Точная копия подлинного послания Патриарха Константинопольского Неофита VII

Christ is the Truth Itself, which means that whoever opposes the truth opposes Christ Himself. Therefore, we consider it our duty to assure readers of the indisputable truth of this book. During our first patriarchate, the most learned Agapius of the Peloponnese brought us this now published collection of rules with the goal that, after examination and verification, it would be published in printing for the common benefit of the Orthodox. We handed over this book to the most reverend bishops who were then in Constantinople and sitting in the Synod. Everyone expressed their approval, and only the blessedly deceased Patriarch of Constantinople, and then Metropolitan. Derksky, Mr. Gerasim, and with him Meletius, former Metropolitan. Larissky, although they agreed to consider the book, objected to its publication, pointing out that the canonical texts of the Church should not be published in simple dialect, so that the sacred rules would not become known to the crowd. When we objected, saying that in this case it was not necessary to publish the sacred rules in Greek from the very beginning, because at that time it was colloquial even for rude artisans, then after such an objection their word turned out to be empty and powerless. Then, by our decision, with the consent of all the holy bishops, it was conciliarly decided to examine this book, for which purpose it was presented to the most learned didaskal and priest of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Dorotheus, as an expert in the sacred rules, distinguished by his breadth of knowledge and virtues. Having examined the book handed to him, he immediately handed it over to us, noting that it contained nothing wrong, except for a few errors that could easily be corrected by the translators of the rules. However, he convinced us, for complete assurance of the Church, to send this book to the most learned didascal, Mr. Athanasius of Paria, who lived in Chios, and to the former Metropolitan of Corinth, His Eminence Makarios, who was also staying there. Having sent them the book, we received a good testimony about it from them. Then we decided to send it to the translators on the Holy Mountain so that they could rewrite and correct it at our expense, which we did, intending to publish this book in printing, again at our expense. But meanwhile, due to the abdication of the Ecumenical Throne, we were deprived of such a rewarding reward, and therefore the Most Reverend Fathers of the Holy Mountain and many others living beyond its borders published a book for donations. Since Theodoret, who supervised the publication of the book, without the consent of the translators and trustworthy men who reviewed the book on behalf of the Church, made his own additions to it, containing many absurdities, these additions were rightly painted over so that the false, mixed with the truth, would not destroy the nobility of this book and so that, contrary to expectations, instead of benefit, it would not cause harm to the readers - both physical and mental. The reasons for this are the following: 1. In these additions, Theodoret says that our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Saturday. 2. He says that one must kneel on Sunday and on the Lord’s day of Pentecost itself. 3. He says that Saturday has the same benefits as Sunday, since it is also an image of the resurrection. 4. Using some sophistic techniques, Theodoret resumes the long-standing disputes that were waged on the Holy Mountain regarding the commemoration of the dead, but have now subsided by the grace of Christ; while the Holy Church of Christ, caring for general peace among the monks, in three conciliar epistles, under the threat of terrible curses, forbade anyone to speak or write about this. 5. Theodoret condemns all the statutes of the Holy Mountain as inconsistent with the general Charter and those that contradict it, although they do not contradict it, but rather clarify and set out in more detail the unclear and briefly stated prescriptions of the general Charter. 6. In these additions, Theodoret generally contradicts the rules of the holy Ecumenical and Local Councils and the Tradition of the Church of Christ. 7. Finally, this daring man dared to write in this book, where we talk about the Antichrist, such a terrible and daring word that we were afraid not only to commit it to writing, but also to say it out loud - it was so dangerous and extremely absurd. These additions are on the following pages of the book: 96, 104, 141, 167, 183, 184, 203, 204, 212, 300, 383, 399, 449, 502, 504, 533, 548, 549. And if anyone who bought this canonical book somewhere else wants remove the said false additions from it and correct your book, let him find them on the above pages. For the sake of all this, this message was written, sealed with our patriarchal signature, and also in order to give a favorable review of this book for the general benefit. May the grace of God be upon all sincere readers. † Former Patriarch of Constantinople Neophyte