Letter 105: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

How great a veneration for religion we have and how we have always been concerned for the uniting of the holy churches, your blessedness also is a witness. For after our lord, the illustrious emperor, began to reign, through all who came to Italy we directed letters asking your apostolate, as was fitting. Now also, lest anything that ought to be done be left undone, John, the most reverend bishop, Heraclianus the priest, and Constantinus the deacon of the most holy church of this illustrious city have been sent to Rome with good fortune, so that they may receive a complete response concerning all the matters about which your son, the most serene emperor, has written. Let your holiness therefore deign to receive the aforesaid most devout men willingly and, having offered prayers and appeased the divinity, arrange all things reverently so that nothing further may remain in doubt. For it seems to us, since the Son of the living God, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born of the Virgin Mary — whom the chief of the apostles proclaims to have "suffered in the flesh" [1 Pet. 4:1] — that he is rightly said to reign as one in the Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and we believe not unfaithfully that his person is in the Trinity and of the Trinity. Regarding the names of the deceased bishops, however, arrange clemently and as befits a pacific father; because your predecessor of blessed memory also wrote to the memory of the principal Anastasius [Pope Anastasius II] that if only the name of Acacius were removed, we should have one communion. It is therefore not burdensome for your see to grant what it once recommended. For you ought to imitate the most holy Leo, the Roman pontiff, and just as he wrote to Leo [Emperor Leo I], so should you too, with all doubts removed, write back fully peaceful pages to the most invincible emperor, your son [...] for the church, so that before the tribunal of the coming judge you may be sharers of those whose see you hold by priestly right. Let your apostolate therefore show that it has deservedly succeeded the apostle Peter, since the Lord will demand from you as the chief pastors the salvation of all who can be saved once concord has been established. For once the articles about which you have received the letters are settled, we will no longer permit any controversy over religion to be raised by anyone in our republic, nor is it fitting for your holiness to listen to those who dispute about superfluous matters.

EXEIPLUM £PISTOLA£ lUSTINLAifl. DOMINO UIRO BEATIS8IM0 SANCTOQUE PATRI HORMISDAE URBIS ROM.\E poNTiFici lusTiNiANus. Quautam uenerationem religionis habeamus quamque solliciti semper fuerimus propter uniendas sanctas ecclesias, testis est quoque uestra beatitudo. postquam regnauit etenim domnus noster inclitus imperator, per omnes ^ad Italiam uenientes direximus litteras apostolatum tuum rogantes sicut decebat. nunc etiam, ne quid eorum, quae 2 fieri conuenit, praetennittatur, lohannes uir reuerentissimus antistes, Heraclianus presbyter et Constantinus diaconus sacro- sanctae ecclesiae buius inclitae ciuitatis destinati sunt ad urbem feliciter, ut super omnibus, quae scripsit filius uester serenissimus imperator, integrum responsum accipiant. dignetur ergo sanctitas tua suscipere memoratos uiros religiosissimos libenter et habitis orationibus placataque diuinitate sic omnia debeat ordinare uenerabiliter, ut nihil ultra reraaneat in ambiguum. nobis etenim uidetur, quoniam filius dei uiui 3 dominus noster lesus Christus ex uirgine Maria natus, quem praedicat summus apostoloinim carne passum, recte dicitur unus in trinitate cum patre spirituque sancto regnare, maiestatisque eius personam in trinitate et ex trinitate non infideliter credimus. de nominibus autem defunctorum episco- 4 porum clementer et ut decet pacificum patrem disponite; quia uester quoque praecessor beatae recordationis ad memoriae 22 Petr. I 4, 1 1 strotonici^ 7 2 lidie F 285. Baia et accepia ut ep. 233. Edd. Car P 553; Collect. ConciL; Thiel 954; commemorat Bar. ad a. 520, 59. 6 romane F, corr. Car. 7 unigendas F, corr. o 12 pretermittetur F, corr. p 17 memoratos ex memoratns corr, V 18 et F: ut Hartel 24 per- sona F, corr. edit. reg. 716 Hormisda lustino Augusto principalis Anastasium scripsit, ut, si nomen Acacii tantummodo tolleretur, una nobis esset communio. non est igitur Cgraue, quod> suasit uestra sedes, ut praestet. imitari debetis etenim sanctissimum Leonem Romanum pontificem ac, sicut ille scripsit Leoni, ita et uos omnibus amputatis dubitationibus & perfectas pacificasque paginas ad inuictissimum principem filium uestrura rescribere * * ecclesiae, ut ante tribunal uenturi iudicis participes eorum sitis, quorum sedem iure sacerdotaii 5 tenetis. ostendat ergo tuus apostolatus, <quod merito> Petro successit apostolo, quoniam dominus a uobis utpote summis lo pastoribus exacturus est uniuersorum salutem, qui poterunt esse salui fiimata concordia. nos etenim finitis capitulis, de quibus scripta suscepistis, ultra non patiemur a quoquam controuersiam religionis in re publica nostra moueri nec uestram sanctitatem conuenit audire superflua concertantes. i&