Letter 154: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

The Catholic Church sends its congratulations to the venerable first fruits of your reign, most glorious son, in place of a gift, through which it trusts that after so great a weariness of discord it will find the rest of peace. Nor is there any doubt that you have reached the summit of power by heavenly providence, so that the injury inflicted upon religion in the regions of the East over so many years may be abolished. You have rendered to the blessed apostle Peter the due first fruits of your reign, which we have devoutly received for this reason: because we believe that through you the concord of the churches will soon come about, without any doubt. May God, who has granted to the sentiments of your piety the desire to address us, himself bestow, as we pray, devotion toward the sincere worship of his religion. You have indicated that the weight of empire was imposed upon you unwilling and resisting, for which reason it is established that you have been chosen by heavenly judgment, according to the apostle who says: "For there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" [Romans 13:1]. It remains that, chosen by God, as we also believe, you extend the comfort of your hand to the Church which you see laboring. Let those who oppose her peace cease; let those be still who in the guise of shepherds strive to scatter the flock of Christ! The correction of such men strengthens the powers of your empire: for where God is rightly worshipped, adversity will have no effect. We have not neglected to send this page of congratulation through the most distinguished Alexander, hoping with the help of our God to furnish your clemency through the most distinguished Gratus, our son, a response on each matter pertaining to the unity of the Church.

(a. 518 c. Hormisdae papae ad Justinum impertttorem. nn. vel initio a. Justino initia imperii gratulatur, utque Ecclesiae manus suae solatia porrigat precainr. p. 519.) Hormisda Justino Augusto. 1. Venerabilis regni vestri primitiis, fili gloriosissime, loco muneris gratulationem suam catholica transmittit Ecclesia^ per quos') se post tantam discordiae fatigationem requiem pacis invenire con- fidit. Nec est dubium, ideo ad rerum summam coelesti vos provi- dentia pervenisse, ut tantis temporibus impacta religioni in Orientis partibus aboleatur injuria. Debitas^) beato Petro apostolo imperii vestri primitias reddidistis, quas hac ratione devote suscepimos, quia ecclesiarum per vos proxime futuram credimus sine dubitatione con- cordiam. Deus, qui pietatis vestrae sensibus alloquendi nos vota concessit, ipse circa sincerum religionis suae cultum praestahit, sicnt optamus, aftectum^). ep. -11. 2. Significastis, nolentibus et recusantibus vobis imperii pondofi ') b quaque. Superiore Justini epistola 42 Hormisda tantum ut ad regiaa lurbem mittat sacerdotes, non ut ipse veniat, rogatur. — Ibidem ed. fmod /feri non debet, "*) b cc effectum ... ordinata sunt. EPISTOLAE 4^ — 46. 835 impositmii; qua ratione electos vos coelesti constat esse judicio 8e-(a. 518.) cnndum apostolum dicentem: Non est potestas nisi a Deo; quae autem ^^' sunt, a Deo ordinatae sunt. Superest, ut a Deo electi, sicut et cre- dimuS; Ecclesiae, quam laborare cernitis, manus vestrae solatia por- rigatis. Cessent qui paci ejus obsistunt, quiescant^) qui in forma pastorum conantur gregem Christi dispergere^)! Istorum correctio vires vestri firmat imperii; quia ubi Deus recte colitu#, adversitas non habebit eflFectum. Hanc gratulationis paginam per Alexandrum virum clarissimum non omisimus destinare, sperantes cum Dei no- stri adjutorio per Gratum virum clarissimum filium nostrum de sin- gulis, quae ad unitatem Ecclesiae pertinent, nos clementiae vestrae praebituros esse responsum.