Letter CCCLX.1553    This letter is almost undoubtedly spurious, but it has a certain interest, from the fact of its having been quoted at the so-called 7th Council (2d of Nicæa) in 787.  Maran (Vit. Bas. xxxix.) is of opinion that it is proved by internal evidence to be the work of some Greek writer at the time of the Iconoclastic controversy.  The vocabulary and style are unlike that of Basil.

Of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the invocation of Saints, and their Images.

According to the blameless faith of the Christians which we have obtained from God, I confess and agree that I believe in one God the Father Almighty; God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost; I adore and worship one God, the Three.1554    Neuter sc. πρόσωπα, not ὑποστάσεις, as we should expect in Basil.  I confess to the œconomy of the Son in the flesh,1555    ἔνσαρκον οἰκονομίαν, an expression I do not recall in Basil’s genuine writings. and that the holy Mary, who gave birth to Him according to the flesh, was Mother of God.1556    Θεοτόκον, the watchword of the Nestorian controversy, which was after Basil’s time.  I acknowledge also the holy apostles, prophets, and martyrs; and I invoke them to supplication to God, that through them, that is, through their mediation, the merciful God may be propitious to me, and that a ransom may be made and given me for my sins.  Wherefore also I honour and kiss the features of their images, inasmuch as they have been handed down from the holy apostles, and are not forbidden, but are in all our churches.

ΕΚ ΤΗΣ ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΣ ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΠΑΡΑΒΑΤΗΝ

[1] Κατὰ τὴν θεόθεν ἐπικεκληρωμένην ἡμῖν ἀμώμητον πίστιν τῶν χριστιανῶν ὁμολογῶ καὶ συντίθημι πιστεύειν εἰς ἕνα Θεὸν Πατέρα παντοκράτορα, Θεὸν τὸν Πατέρα, Θεὸν τὸν Υἱόν, Θεὸν τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον: ἕνα Θεόν, τὰ τρία προσκυνῶ καὶ δοξάζω. Ὁμολογῶ δὲ καὶ τὴν τοῦ Υἱοῦ ἔνσαρκον οἰκονομίαν καὶ Θεοτόκον τὴν κατὰ σάρκα τεκοῦσαν αὐτὸν ἁγίαν Μαρίαν. Δέχομαι δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους Ἀποστόλους, προφήτας καὶ μάρτυρας, καὶ εἰς τὴν πρὸς Θεὸν ἱκεσίαν τούτους ἐπικαλοῦμαι, τοῦ δι' αὐτῶν, ἤγουν διὰ τῆς μεσιτείας αὐτῶν, ἵλεών μοι γενέσθαι τὸν φιλάνθρωπον Θεὸν καὶ λύτρον μοι τῶν πταισμάτων γενέσθαι καὶ δοθῆναι: ὅθεν καὶ τοὺς χαρακτῆρας τῶν εἰκόνων αὐτῶν τιμῶ καὶ προσκυνῶ, κατ' ἐξαίρετον τούτων παραδεδομένων ἐκ τῶν ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων καὶ οὐκ ἀπηγορευμένων, ἀλλ' ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ἡμῶν τούτων ἀνιστορουμένων.