The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

SUPREMACY OP THE POPES. 135Dionysius, Bishop of Rome, about the middle ofthe third century, having heard that the Patriarchof Alexandria erred on some points of faith, demandsan explanation of the suspected Prelate, who, inobedience to his superior, promptly vindicates hisown orthodoxy.St. Athanasius, the great Patriarch of Alexandria,appeals in the fourth century, to Pope Julius I., froman unjust decision rendered against him by theOriental bishops ;and the Pope 1 reverses the sentenceof the Eastern council.St. Basil, Archbishop of Csesarea,in the samecentury, has recourse, in his afflictions, to the protection of Pope Damasus.St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople,appeals in the beginning of the fifth century, to PopeInnocent I., for a redress of grievances inflicted onhim by several Eastern Prelates, and by the Empress Eudoxia of Constantinople.St. Cyril appeals to Pope Celestine againstNestorius;Nestorius also appeals to the same Pontiff,who takes the side of Cyril."Theodoret, the illustrious historian and Bishopof Cyrrhus, is condemned by the pseudo-council ofEphesus in 449, and appeals to Pope Leo in thefollowing touching language : I await the decisionof your Apostolic See, and I supplicate your Holiness to succor me, who invoke your righteous andjust tribunal; and to order me to hasten to you,1Socrates Ecclesiastical History, B. II., c. xv.