2 ; xv., 28.
1 Cor. ii., 10. 1 John ii., 27.
Rom. viii., 9. 1 Cor. xii., 7.
Eph. iv., 4. 2Paral. [Chron.] xv., 3.
Judg. ii., 12. 3 Reigns [1 Kings] xix. 10.

2Paral. [Chron.] xxix.,, 6.  Jer. xi., io.
Dan. ix., 11. Esai. i., 21.
Jer. xviii., 18. Ezech. vii., 26.
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Jer. xxiii., 11 ; ii., 8. 1 Tim. iv., i.
1 Tim. iv., 3. Acts xx., 30.
1 John ii., 18. 2 Thes. ii., 3.
Rom. xi., 22. 1 John iv., 1.
Apoc. ii., 2. Rom. iii., 4.
Acts v., 29. Ezech. ii., 18.
Hos. ii., 2. Matt. vii., 5.
1 Thes. v., 19. Acts xvii., 11.
Matt. xxii., 29. John v., 39.
Gal. i., 8. 2 John, 9.
John viii., 31


CHAPTER XIII.
We believe that a man is justified by faith, not by works. But when we say by faith, we mean the correlative of faith, which is the righteousness of Christ; on which faith, as it were, fulfilling the function of a hand, layeth hold, and applieth the same unto us for salvation; which we declare to be for the sustaining, and not for the detriment, of works. And that works are not to be neglected, since they are necessary means for a witness to faith, and for certification of our calling, the truth itself teacheth us. But withal they are of [198] themselves in. no wise sufficient to give boldness at the tribunal of Christ, and to claim a recompense as by merit of condignity,* and to save the possessor; and that this is so human frailty testifieth. But the righteousness of Christ applied to such as repent and imputed unto them alone justifieth and saveth the believer.

Gal. ii., 16. Rom. iii., 20; iv., 2
i Cor. i., 30 ; vi-, I 1 2 Cor. v., 2 1.
Esai. liii., 4, 5, 6. 1 Peter ii., 24.
John i., 29. Matt. xx., 29.
John vi., 11. Heb. ix., 12.
Acts iv., 12. 1 John i., 7.
Eph. i., 7. Rom. v., 9 ; x., 4.
Gal. iii., 10. James ii., 10.
Gal. iii., 13, 22, 24. Acts xiii., 38.
Rom. ix., 31 ; x., 3. Tit. iii., 5.
Rom. xi., 6. Eph. ii., 8.
Tit. ii., 11. James ii., 14, 17, 20.
Rom. viii., 13; vi., 1,; iii, 31. 1 Cor. iv., 4.
Phil. iii. 8. Ps. cxxix. [cxxx.], cxlii. [cxliii.], xxxi. [xxxii.], 1, 2.
Prov. xxix. Esai, liii., 6; lxiv. 6.

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Dan. ix., 18. Matt. viii., 8.
Luke, xv., 21. Rom. viii., 8.
Luke xvii., 10; xviii., 9. Rom. v., 20; vi., 23.

CHAPTER XIV.
We believe that in those that are not regenerated free-will is dead; they being in no wise able to do what is good; and whatever they do is sin ; but in those that are regenerated by the All-holy Spirit, free-will is revived, and operateth, yet not without the assistance of grace. So, therefore, for a regenerated man to do what is good, it is necessary that he be guided and prevented by grace, without which he is wounded, and hath as many stripes as he received from the robbers who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho; so that he is of himself powerless, and able to do nothing.

Matt. vii., 18. Rom. xi., 24.
John, xv., 5. Rom. viii., 7.
1 Cor. ii., 11, 14 ; xii., 3. 2 Cor. iii-, 5.
Eph. ii., 1. Col. i., 21.
Rom. iii., 9. Matt. xvi., 17.
John i., 5; vi., 44. Eph. v., 7.

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Rom. vi., 17. 1 Peter ii., 19.
Rom. xiv., 23. Eph. ii., 8.
John iii., 3. 1 Peter i., 3.
John viii., 34. Rom. vi., 18 ; viii., 2.
Col. i., 12 ; ii., 13. Eph. ii., 5.
2 Cor. iii., 5. Ps. xcix. [c.].
Eph. ii., 10. 2 Cor. v., 17.
Phil. ii., 13 ; i., 29. Deut. xxx., 6.
Ezech. xi., 19; xxxvi., 26. Jer. xxxviii.[xxxi.],33;  xxxix. [xxxii.], 39.
1 Cor. xii., 2. James i., 17.
2 Peter i., 3. 1 Cor. xv., 10.
Acts xvi., 14. 2 Tim. ii., 25.
2Cor. iv., 16. 1 Cor. i., 8.
Rom. vii., 14, 15, etc. Gal. v., 17.
Mark ix., 24. Ps. cxviii. [cxix.], 34, 36, 37.
Ps. cxlii. [cxliii.], 11, 12;  lxxxv. [lxxxvi.], 10; cii. [ciii.], 2, 3.

CHAPTER XV.
We believe that there are in the Church Evangelical Mysteries [Sacraments of the Gospel Dispensation], which the Lord delivered in the Gospel, and that these are two. For so many were delivered unto us; [201] and the Institutor delivered no more. And that these consist of a word and of an element; and that they are seals of God's promises, and procure grace, we hold firmly. But that the Mystery be perfect and entire, it is necessary that the earthly matter and the external act concur with the use of that earthly thing, which was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, united with sincere faith ; for when faith is wanting in the receivers the entirety of the Mystery is not preserved.

Matt. xxviii., 19, 20. Luke xxii., 19.
1 Cor. xi., 13; x., 23; xii., 13. Gal. iii., 15.
Eph. v., 25. Mark i., 4.
1 Cor. xi., 23. Rom. iv., 11.
Exod. xii., 11 ; xiii., 9. 1 Peter iii., 21.
Col. ii., 11. Rom. ii., 28, 29.
Acts viii., 36. John iii., 5.
Mark xvi., 16. Heb. x., 22.
1 Cor. xi., 27.

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CHAPTER XVI.
We believe that Baptism is a Mystery instituted by the Lord, which, except any one receive, he hath no communion with Christ, from whose death, burial, and glorious resurrection, flow all the virtue and efficacy of Baptism; wherefore, as to those that are so baptised, as is commanded in the Gospel, we doubt not that their sins are forgiven, whether hereditary, or any such as the baptised hath committed; so that those that are washed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, are regenerated, cleansed, and justified. But concerning a second reception of Baptism we have no commandment, so as to reiterate Baptism. Therefore we ought to refrain from this irregularity.

Mark i., 4. John i., 6, 33 ; iii., 32.
Matt. xxviii., 19. Mark xvi., 16.
Rom. vi., 1. Col. ii. 12.
Gal. iii., 12. Gal. iii., 26.
Luke iii., 13. Acts ii., 38; x., 47; xxii., 16.
Tit. iii., 5. Eph. iv., 5.
Heb. vi. , 4.

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CHAPTER XVI I.
We believe the other Mystery instituted by the Lord to be what we call the Eucharist. For in the night wherein the Lord gave Himself up, taking bread and blessing, He said to His Apostles: 'Take, eat ye; This is My Body.' And taking the Chalice and giving thanks, He said: 'Drink ye all of It, This is My Blood, Which for you is poured out; This do ye for My Memorial.' And Paul addeth: 'For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Chalice, ye proclaim the death of the Lord.' This is the simple, true, and genuine tradition of this wondrous Mystery, in the performance and administration of which we acknowledge and believe is the true and real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; nevertheless, such as our faith presenteth and offereth unto us, not such as transubstantiation vainly [204] invented teacheth. For we believe the Faithful that partake in the Supper eat the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, not by perceptibly pressing and dissolving the communion with the teeth, but by the soul realising communion. For the Body of the Lord is not what is seen in the Mystery with the eyes and received, but what faith spiritually apprehending presenteth unto us and bestoweth. Whence it is true that we eat, and partake, and have communion, if we believe.  If we believe not, we are deprived of all benefit of the Mystery; consequently to drink the Chalice in the Mystery is to really drink the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the same manner as is said of the Body. For as the Institutor gave commandment concerning His own Body, so also did He concerning His own Blood, which commandment ought not to be mutilated according to the fancy of I every one; but rather the tradition of the institution should be preserved entire. When, therefore, we worthily partake, and entirely communicate in the Mystery of the Body and [205] Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are already, we confess, reconciled to our Head, and united with Him, and one body with Him, with certain hope of also being co-heirs with Him in the Kingdom.

Matt. xxvi., 26. Mark xiv., 22.
Luke xxii., 19. 1 Cor. xi., 23 ; x., 16.
Acts i., 9 ; iii., 21. Col. iii., 1.
Eph. iii., 17. Gal. ii., 30.
i Cor. xii., 13. 2Cor. v., 7.
Heb. xi., 1. John vi., 35, 53, 56, 57, 58,60.


CHAPTER XVIII.
We believe that the souls of those that have fallen asleep are either in blessedness, or in condemnation, according to what each one hath wrought. For when they depart from their bodies, they depart immediately, either to Christ, or to condemnation. For as any one is found in death, he receiveth the corresponding talent, there being no repentance after death. For the time of grace is the present life. Therefore, they [206] that are justified here., will hereafter in no wise be subject to condemnation. And again as many as are not justified when they fall asleep, will inherit eternal condemnation. From which it is evident, we ought not to admit the fable of Purgatory ; but to maintain in truth, that each one ought to repent in the present life, and seek forgiveness of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ, if he would be saved. And this is so. This, our concise Confession, will, we conjecture, be for a sign to be spoken against by those that love to unjustly calumniate and persecute us. But we, taking courage in the Lord, are sure that He will not neglect His own, nor forsake them, nor will He altogether leave the rod of the malignant upon the lot of the righteous.

Heb. ix., 27. Luke xvi., 22.
Eccles. xi., 3. Apoc. xiv., 13.
Esai. lvii., 1. 1 Thes. iv., 13.
Rom. xiv., 8. 2 Cor. v., 1.
Phil. i., 21, 22. 2 Tim. iv., 6.
Luke ii., 25 ; xxiii., 42. Esai. lv., 6.
Ps. xxxi. [xxxii], 6. 2 Cor. vi.
John ix., 4; xi., 9, 10; xii., 35. Matt. xxv., 1.

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Eccles. ix., 6. Matt. xxv., 19; xxiv., 42.
Heb. iii-, 7; iv., 1; x., 26. Gal. vi., 5.
2Cor. v., 10. Matt. xvi., 26.
Ezech. xviii., 4. Ps. xlviii. [xlix.], 6.
1 Peter i., 18. Abac. ii., 4.
1 John i., 7; ii., 1. Heb. i., 3; vii., 25.
Heb. ix., 12, 22, 25 ; x., 10. Tit. ii., 13.
1 Cor. vi., 11. Rom. iii., 24.
Eph. v., 25. Apoc. i., 5.
1 Cor. i, 30. John xv., 3.
Acts xv., 9. Ps. xxxi. [xxxii], cii. [Ciii.], 12.
Esai. xliii., 25. Ezech. xviii., 21 ; xxxvi., 25.
Col. ii., 13. Rom. v., 1 ; viii., 1, 30, 38.
John iii., 16, 36; v., 24.

Having first written the above Confession in Latin, we have now translated it into our own tongue, word by word, as it standeth in the Latin prototype; in which, having used conciseness, we have not presented such an ample treatise as perhaps the nature of the case required. But let this be reserved ; for shortly, with God's assistance, we will take [208] care that everyone know that our faith is that which our Lord Jesus Christ delivered, and the Apostles preached, and Orthodoxy hath taught. Wherefore, since some Orthodox have asked us how we think concerning certain particular articles, and have required of us our opinion, therefore, we have added to the above what followeth, as ye see.

QUESTION 1
Ought the Sacred Scriptures to be read in the vulgar tongue by all Christians?

ANSWER.
All faithful Christians ought to know, believe, and confess, what is in the Sacred Scriptures; if not in their entirety, at least the necessary parts, and to proclaim what is therein. For neither can we learn from any other source than from the Sacred Scriptures whether it be by reading the same, or by hearing what is therein expounded by faithful men. For as it is forbidden to no Christian to hear what is in the Sacred Scriptures, so [209] neither it is forbidden to him to read them. For the word is nigh them, and in their mouth, and in their heart. Therefore, the faithful Christian, of whatever rank he be is manifestly wronged if he be deprived and prohibited, either the hearing of the Sacred Scriptures, or the reading thereof.  For it is the same to deprive a hungry soul, and to forbid it to touch spiritual nourishment.

Deut. vi., 6; xvii., 18. Jos. i., 8.
Deut. xxxi., 11. Neh. viii., 31.
John v., 39; x., 27 ; viii., 3 1. Luke xvi., 29; iv., 16.
Acts xiii.,27; xv., 21 ; viii. 28 ; xvii., 11.  2 Tim. iii., 15.
Rom. xv., 4. Col. iv., 16.
1 Thes. v., 27. 1 John i., 4; ii., 12.
Esai. v., 13. Jer. viii., 9.
Hos. iv., 6. John vii., 49.
Luke xi., 52. Matt. xxiii., 13 ; xv., 14.
1 John iv., 1. 1 Thes. v., 19, 20.
John xvii., 3 ; xxi., 31.  Ps. cxviii. [cxix.], 9; i.,
1, 2; cxviii. [cxix.], 1.
Luke xi., 28. Apoc. i., 3.

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QUESTION II
Are the Scriptures plain to Christians that read them ?

ANSWER.
That the Sacred Scriptures contain in many places great difficulties as to their literal sense and verbal interpretation is certain. But the dogmas of the Faith therein contained are plain and clear to those that are regenerated and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Whence it is obvious that the reader may indeed often fall into some difficulty; but when enlightened by the grace of the All-holy Spirit, may by analogously comparing the verbal interpretation and the literal sense, derive from the same Scriptures both the solution, and therewith the right meaning; wherefore, the Scriptures are a lamp and a light enlightening the understandings of the Faithful, and driving away the darkness.

2 Peter iii., 5. Ps. xviii. [xix.], 8 ; cxviii. [cxix.], 104; xxiv. [xxv.], 5.
Esai. liii., 10. Jer. xxxi., 33.

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John vi., 45. Matt. xi., 25 xiii., 11 ; xvi., 17.
Luke xxiv., 45. 1 John ii., 27 ; xii., 3.
2Cor. i., I3 ; iii., 9, 13 ; iv., 3.  Eph. i.,17 ; iii, 16, 19.
Rom. xii., 6.

QUESTION
What Books do you call Sacred Scripture ?

ANSWER.
By Sacred Scripture we mean all the Canonical Books, which as a rule of our Faith and salvation we have received and do hold ; especially, because they being divinely inspired, teach us doctrine, and are of themselves sufficient to instruct, enlighten, and perfect him that cometh to the Faith. And these Canonical Books we believe to be of the number which the Synod of Laodicea pronounced, and which the Catholic and Orthodox Church of Christ, enlightened by the All-holy Spirit, until our time, prescribeth. But those which we call Apocrypha, we distinguished by this name, because they have not the like authority from the All-holy Spirit, as have the properly and [212] undoubtedly Canonical Books; among which are the Pentateuch of Moses, and the Hagiographa, and the Prophets; which the Synod of Laodicea decreed to be read,-from the Old Testament twenty-two Books; and of the New, we possess the four Evangelists, the Acts, the Epistles of blessed Paul, and the Catholic [Epistles]; to which we add also the Apocalypse of the beloved [Disciple]. And these we hold to be the Canonical Books, and these we acknowledge to be Sacred Scripture.

2 Tim. iii., 16. 1 Peter i., 2 1.
1 Tim. iv., 10. 1 John v., 5.
Rom. iii., 1, 2. Acts iii., 24 ; xxvi., 22.
1 Cor. xv., 3, 4. Acts xvii., 11.
Deut. iv., 2 ; v., 1 ; vi. John i., 7; xxiii., 6.
Matt. xxii., 29. Mark vii., 27.
Eph. ii., 20. 1 Cor. iii., 10; xi., 12.
Jer. xxiii., 28. John iii., 30.
1 Peter iv., 11. Prov. xxx., 5.
Eccles. xii., 10. Gal. i., 8; vi., 16; iii., 15.
1 Cor. iv., 6. Deut. xii., 32.
Apoc. xxii., 18, 19.

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QUESTION IV.
How ought we to think of the Eikons ?

ANSWER.
As we are taught by the Divine and Sacred Scriptures, which say plainly, 'Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, or a likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath; thou shalt not adore them, nor shalt thou worship them;' since we ought to worship, not the creature, but only the Creator and Maker of the heaven and of the earth, and Him only to adore. From which it is evident that we do not reject pictorial representations, which are a noble art, and we permit those that so desire to have Eikons of Christ and of the Saints; but the worship and service of them, as being forbidden by the Holy Spirit in Sacred Scripture, we reject, lest we should forget, and instead of the Creator and Maker, adore colours, and art, and creatures. And him that thinketh otherwise we regard as wretched, and having awful darkness in his mind, and his heart hardened. And it were better to yield [214] obedience to the commandment of God than to be persuaded by the vain reasonings of men; as we have explained in the fear of God and with a good conscience; though the subject, we acknowledge, might have been treated of better. Having thus answered in writing those that interrogated us, we conclude, and subjoin the answers to our Confession. And may the Lord give to all co be right-minded in all things, and to have a sincere conscience.

Given at Constantinople in the Month of January 1631
CYRIL, Patriarch of Constantinople.

Exod. xx., 4. Lev. xxvi., 1.
Deut. iv., 15 ; v., 8 ; xxvii., 15.  Esai. xl., 18; xliv., 12; xlvi., 5.
Acts xvii., 29. Rom. i., 22.
1 John v., 21. Jer. x., 8.
Abac. ii., 18. Ps. cxiii. [cxiv.], 12.
John iv., 32. Deut. vi., 13.

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3 Reigns [1 Kings] viii., 39. Ps. xlix. [l.], 15; lxxv. [lxxvi.], 11.
Matt. iv., 10. Rom. x., 13 ; i., 25.
Gal. iv., 8. 1 Cor. vii., 23.
Acts x., 25. Col. ii., 18.
Apoc. xix., 10; xxii., 8, 9. Matt. vi., 9.
Luke xi., 1. Wis. xiv., 12.

FINIS.