new ones show open hostility to Rome. These bishops, claiming to form an œcumenical synod, want to make the whole Christian world conform to the uses of Constantinople. Everything the Armenians do that is not done by the Byzantines is condemned;[1] but especially are all Latin customs anathematized. Latins fasted in those days on Saturday, so that is forbidden;[2] they only receive fifty of the so-called Apostolic Canons, so Trullanum II insists on all eighty-five of them.[3] Every little detail of difference is remembered to be condemned.[4] Of course the old claim of the See of Constantinople to have "like honour" with Old Rome and Canon 3 of Constantinople, Canon 28 of Chalcedon are again brought forward.[5] Pope Honorius is cheerfully condemned as a heretic.[6] Marriage with a heretic is invalid, because Rome says it is only unlawful.[7] But the most astonishing instance of the intolerance of the Greek bishops is their treatment of celibacy. In this point, as in the matter of fasting on Saturday, unleavened bread and so on, the Roman Church had never attempted to force her own customs on the Easterns. Each side had in these matters of discipline followed its own development without any breach of unity or friendship. The Latin Church had the law of celibacy for all her clerks in Holy Orders; she had never complained of the laxer Eastern rule. But now these Easterns want to excommunicate us for our greater strictness. All clerks except bishops may continue in wedlock, and any one who tries to separate a priest or deacon from his wife, any clerk who leaves his wife because he is ordained, shall be excommunicate.[8] We must remember that these bishops mean to legislate for the whole Church.[9] Most astonishing of all is the fact that they then tried to get the Pope's signature to their Canons. Pope Sergius I (687–701) of course refused; John VII (705–707) sent back the copy they wanted him to sign;[10] the place left at the head of the signatures for the Pope's name has always remained a blank. The Orthodox Eastern Church accepts this council
