East and the West. He stood on good or neutral terms with Pope Vitalian (6 57–672), who maintained
a prudent silence on the disputed question, and with his successors, Adeodatus (672–676), Donus
or Domnus (676–678), and Agatho (678–681).
After sufficient preparations, he called, in concert with Agatho, a General Council. It
convened in the imperial palace at Constantinople, and held eighteen sessions from Nov. 7, 680,
to Sept. 16, 681. it is called the Sixth Oecumenical, and also the First Trullan Synod, from the name
of the hall or chapel in the palace.^617 The highest number of members in attendance was one hundred
and seventy-four, including three papal legates (two priests and one deacon). The emperor presided
in person, surrounded by civil and ecclesiastical dignitaries. The acts are preserved in the Greek
original and in two old Latin versions.^618
After a full discussion of the subject on both sides, the council, in the eighteenth and last
session, defined and sanctioned the two-will doctrine, almost in the very language of the letter of
Pope Agatho to the emperor.^619 Macarius, the patriarch of Alexandria, who adhered to
Monotheletism, was deposed.
The epistle of Agatho is a worthy sequel of Leo’s Epistle to the Chalcedonian Council, and
equally clear and precise in stating the orthodox view. It is also remarkable for the confidence with
which it claims infallibility for the Roman church, in spite of the monotheletic heresy of Pope
Honorius (who is prudently ignored). Agatho quotes the words of Christ to Peter, Luke 22:31, 32,
in favor of papal infallibility, anticipating, as it were, the Vatican decision of 1870.^620
But while the council fully endorsed the dyotheletic view of Agatho, and clothed it with
oecumenical authority, it had no idea of endorsing his claim to papal infallibility; on the contrary,
it expressly condemned Pope Honorius I. as a Monotheletic heretic, together with Sergius, Cyrus,
Pyrrhus, Paulus, Petrus, and Theodore of Pharan.
Immediately after the close of the council, the emperor published the decision, with an edict
enforcing it and anathematizing all heretics from Simon Magus down to Theodore of Pharan,
Sergius, Pope Honorius, who in all was their follower and associate, and confirmed the heresy.^621
The edict forbids any one hereafter to teach the doctrine of one will and one energy under penalty
of deposition, confiscation, and exile.
Pope Agatho died Jan. 10, 682; but his successor, Leo II., who was consecrated Aug. 17 of
the same year, confirmed the sixth council, and anathematized all heretics, including his predecessor,
Honorius, who, instead of adorning the apostolic see, dared to prostitute its immaculate faith by
profane treason, and all who died in the same error.^622
(^617) ΤρούλλονorΤρούλλιον, Trullum, Trulla, Trullus, a technical term for buildings with a cupola. The Acts say that the
sessions were heldἐντω̑ σεκρέτω του̑θείουπαλατίου,τω̑ ου τωλεγομένω Τρούλλῳ, and Anastasius: "in basilica, quae
Trullus appellatur, intra palatium."
(^618) Mansi, XI. 195-922. See a full account in Hefele, III. 252-313.
(^619) See above, § 110.
(^620) Comp. Creeds of Christendom, I. 163 and 187.
(^621) τὸν̔ κατὰ πάντατούτοιςσυναιρέτηνκαὶ σύνδρομονκαὶβεβαιωτὴντη̑ς αἱρέσεως.
(^622) "Honorium [anathematizamus] qui hanc apostolicam sedem non apostolicae traditionis doctrina lustraVit. sed profana
proditione immaculatam fidem subvertere conatus est, et omnes qui in suo errore defuncti sunt." Mansi, XI. 731; Hefele, III.
- See § 113.