John VIII

John VIII was pope from 872 to 882 (Orthodox–Catholic Consultation, The Filioque (2003) II. Historical Considerations). The letters cited here come from the register of his correspondence (Letters (Register)).

In August 879 he wrote to the emperor Basil I that he received Photius as patriarch of Constantinople, on condition that Photius ask for mercy before a synod, that no layman be made patriarch in future and that Photius claim no authority in Bulgaria (John VIII, Letters, 207 (August 879), pp. 169–176). The Roman see, he argued, has the power to loose what bishops have bound, as it had done for Athanasius and John Chrysostom (John VIII, Letters, 207 (August 879), p. 171). After the council of 879–880 he wrote to Photius that he accepted what had been done for his restoration and rejected anything his legates might have done against their instructions (John VIII, Letters, 258 (August 880), pp. 226–228).

Bulgaria runs through these letters. In 878 he urged its ruler Boris I to turn from the Greeks and return to Saint Peter (John VIII, Letters, 66 (16 April 878), pp. 58–59), and ordered the Greek clergy there to leave (John VIII, Letters, 71 (April 878), p. 66). In 880 he thanked the emperors for allowing Saint Peter to have the Bulgarian diocese (John VIII, Letters, 259 (13 August 880), pp. 228–229). His letters about Methodius and the Slavonic liturgy are treated under Cyril and Methodius among the Slavs.