Responses to the Questions of the Bulgars
The pope’s answers, in 106 chapters, to questions sent by Boris of Bulgaria soon after his baptism. They show Rome competing with Constantinople for the new Bulgarian church.
Boris, baptized from Constantinople, turned to Rome within two years and sent a list of questions about Christian practice and about the standing of his church. Nicholas I answered them one by one. Most of the answers concern daily life: fasting, marriage, oaths, war, dress. Two bear on the quarrel with the east. Chapter 72 holds out an archbishop, though not yet a patriarch, for Bulgaria. Chapter 92 says that the true patriarchal sees are Rome, Alexandria and Antioch, and that the bishop of Constantinople is called patriarch by the favour of emperors rather than by right.
Cited in
- AD 863 to AD 867, estimated date
- AD 864–866, estimated date