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The '''Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs''' was a letter sent in May, [[1848]] by the [[patriarch]]s of the [[Orthodox Church]] in reply to Pope Pius IX's ''Epistle to the Easterns'' ([[1848]]). Rather than being a private letter to Pius IX, it is addressed to "All the Bishops Everywhere, Beloved in the Holy Ghost, Our Venerable, Most Dear Brethren; and to their Most Pious Clergy; and to All the Genuine Orthodox Sons of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." This should not be confused with the "Encyclical To the Eastern Patriarchs" (866), which treats of related doctrines.
The encyclical explicitly denounces the [[Filioque|Filioque clause]] added by Rome to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] as a [[heresy]], censures the [[papacy]] for missionizing among Orthodox Christians, and repudiates [[Ultramontanism]] (papal supremacy). It also describes the [[Roman Catholic Church]] as being in [[apostasy]], [[heresy]], and [[schism]].
In the course of all this, it notably makes reference to the [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] ([[879]]-[[880]]), in contrast with the opinion of many modern Orthodox Christians that there are only seven [[Ecumenical Councils]] accepted by the [[Orthodox Church]].
== Signatories ==
* Patriarch [[Anthimus VII VI of Constantinople]]
* Pope and Patriarch [[Hierotheus II of Alexandria]]
* Patriarch [[Methodius of Antioch]]
* Patriarch [[Cyrill Cyril II of Jerusalem]]
* The Holy Synod in Constantinople
* The Holy Synod in Jerusalem
== External link ==
*[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1848orthodoxencyclical.html Full text of the Encyclical]
[http[ro://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1848orthodoxencyclical.html Full text of the EncyclicalEnciclica Patriarhilor Ortodocși de la 1848]]