Bishops gathered at the Council at Carthage wrote a letter to Pope Boniface I. It was meant to be carried back to Rome by papal legates, Bishop Faustinus of Potenza Picena, and Presbyters Philip and Asellus, who were present during the council. The bishops account once again the history of the case of Apiarius:
A not inconsiderable scandal has begun not only for the church of Sicca, but for the entire church of Africa because of the ordination, excommunication and appeal of the presbyter Apiarius. He asked for pardon for his errors and was readmitted into communion.
Before this, our fellow bishop, Urbanus of Sicca, without any doubt corrected in him what he saw that needs correction. Since many such things happened before and we should guard againts their repetition, we decided, for the peace and calm of the church not only now, but also in the future, that Apiarius should be removed from the church of Sicca, retain his grade of presbyter and be given a note with which he can (if he would like) perform presbyterial duties in any other place. We grant this willingly to him, since he himself asked for it in his own letter.
(trans. S. Adamiak)
