Letter 160: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

The peace of the churches is now being composed by heavenly ordinance, since God has chosen you for the empire — in whom he knew the affection for his religion to be always entire. For just as in your private life you always worshipped God with right doctrine, so that you might think about the concord of religion, so now, elevated to the summit of power, you have declared your intent to bring the churches to unity. We commend to your piety the libellus [formula of submission] which we have sent through our legates. We ask that you ensure its subscription by the bishops, so that the peace which we all desire may at last be brought about. It is not a great thing that is asked — only that those who profess the faith should also condemn those whom the faith condemns, and that the communion of the apostolic see should be restored throughout the East. We trust in your devotion, most pious Augusta, and we beseech you to add your intercession with the most serene prince, your husband, so that this great work may be accomplished to the glory of God and the salvation of all.

(a.5i9m. Hormisdae papae ad Euphemiain Augustam. Jan.) Jtlius pro pace siudium commendans , ui UheUum iransmissuM ab epiteopit subscribi curei, precaiur, Hormisda Euphemiae^) Angustae. 1. Ecclesiarum pax jam coelesti ordinatione componitor, quum vos ad imperium Deus elegit, apud quos esse integrum semper reli- gionis suae cognovit afFectum. Nam sicut in privata vita Demn semper recto dogmate coluistis, ut de religionis concordia cogitare- tis, et multa quidem inter ipsa imperii vestri primordia facta sont, quae spem nobis correctionis integrae pollicentur. Unde quia in vobis amorem fervere fidei gratulamur, agentes Deo gratias qDotidie pro vobis beato Petro apostolo supplicamus, ut votis vestris apnd Dominum suffragetur, et cursum bonae voluntatis adimpleat. Nec dubium est divinis vos auxiliis adjuvari, quia tanto religionis stodio mandatis coelestibus obeditis. Hinc est, quod quia sanctum conjugii vestri constat esse propositum, has fiducialiter ad vestram demen- tiam litteras destinamus, ut per vos ad perficiendam Ecclesiae pacem mariti vestri pietas amplius incitetur. 2. Magnum opus arripuistis, magna vobis causa conmiissa est Per vos enim-) populos Christus vult ad Ecclesiae foedera revocare, quos per se voluit a morte redimere. Magna etiam vestro sexui parata est laudis occasio, si vobis instantibus Ecclesiae suae Chri- stus quae divisa fuerant membra conjungat. Nec enim major est gloria, quae humanae salutis lignum scrutata est, et sola cracem, quam oninis veneratur mundus, invenit. Superabitis quinimmo illiiM merita, quia Ecclesiae unitas per illara suum invenit signum, p«r vos est habitura remedium. Agat igitur jugalis vestri religiosa cle- mentia, ut fratres et coepiscopi nostri sub eo libelli tenore, quem dudum misimus, fidem suam dignentur asserere, quatenus perfecta possit esse quae est inchoata correctio; quia irrita est quaeUbet in cultura Dei confessio, cui deest fidei plenitudo. Hoc enim quod a reliquis fieri poscimus ^), a multis jam sacerdotibus constat effectam; et unitas esse justa in communione non poterit, si uou fuerit in reversione servata. 51 <) Haec Lupicina a.ut Lupida, Procopio hist. arc. cap. 6 et Theophane chro- uogr. p. 141 (ed. fionn. p. ;254) testibuB, vocabatur. Sed ut Theodonu lector p. 565 et Theophanes 1. c. tradunt, postea quani Augusta nuncupata est, popa- Iu8 eam Euphemiam nominavit. ') £d. eiiam, moxque Nec ejus ... solam crucem, ') Ita G' a^ b 00 poposcimus. EPISTOLAE 51. 52. 845