TO THE READER.

As the "Caroline Books" are written in the name of Charlemagne, and as some suppose him to have been the author, his name is frequently assumed for the sake of convenience when citations are made from them. The first edition appeared in 1549; the latest is that edited by C. A. Heuman, Hanover, 1731.

Adrian's letter, in answer to these books, is contained in the collection of the "Concilia" made by Binius, and is found in tom. iii. pars 1, Sectio Secunda, edit. 1618, of that work. As this mode of division is very inconvenient and lengthy, it will be quoted thus-" Adrian's Answer," with the page annexed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

ANTE-CONCILIAR DOCUMENTS.

First Letter of Gregory II. to the Emperor Leo in Defence of Images. Second Letter of Pope Gregory to the Emperor Leo on Image Worship. The Preface, addressed to John VIII., Pope of Rome, by Anastasius the Librarian, concerning his translation of the proceedings of the Council

Short Syllabus of the different Sessions......

The Sacred Divalis; or, Letter of Invitation from Constantine and his Mother the Empress Irene to Pope Adrian to attend the Council

Defence by Tarasius (once a soldier and layman) of his elevation
to the Patriarchate
Short History of Transactions in the year previous to the assembling
of the Council at Nicea.......

THE COUNCIL.

SESSION THE FIRST.

The Council for the establishment of Image Worship, consisting of
upwards of three hundred and fifty Bishops besides other Digni-
taries of the Church, held its first Session at Nicæa, on the 24th
of September, 787.
Prefatory Speech by the Patriarch, Tarasius, of Constantinople.....
ZAKPA (or Letter of Convocation) from Constantine and his
mother Irene to the Bishops

G

1

2-4

4-9

PAGE

Recantation of imputed heresy (or Iconoclasm) by Basil, Bishop of

Ancyra

Recantation of Theodore, Bishop of Myra.......

Recantation of Theodosius, Bishop of Ammorium
Admission of these three Bishops to the Council....
Discussion on the case of Seven other Bishops more active in the
cause of Iconoclasm
Extract from the Fifty-third Canon of the Book of Canonical Orders
read in the Council

Eighth Canon of the Council of Nice.........

10-13

13-14

15-17

18

18-22

22

22-23

Extract from the Commonitorium of Cyril, Archbishop of Alexan

Extract from the Acts of the Fourth Council of Chalcedon

32

Interpretation of the Latin Letter of Adrian (Pope of Old Rome) to

the Emperor Constantine and the Empress Irene his mother (of New Rome or Constantinople)

47-69

Epistle of Adrian to the Patriarch Tarasius

71-77