Sophronius of Jerusalem
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Sophronius of Jerusalem (560-638), called Sophronius the Sophist because of his knowledge of Greek, was the Patriarch of Jerusalem from 634 until his death. He traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, and to Constantinople in the year 633 to persuade the respective patriarchs to renounce Monoenergism, a heterodox teaching that espoused a single, divine energy in Christ to the exclusion of a human capacity for choice. Soon after becoming Patriarch of Jerusalem, he forwarded his synodical letter to Pope Honorius I and to the Eastern patriarchs, explaining the orthodox belief in the two natures, human and divine, of Christ, as opposed to Monoenergism, which he viewed as a subtle form of heretical Monophysitism (which posited a single divine nature for Christ). He also composed a Florilegium (“Anthology”) of some 600 texts from the Early Church Fathers in favour of the Christian tenet of Dyothelitism (positing both human and divine wills in Christ), however this document is now lost.
In 637, the Muslims captured Jerusalem; St. Sophronius died a year later “of grief at the fall of his city”. According to the Muslim treaty “Pact of Omar“, caliph Omar ibn al–Khattab came to Jerusalem in 637 after the conquest of Jerusalem and toured the city with Sophronius. During the tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the time for prayer came, and despite Sophronius’s offer to Omar to pray inside the Church, Omar chose to pray outside. According to Islamic tradition, the caliph’s reason for declining to pray there was because in the future Muslims might say that great Omar prayed here and used it, as an excuse to build a mosque there.
Writings:
The Life of St. John the Almsgiver (Vita Sancti Johannis Eleemosynarii)
The Apology of Sophronius (Christological Apologia)
The Chronicle of Sophronius (chronicle of events from the time of Emperor Heraclius, including important ecclesiastical events and the rise of various heresies. )
Letters of Sophronius (Many of his letters were addressed to prominent figures in the Church, including Pope Martin I.)
The Encomium on the Virgin Theotokos (Hymn to the Mother of God) This is a theological work that praises the Virgin Mary and defends her position as Theotokos (God-bearer).
Sophronius’s Homilies and Theological Treatises
Homily on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
- The Great Blessing of the Waters
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Quotes and Excerpts:
On Papal Authority and the Chair of Peter:
“I acknowledge the decisions of the Apostolic See, the sacred and venerable Chair of Peter, as final and binding on all matters of faith. I recognize its decisions as the voice of Peter himself, and I submit to them with all the strength of my soul. Let the whole world know that the faith of the Apostolic See is the only true and orthodox faith, and that no one has the right to teach otherwise. To this sacred See, we entrust all matters of doctrine, for it is the foundation of the Church and the source of all true teaching.” –Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 8, p. 893 (Lateran Council Acts)
On Papal Leadership in Doctrinal Matters:
“We, the bishops of the East, are troubled by the heretical doctrines that are spreading, and we turn to the most holy and blessed Apostolic See in Rome, where the foundations of the orthodox doctrine rest. We beseech your wisdom and authority to settle this matter, for no one else possesses the divine guidance to bring an end to this error. It is to the Chair of Peter that we look for direction and resolution, and we trust that your apostolic and divine wisdom will lead us into the light of the true faith.” –Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 8, p. 893 (Lateran Council Acts)
On Apostolic Succession and the Papacy:
“The authority of the Chair of Peter is not confined to the city of Rome but extends throughout the entire world, for it is through this Chair that the succession of the apostles has been preserved. Just as Peter was entrusted with the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, so too does his successor bear this same responsibility. Therefore, all Christians must recognize and honor the Pope as the successor of Peter, the guardian of the faith, and the supreme teacher of all truth.” –Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 8, p. 893 (Lateran Council Acts)
“I urge you, most holy Father, to pronounce a definitive judgment on the new heresy that is threatening to divide the Church. Your apostolic authority is needed to settle this dispute and to restore unity. We recognize your authority to determine the truth and to uphold the orthodox faith. May your apostolic wisdom bring peace to the Church and defeat the enemies of the true doctrine.” –Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 8, p. 893 (Lateran Council Acts)
“Teaching us all orthodoxy and destroying all heresy and driving it away from the God-protected halls of our holy Catholic Church. And together with these inspired syllables and characters, I accept all his (the pope’s) letters and teachings as proceeding from the mouth of Peter the Coryphaeus, and I kiss them and salute them and embrace them with all my soul … I recognize the latter as definitions of Peter and the former as those of Mark, and besides, all the heaven-taught teachings of all the chosen mystagogues of our Catholic Church” – Letters: Mansi, Giovanni Domenico (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 11, Florence: A. Zatta, 1759–1798.)
On the Apostolic Succession & Primacy of Rome:
“Transverse quickly all the world from one end to the other until you come to the Apostolic See (Rome), where are the foundations of the orthodox doctrine. Make clearly known to the most holy personages of that throne the questions agitated among us. Cease not to pray and to beg them until their apostolic and Divine wisdom shall have pronounced the victorious judgement and destroyed from the foundation …the new heresy.” –Sophronius, [quoted by Bishop Stephen of Dora to Pope Martin I at the Lateran Council], Mansi, Giovanni Domenico (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum Collectio, Vol. 8, Florence: A. Zatta, 1759–1798.
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. What Joy could surpass this, O Virgin Mother? What grace can excel that which God has granted to you alone? What could be imagined more dazzling or more delightful? Before the miracle we witness in you, all else pales; all else in inferior when compared with the grace you have been given. All else, even what is most desirable, must take second place and enjoy a lesser importance.” –Oratio 2, in Sanctissimae Deparae Annuntiatione (Sermon on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God), in Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 87, cols. 1235–1250.
On Honoring Mary, Mother of God:
“The Lord is with you. Who would dare challenge you? You are God’s mother; who would not immediately defer to you and be glad to accord you a greater primacy and honor? for this reason, when I look upon the privilege you have above all creatures, I extol you with the highest praise: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. On your account joy has not only graced men, but is also granted to the powers of heaven.” –Oratio 2, in Sanctissimae Deparae Annuntiatione (Sermon on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God), in Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 87, cols. 1235–1250.
“Truly, you are blessed among women. For you have changed Eve’s curse into a blessing; and Adam, who hitherto lay under a curse, has been blessed because of you.” –Oratio 2, in Sanctissimae Deparae Annuntiatione (Sermon on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God), in Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 87, cols. 1235–1250.
“Truly, you are blessed among women, because, though a woman by nature, you will become, in reality, God’s mother. If he whom you are to bear is truly God made flesh, then rightly do we call you God’s mother. For you have truly given birth to God.” –Oratio 2, in Sanctissimae Deparae Annuntiatione (Sermon on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God), in Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 87, cols. 1235–1250.
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