Letter 143: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with the saints interceding and assisting, here is what must be done concerning the case of the church of Nicopolis. First, when you have arrived at Thessalonica with God's help, deliver our letters, which we have sent in this matter, to the bishop of Thessalonica, observing in greeting him that order which you know we have commanded regarding those who do not communicate with the apostolic see, that is, the Catholic Church. Having delivered the letters, you must press insistently that he cease from harassing that church, explaining that one who has returned to communion and to the body of the Church cannot have anything in common with those who have not yet returned; that we do not dissolve the privileges conceded by our predecessors, if he himself does not abandon ecclesiastical institutions. Let him certainly return to unity, and we together with him will insist that all the privileges which his church has obtained from the apostolic see be preserved inviolate. You shall also say that he openly shows himself an enemy of the faith if he persecutes those whom he sees returning to Catholic communion. But if you are able to settle the matter there with God's favor, notify the bishop of Nicopolis in writing what your efforts have accomplished. If, however, he is obstinate and refuses to cease from persecuting him, you are to plead the cause of the church of Nicopolis before the emperor, according to the letters we have sent to the most merciful emperor, saying thus: 'Bishop Alcyson of Nicopolis satisfied the Catholic Church and was received and restored to communion. His successor, Bishop John, having God before his eyes and thinking of his own salvation and following the good example of his predecessor, condemned the heretics and transgressors, sent to the see of the blessed apostle Peter, and was received. Now the bishop of Thessalonica plots against him and harasses him, wishing to exact from him things contrary to what he has done. For this reason your father and all the orthodox beg that by your commands this annoyance be removed from him, lest people think he suffers persecution because he returned to communion with the apostolic see; and lest those who hope that unity will come through you begin to believe otherwise, if they see your piety dissemble in this, treat this negligently.' It has seemed good to us that the letters which we have sent to the bishop of Thessalonica in the Nicopolis matter should, by whatever means your prudence devises, be publicly posted in various places, especially in the city of Thessalonica, because by this act both the persecution of our people can be halted, and we believe it pertains to his own salvation, if he corrects himself.

a. 517 (I. Hormlsclae papae ad Enuodinm et Peregrinnm episeopos. 12 April. Qttid in causa yicopoUtanae ecclesiae tum apud eputcopum Thessalonicentem tm p. K' apud imperatorem ipsis agendum sit, instruii (n. 1 et 2). Ut litteras suat ad Thessalonicensem datas diversis locis publicari faciant, injungit (n. 3). Hormisda Ennodio et Peregrino episcopis. 1. Tn nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti, intercedentibus et adjuvantibus sanctis, quid*) agendnm sit de causa Nicopolitaiiae ecclesiae. Primum ubi Thessalonicam T)eo juvante veneritis, episto- las^) nostras, quas in hac causa misimus, episcopo Thessalonicensi tradite, illum ordinem in ejus salutatione servantes, quem scitis a nobis esse mandatum circa eos, qui cum sede apostolica, hoc est Ecclesia catholica, non communicant. Traditis autem epistoUs in- stanter agere debetis, ut se ab ejus ecclesiae concussione suspeudat: rationem reddentes, quia non potuit reversus ad communionem et ad corpus Ecclesiae cum illis, qui necdum reversi sunt, quidquam habere conjunctum, nos non solvere a praedecessoribus nostris con- cessa privilegia, si ipse ecclesiastica instituta non deserat. Gerte redeat ad unitatem, et nos cum eo insistemus, ut omnia privil^ar quaecunque consecuta est a sede apostolica ecclesia ejus, inviolata serventur. Dicitis etiam, aperte illuin ostendere inimicum se esae fidei, si insequitur eos, quos viderit ad catholicam communionem reverti. 2. Quodsi potueritis causam ibi Deo propitio componere, scri- strahendi Epirum a corpore provincianan , quae vicario Thessalonieenti ptBreb^ui^ committendique vices apostolicae sedis per eam provinciam episcopo NicopoHimA: atque hoc privilegium a Gregorio lib. 6 Ind. 14 epist. 8 episcopis Epiri «»• firmatum est. EPISTOLAE 33 — 35. 809 ptis ad episcopum Nicopolitanum'^), quid vestra promoverit operaa. 617. nantiate. Si vero obstinatus fuerit nec ab insecutione ejus cessare voluerit, secundum litteras, quas ad clementissimum imperatorem misimus^ apud principem causam ecclesiae Nicopolitanae sic agitis, cp. 37. ut dicatis: Alcyson episcopus Nicopolitanus satisfecit Ecclesiae catholi- cae, susceptus est et ad communionem reductus, Hujus successor Jo- hannes episcopus, et Deum ante oculos hahens et de salute sua cogitans ei praedecessoris sui honum exemplum sequens, condemnatis haereticis vel transgressoribus ad sedem beati Petri apostoii misit, et susceptus esL Huic nunc Thessalonicensis episcopus insidiatur et eum concutit, cantraria his quae fecit ab eo exigere volens. Hinc pater vester et omnes orthodoxi rogant, ut jussionibus vestris removeatur ab eo ista molestia: ne videatur hominibus propter hoc illum persecutionem pati, quia ad communionem sedis apostolicae rediit; et qui exspectant per vos unitatem fieri, aliud incipiant credere, si pietatem vestram viderint hoc*) dissimuiare, hoc negligenter accipere, 3. Visum est nobis expedire, ut litteras, quas ad Thessaloni- censem in causa Nicopolitana direximus, quolibet ordine prudentia vestra diversis [in locis] faciat publicari , magnopere tamen in civi- tate Thessalonicensium^ quia hoc facto et a persecutione nostrorum potest cessari, et ad ipsius, si correxerit, credimus pertinere salutem.