the Greeks: which is as much as to fay, the Pure and Peculiar; inafmuch as it hath no Admixture of Novelty, from other Religions.

*

It was originally compofed in the Ruffian Church, which, for a long feries of Time, hath conformed herself to the orthodox Canon of the Eastern Church, on the following Occafion."

Peter Mogilas, who lately departed pioufly, and holily, unto God, being chofen, and ordained, an orthodox Metropolitan, by the most holy, and eminent, the Lord Theophanes, Patriarch of Jerufalem; when he took upon him the Government of the Church of Kiow, that was committed to his Charge, he found his Flock confufed, and infected; with certain novel Opinions of Sectaries, entirely contrary to the genuine, and ancient Doctrines of their Forefathers. Wherefore, as became a good Shepherd, and zealous Defender of the Faith, he entered immediately on a Refolution the most pious, and pleafing to God, of reftoring, and conducting the Ruffian Church, into that purity of the holy Doctrine, in which it had flourished from its firft Beginning: And of utterly rooting out again, thofe novel Opinions, which then began to fpring up in thofe Parts'; and alfo of filling his fpiritual Garner with a joyful Harveft of good and wholefome Fruits.

Having thus wifely and duly determined with himself, he entered upon the Work without any Delay; and convened, in his metropolitical City, a number of the learned and eminent Perfons of his Province: Having firft of all gathered toge

ther

ther his three Bishops, who were ordained at the fame time together with him, by the fame moft praife-worthy Patriarch of ferufalem. Here, af ter many Difquifitions, it was, with one Confent, and one Voice, agreed by all; that they should confign this their Expofition of the Faith to writing, Point by Point, and lay it before the Church of Conftantinople, and her holy Synod, for a more mature Examination, and Judgment of the Matter: (for, at that time, they followed the Authority of that Church, and unto her, as to an Head, did all the orthodox Greeks fubmit themselves, and on her fixed their Attention, as on a moft fure Guide) to the end, that whatsoever Articles the confirmed by her Approbation, the fame they fhould firmly retain; and reject, as fpurious and falfe, whatfoever the condemned. Having in this manner finished the Book, which they called, The Expofition of the Ruffian Faith; they follicited, that fome Synodical Curators, and Patriarchal Exarchs, might be fent into Moldavia; and promised, that they would fend thither also, certain Delegates from themselves; by whom thefe Heads of their Faith fhould firft be accu rately examined, namely, whether they agreed, or not, with the found, and right Doctrines of the Eastern Church: After which they should be publickly, and folemnly, communicated to the Church of Conftantinople. There were therefore fent for this Purpofe, from the holy Synod, the moft holy Metropolitan of Nice, Porphyrius; and Meletius Syrigus, Doctor of the great Church; a

Man

Man, who from his Childhood, having been nourished and brought up in true, and holy Doctrines, was most eminent for Sanctity of Life and exquifite Learning; and was defervedly esteemed to be, and really was, the Preacher, Interpreter, and very Rule itself, of the moft genuine and true Doctrines of the Faith. Representing therefore, the very Perfon of the Patriarch; and vested with the most full and plenary Powers of the whole facred Synod; he went into Moldavia, as we have faid, together with Porphyrius; whither alfo, fent from the Ruffians, came, Ifaias Trophimus, and Conovicius, and Xenovicius; Men truly excellent, adorned with all kind of Learning and liberal Knowledge. These three, taking God only for their Guide and Mafter, who is the Giver of all Knowledge, and of all true Holiness and Understanding, brought the Book to this excellent Conclufion; having by many mutual Difquifitions, and Difputations, thoroughly purged it from all foriegn Doctrines, and Defilements of Novelty; and then forthwith fent it to the most holy four orthodox Patriarchs, the Succeffors in the Seats of the Apostles, to be reviewed and confidered of. They also confirmed it with their Approbation, as containing the true and genuine Doctrines, and in nothing departing from the fincere, and catholic Faith of the Greeks: And declared it to be pure and uncorrupt; by the univerfal Judgment, Determination, and Confent of all. And furthermore, by their own proper Subscriptions, and of their Clergy, as appears hereunto annexed; they

decreed

decreed and confirmed it; and entitled it, not only of the Ruffians, but by a more univerfa! Appellation, The orthodox Confeffion of all the Greeks.

Yet however, this Book, as it was but lately to # be had in print among the Ruffians; fo among the Greeks, it was only to be found in Manuscripts; and that but very rarely: Whereupon, the Lord Panagiotta, Interpreter to his imperial Majesty of the East and Weft, a Perfon of great Wisdom and Piety, and entirely devoted to true Religion; as he is most regardful and affectionate of our Greek Nation, and a zealous Contender for the orthodox Faith; among his many other magnificent Works, and public Employments, wherein he is daily and hourly engaged, he willingly undertook the Care and Patronage of this alfo; and caufed this Book to be printed at his own Expence, in our, and the Latin Languages: That every one, who was defirous to encrease in Piety, might, without any Expence (for he caufed the Copies to be diftributed to all gratis) be provided with a Book; from whence, as from a fource of pure and living Water, and out of the genuine Fountains of Salvation, (Isaiah xii. 3.) draw the facred Doctrines of our Church, unpolluted with the muddy and foreign Opinions of Sectaries. And now, let no one marvel, that this Book is expreffed in a plain Style, and unadorned with Eloquence; feeing that thereby, it is not only fitted for the learned, but the unlearned Multitude alfo For the wife and prudent Reader ought not to regard the unpolifhed Manner of Ex

preffion

preffion, but the Truth of the Words and Thoughts: but rather we are bound to render the higheft, and most perpetual Thanks unto him, who hath bestowed fo great a Benefit upon us; and implore God, with ceaseless Prayers, that he would be pleafed abundantly to reward him; and in the World to come, crown him with an everlasting Retribution.

Given at our Court at Conftantinople, in our Monaftry, the xx Day of November, CIɔɔCLXII.

PARTHENIUS,

By the Mercy of God, Archbishop of Conftantincple, New Rome, and Univerfal Patriarch.

UR Mediocrity, together with the facred Congregation of Archbishops, and Clergy, here prefent, having carefully perused a Book tranfmitted unto us from our own Sifter, the Church of Little Ruffia, entitled, The Orthodox Contefion of Faith of the Catholic and Apoftolic Church of Chrift: Wherein thofe Things are treat+ ed of under a threefold Divifion, of Faith, and Charity, and Hope; fo that Faith is fet forth in the Twelve Articles of Faith, or the holy Nicene Creed: Charity in the Ten Commandments, and in the holy and divinely inspired Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, fhewing what is neceffary