Letter 108: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We rejoice to learn, with your brotherhood reporting, that our brother and fellow bishop Epiphanius has been raised to the office of the priestly duty at the most fortunate Constantinople, by God's favor, because indications reported by a beloved person are somehow received more gratefully, and the joy that arises is all the greater for the authority of the messenger, since there is nothing to dispute about the testimony. It was fitting, dearest ones, it was proper that affection toward one's neighbor be thus shown, so that through you it should become known to the apostolic see what shone with character and holiness, what had long since so thoroughly imbued itself with good principles, as you too affirm, that there is no stronger testimony of merit than that he was chosen for the honor of the priesthood. For what can be held doubtful about one in whom, under the proof of the concord achieved, the good character that was presupposed [...] are divine? Therefore you act holily, you act devoutly, you act piously in willingly lending testimony to the truth, in not denying the reward to those who have well deserved it: because it is the same error to be silent about truth as to support falsehoods, and it is the same injustice to deny honor to those of pleasing character as to grant it to the unworthy. It is certain, most beloved ones, that you share in the praises you have conveyed about the priest, because what is praised in the one whom you chose from among yourselves is credited to the entire order of your brotherhood. May almighty God, preserving the peace of his faith in perpetuity, so strengthen your election and ordination — which you devoutly entrusted to be made known to the apostolic see through our brother and fellow bishop John, and also through Heraclianus the priest and Constantinus the deacon, our sons — and so shatter all the struggles of those who are in discord, and so restrain the hearts of the dissident, that, just as under our brother and fellow bishop Epiphanius the sign of pacification was given, we may rejoice in its full accomplishment.

15 EPiPHANii EPiscopi. Fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum Epi- phanium apud felicissimam deo fauente Constantinopolim in officium muneris sacerdotalis adsumptum peruenisse ad nos fraternitate uestra referente gaudemus, quia gratius quodam- modo suscipiuntur indicia, quae significauerit amata persona, 2u et tanto maius pro auctoritate nuntii nascitur gaudium, quanto non est quod de testimonio disputetur. sic erat 2 congruum, karissimi nobis, sic se circa proxirauin patefacere decebat aifectum, ut per uos sedi apostolicae innotescat, quod moribus et sanctitate fulgeret, quod usque adeo se olim bonis 25 sicut et uos asseritis, imbuit institutis, ut non sit fortius meriti testiraonium quam in honorem' sacerdotis adscitum. quid est enira, quod de eo habeatur ambiguum, in quo de 2 iohanni fratri F, correxi 3 internuncii 7, corr. p promotionem ex pronunciationem corr. V 6 tiTi V: tantuni Car. 240. Bat. ut ep. 230. Edd. Car. P 550; Collect. Coticil; BTA I 447; Thiel 966; commemorat Bar. ad a. 521, 6. 14 constantino- POLITAXO F, corr. p 16 felicissimum F, corr. p 21 quod Car.: quo V 26 meritis Car. 740 lastinus Hormisdae; Epiphanius Cpolitanus Hormisdae bonis moribus sub probatione factae concordiae praesusceptae 3 * * sunt diuina? quapropter facitis sancte, facitis religiose, facitis pie, quod ueritati testimonium libenter impenditis, quod praemium bene meritis non negatis: quia idem error est tacere ueritatem, qui est falsis adsistere, et eadem * iniustitia est si negetur honor moribus placitis, quae est si concedatur indignis. certum est, amantissimi, participari uos cum sacerdotis laudibus intimatis, quia omni fraternitatis uestrae ordini transcribitur, quod in uno, quem ex uobis 4 elegistis, esse laudatur. deus omnipotens fidei suae pacem lo sub perpetuitate conseruans electionem ordinationemqueuestram, quam insinuandam sedi apostolicae per lohannem fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum nec non et Heraclianum presbyterum atque Constantinum diaconum filios nostros religiose credidistis, tanta firmitate confortet et ita omnium discordantium lucta- is mina disiciat, ita dissidentium corda compescat. ut, quemad- modum sub fratre et coepiscopo nostro Epiphanio pacificationis datum est indicium, gratulemur eflfectum. Data VII. Kal. April. Ualerio cons. GESTA LV CAUSA ABUNDANTII EPISCOPI TRAIA< NO >POLITANI IN »0 SCRINIO HABEMUS.