"--_"Greece under the Romans," p. 231._
Just here we find the Papacy lifted definitely into acknowledged
supremacy. Imperial Rome had already left its ancient seat to the
Papacy, the imperial throne being no longer maintained at Rome. The
Bishop of Rome was left the chief figure in the ancient seat of the
Caesars. The prophecy of Rev. 13:2 had said of the relation of the old
imperial power to the Papacy, "The dragon gave him his power, and his
seat, and great authority." The seat was given, and now imperial Rome
was to give to papal Rome the definite recognition of its supreme power
and "great authority."
Papal Supremacy Officially Recognized
In A.D. 533 the emperor Justinian promulgated a letter, having
the force of an imperial decree, recognizing the absolute headship of
the Bishop of Rome over the churches. It declared:
"We have been sedulous to subject and unite all the priests of
the Orient throughout its whole extent to the see of Your
Holiness.... For we do not suffer that anything which is
mooted, however clear and unquestionable, pertaining to the
state of the churches, should fail to be made known to Your
Holiness, as being the head of all the churches.
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