05) FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, ACTS

Acts

The original Greek acts of the council are lost,^[15] but an old Latin version exists, possibly made for Vigilius, of which there is a critical edition^[16] and of which there is now an English translation and commentary,^[17] and a modern Greek translation and commentary.^[18]

It has been alleged (probably falsely) that the original Acts of the Fifth Council had been tampered with^[19] in favour of Monothelitism.^[3]

It used to be argued that the extant acts are incomplete, since they make no mention of the debate over Origenism.

However, the solution generally accepted today is that the bishops signed the canons condemning Origenism before the council formally opened.^[20]

This condemnation was confirmed by Pope Vigilius and the subsequent ecumenical council (third Council of Constantinople) gave its "assent" in its Definition of Faith to the five previous synods, including "... the last, that is the Fifth holy Synod assembled in this place, against Theodore of Mopsuestia, Origen, Didymus, and Evagrius ...";^[21] its full conciliar authority has only been questioned in modern times.^[22]

There is a Syriac account of the council in the Melkite Chronicle of 641.^[23]

Also, one of the Acts of the Council at Constantinople, were the Anathemas issued against those who rejected the Perpetual Virginity of Mary.^[24]