in my place";[1] "the synod received the Pope's dogmatic letter to Flavian of Constantinople (447–449) as all the Fathers cried out: "That is the faith of the Fathers, that is the faith of the Apostles … Peter has spoken by Leo!"[2] They finally wrote to Leo formally asking him to confirm their decrees, because "the enemy (Dioscur) like a beast roaring to himself outside the fold … has stretched his madness even towards you, to whom the care of the vineyard was given by the Saviour, that is, as we say, against your Holiness; and has conceived an excommunication against you, who hasten to unite the body of the Church."[3] There is no doubt, then, as to the sentiments of this synod with regard to the Roman Primacy. Yet these same bishops are specially anxious to exalt the See of Constantinople, not of course to the level of Rome, but above all other Churches. It was in this spirit that they drew up the Canons that became so fruitful a source of dispute. The sixth session (October 25th) was intended to be the last, Marcian and his wife Pulcheria attended it, and the Emperor made an admirable speech; the decree of the council about our Lord's two natures[4] was read out, the Emperor forbade any further discussion on the subject by any one.
Then Marcian thought he would like the Fathers to make some laws about discipline. So they held nine more sessions. At the fifteenth session (31st October) the Papal Legates were not present. In their absence the bishops drew up twenty-eight Canons, of which several were made to exalt Constantinople. The 9th and 17th Canons decree, that if any bishop or other clerk have a complaint against his metropolitan, he should bring the case before his Exarch, or to the Patriarch of Constantinople. As Exarchs they mean apparently to include the other Eastern Patriarchs. So Constantinople is now to have a sort of jurisdiction even over Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.[5] But the 28th Canon is the most important one. It says: "Always
