Library › Eastern Patriarchs and the Nonjurors › Correspondence (1716–1725)
Correspondence (1716–1725)
Eastern Patriarchs and the Nonjurors, ed. Williams, 1868
16. No. 16: The Holy Governing Synod to the Non-jurors
The Holy directing Council of the Church throughout the Russias to the most Reverend the Bishops of the Catholick Church in Great Britain our most beloved Brothers in the Lord wisheth Health.
A year is now past since we delivered Letters to the Reverend Father the Protosyncellus to be carried to you, but some Impediments have retarded his Journey to England till this Time. We acquainted you by them how well pleased the most potent Emperor of the Russias our gracious Prince was to be further assured of your pious Desire for the Peace of the Churches, and what Advice he gave of the best Method to bring this holy Endeavour to Effect. And because he still continues constant in the same Opinion, we send the very same Letters together with these. And we desire you will pardon this Delay, rather for the Sake of your own Goodness than any other Excuse that might be made. We also send you the Writing of the Greek Prelates which we received from Constantinople during the Time that the Father Protosyncellus was preparing for his Journey, being desired by a Letter from them to transmitt it to you. In the mean Time we desire your Charity to know, that if, according to the Advice of our Prince, you will send two of your Brethren to a Conference, which we again intreat you to do, we may hope to bring our Wishes to a more easy Conclusion. Which that at Length He, the Lawgiver of Love, the God of Peace, the Father of Mercies may prosper, is our hearty Desire and Prayer. Farewell, our Dearest Brothers. The most fervent Brothers in Christ of your Charity,
THEOPHANES Archbishop of Plescow.
THEOPHILACT Bishop of Tevers.
GABRIEL Archimandrite of the Holy Trinity.
THEOPHILUS Archimandrite of Czudow.
IEROTHEUS Archimandrite of St. Savior’s.
PETER Protopresbyter of the Church of St. Peter.
St Petersburgh, 2. Feb. 1724.
To the most Reverend the Bishops of the Catholick Church in Great Britain our Dearest Brothers.