Letter 1011: [Bishop Avitus to Pope Symmachus of Rome.

[Avitus, bishop, to Symmachus, pope of the City (Rome).] Therefore, even though we believe that a pledge of the relics of the holy Cross is with you, we nevertheless believe that this particular bounty must be sought from the holy bishop of the city of Aelia [Jerusalem]. He indeed, by his administration of that place preserving the true and inviolable purity of that sacred thing, has the power to bestow upon us so desirable a gift in such a way that he may free us from every ambiguity of hesitation. On which account I most earnestly request, by this attendant page, that your apostolate grant a letter to the bearer addressed to the priest of the aforesaid church: so that the corroboration may come to us with a twofold blessing, which either the considered authority of your see will furnish to the churches preeminent in the world, or the kindness of that man, when entreated, will extend.

[Avitus episcopus Symmacho papae urbis]. unde, etiamsi pignus reliquiarum sacrae crucis putamus esse vobiscum, a sancto tamen Aeliae urbis antistite hanc specialiter munificentiam credimus expetendam. Qui re vera sacramenti istius veram et inviolabilem puritatem loci administratione conservans, sic desiderabili potens est impertire nos dono, ut ab omni cunctationis absolvat am- biguo. Qua de re plurimum pagina famulante deposco, ut ad praefatae ecclesiae sacerdotem litteras apostolatus vester tribuat portitori: quatenus gemina nobis veniat benedictione firmamentum, quod ecclesiarum praeminentium mundo vel consulta sedis vestrae auctoritas respondebit vel humanitas illius obsecrata porrexerit.