You want to tone it down there, Brian?
Yes, it was controversial. St. Irenaeus, asked Victor for a little more restraint,
that is putting it mildly, don’t you think?
but he (as well as others) took for granted Victor’s authority to act.
I am sure you know how debateable that is. There are whole articles on what Irenaeus said, just a sample:
“Note that Irenaeus, having said that every church must CONVENIRE AD Rome, goes on to explain that he is referring to the faithful Christians who travel to Rome from everywhere. If he meant that every local church must agree with Rome in doctrine, it would not be necessary to explain the phrase; but since he has said that every local congregation will travel to Rome, he explains that he means that individual Christians from every local congregation will be visiting Rome. Note also that he speaks, not of the faithful IN every place (UBIQUE), but of the faithful FROM every place (UNDIQUE). If they were agreeing with Rome, they could do that without leaving home, and so he would speak of the faithful UBIQUE. But his point is that by regularly visiting Rome, the faithful contribute to the stability of doctrine there, and so he speaks twice of the faithful UNDIQUE. He has already made the point that in each individual congregation, the continuity of the bishops and of their council of presbyters preserves the faith (an argument that applies with equal force to all local congregations founded by apostles). Here he is pointing out the additional importance of the intercommunication among congregations as a bulwark against innovation.”
Several local synods had convened throughout the Church to resolve the issue with the celebration of Easter. Most synods agreed with the western custom of Sunday, except for Asia Minor.
We agree
For the church to be universal, they had to teach the same thing. Asia Minor had failed to comply with the other local synods and the exhortations of Pope Victor.
Yes, they found the actions of the apostles themselves more compelling, you would agree that was their reason?
Pope Victor, although he drew much criticism, knew that a higher authority was necessary to resolve such a case.
He resolved it? How? What happened?
Did Asia Minor ignore it? Of course, as was the case with numerous other ex-communications. No one wants to be told they are wrong, when they are sure they are right (we’re human after all).
This is important. Nothing happened.
BH
