Letter 174: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

The ineffable mercy and piety of almighty God, which he mercifully pours out upon the human race, cannot be measured by human powers nor expressed in words; but it suffices merely to admire his wonders with devout minds, and to know that all good things depend solely on the remedies of his grace. This is a daily proof; yet I boldly venture to say, my most blessed lord pope, that the present affair surpasses all past ones, which God has reserved for your times and merits. What was done at Aulon [modern Vlore, Albania], what at Scampis, what followed at Lychnidus [modern Ohrid] — I reported in my earlier communication. We arrived at Thessalonica; what discussions we had with the bishop of Thessalonica, and what was said and also decided, you will learn from the living report of the bearer of this letter. What, however, must not be passed over in silence, I do not delay to convey. After many struggles, the aforesaid bishop, overcome by reason, was willing to subscribe the libellus [formula of submission]. But because the bishops under his jurisdiction were not all present, this was agreed upon for now, this he promised: that after the holy days [Easter], with one of us dispatched from the see of the city of Constantinople, and the bishops who are in his diocese assembled, they would subscribe the libellus; which with God's help we believe will be accomplished. These are the arrangements made at Thessalonica. Commended by your prayers, we arrived at the city of Constantinople on Monday of the Greater Week [Holy Week]. At the tenth milestone from the aforesaid city, distinguished and magnificent men came to meet us, among whom were the master of soldiers Vitalian, Pompejus, and Justinian; other senators followed too, and many burned with the ardor of Catholic faith and the desire for restoring peace. What more? With the supreme joy of nearly all, we entered the city. On the next day, which was Tuesday, we were presented to the sight of the most pious emperor: the entire senate was there, in which assembly there were also four bishops, whom the bishop of Constantinople had sent on his behalf. We presented the letters of your blessedness, which the most merciful emperor received with great reverence. What needed to be stated before the examination of the case was said; soon the case was begun. The most merciful emperor urged us, saying: "See the bishop of this city, and render account to one another in a peaceable manner." We responded in turn: "Why should we go to the bishop to make contentions? Our lord the most blessed Pope Hormisdas, who sent us, did not command us to dispute; but we have in our hands the libellus, which all bishops wishing to be reconciled to the apostolic see have executed. If your piety so commands, let it be read; and if there is anything in it that is unknown or not believed to be true, let them say so, and then we shall demonstrate that nothing in that libellus has been written outside of ecclesiastical judgment; or if they can show that it does not befit the Catholic religion, then it falls to us to prove otherwise." The libellus was read aloud in the presence of the emperor and the senate. We immediately added: "Let the four bishops present, who are here on behalf of the bishop of Constantinople, say whether these things which are read in the libellus are not contained in the ecclesiastical acts?" They answered that everything was true. After which we added: "Lord Emperor, the bishops have both relieved us of a great labor and done themselves a fitting thing by speaking the truth." At once the most merciful emperor said to the bishops who were present: "And if these things are true, why do you not do them?" Likewise certain members of the senatorial order said: "We are laypeople; you say these things are true: do them, and we will follow." On the intervening Wednesday, the bishop of Constantinople received the libellus from us in the palace, and at first he attempted to compose a letter rather than a libellus. But after not many struggles, this was agreed: to make a brief preface and then immediately append the libellus, just as your blessedness had dictated. The subscription was made by him, fitting to the libellus, and likewise the date, copies of which we have sent to your apostleship in both Greek and Latin. After the libellus was completed, the name of Acacius was deleted from the diptychs, likewise those of Fravitta, Euphemius, Macedonius, and Timothy [successive patriarchs of Constantinople after Acacius]: and not only in that one church where the bishop resides, but throughout all the churches, we report that this was done with great diligence, with God's help. The names of Zeno and Anastasius were likewise deleted from the diptychs. Bishops of various cities, as many as were found, similarly presented the libellus: and we report it was guarded with great caution, so that no bishop might communicate with us who had not first given the libellus. In like manner all the archimandrites [monastic superiors] did the same. With these archimandrites we also report having had disputes, as they said: "It suffices that our archbishop has done it; we follow his act." What more? After many struggles, they too, overcome by reason, presented the libelli in every way. After all these things, with God's help, we processed into the church: and what joys of unity were produced, and how God was blessed, and what praises were offered to the blessed apostle Peter and to you — you perceive by the consideration of the act itself, which my tongue cannot express. Nothing followed according to the wishes of our enemies: no sedition, no bloodshed, no tumult — which the enemies had previously predicted as if to terrify us. The clergy of Constantinople themselves, astonished and giving thanks to God, say that they have never remembered in any times such a great multitude of people receiving communion. With these things accomplished, the most merciful emperor also added his own writings to your blessedness, indicating the course of events, as likewise did the most reverend John, bishop of the city of Constantinople. Know also that general imperial decrees have been issued, and we believe, God willing, by your holy prayers, they will be dispatched throughout all the provinces as quickly as possible. These things were done at Constantinople. And now the church of Antioch is under discussion, and work still continues because a suitable person has not yet been chosen. Let your blessedness pray more earnestly, therefore, that God, who, entreated by your prayers, has restored the church of Constantinople to the apostolic see, may himself both grant a worthy person to be ordained in Antioch and unite the remaining churches. Write back to the bishop of Constantinople. If it seems good to your blessedness, make mention of the condemnations of Severus [of Antioch] and those whom you named in that letter which you wrote to Second Syria through the monks John and Sergius, writing the same also to the emperor. If you do so, it seems to me necessary.

8611 (a.5l9 d. Suggestio Diosoori diaconi per Pullionein subdiaconum. 22 Apnl.) ^^ Quae Thessalonicaey quae Constantinopoli sint gesta (n. 1 — 6); de ecclenae An- tiochenae siatu\ qua ratione episcopo Constantinopolitano ab Hormisda rescriben' dum sii, consilium interponit. M 1. IneflFabilis Dei onmipotentis misericordia et pietas ejuS; quam super humanum genus clementer effundit, humanis viribus aestimari non potest nec sermonibus explicari; sed sufficit ejus tantum mira- bilia^) devotis sensibus admirari, et scire omnia bona de ejus tan- tum gratiae pendere remediis. Est ista quotidiana probatio ; audacter tamen praesumo dicere, domine meus beatissime papa, quia prae- sens causa praeterita cuncta transcendit, quam Deua vestris tempo- ribus et meritis reservavit. Quid in Aulone^) sit actum, quid Scam- pis, quid Lignidi fuerit subsecutum; anteriore significatione suggessi. Ad Thessalonicam pervenimus; quas intentiones ^*) habuerimus cum episcopo Thessalonicensi, et quae dicta fuerint vel etiam constituta, harum portitoris viva insinuatione discetis. Quod tamen non oportet praeterire silentio, insinuare non difFero. Post multa certamina praefatus episcopus ratione convictus libellum subscribere voluit. Sed quia episcopi, qui sub ejus sunt ordinatione constituti, omnes non aderant, in praesenti hoc convenit, hoc promisit, ut post dies sanctos^), uno ex nobis a sede Constantinopolitanae urbis directo, episcopis congregatis, qui in ejus sunt dioecesi constituti, Mbellum subscriberent; quod cum Dei adjutorio credimus esse complendum. Haec suut Thessalonicae constituta. 2. Vestris orationibus commendati ad CJonstantinopolitanam 65 ') Ita G' a'. Al. consilia, ') G' in Aulana. Notantur hic sup. epistolao 59 et 60, quia vix creden- dum, Dioscorum etiam seorsim de illis rebus ad pontificem rctulisse. EPISTOLAE 64. 65. 859 pervenimus civitatem feria secunda hebdomadis authenticae*). De-(a. 619.) cimo ab urbe praedicta milliario^) sublimes et magnifici viri nobis occurrerunt, inter quos sunt magister militum Vitalianus, Pompejus et Justinianus; secuti^) sunt et alii senatores, multique catholicae £dei calore ac desiderio redintegrandae pacis ardebant. Quid plura? Cum summis pene omnium gaudiis ingredimur civitatem. 3. Alia die, quae est tertia feria, piissimi principis praesenta- mur adspectibus : cunctus illic aderat senatus, in quo conventu erant et episcopi quatuor, quos episcopus Constantinopolitanus pro sua persona direxerat. Obtulimus beatitudinis vestrae litteras, quas clementissimus princeps cum grandi reverentia suscepit. Dicta sunt, quae ante examinationem causae oportuit intimare : mox causa coepta est. Hortabatur nos clementissimus imperator, hoc dicens®): Videte dvUaiis hujus episcopum, et invicem vobis pacifico ordine reddite ra- tionem, Nos e contra respondimus: Quid imus ad episcopum certa- mina facere? Dominus noster beatissimus papa Hormisda, qui nos direxit, non nobis praecepit cerlare; sed prae manibus hdbemus libel- lum, quem omnes episcopi volenies sedi aposiolicae reconciliari fece- runt^): si praecipii pietas vestra, legatur; ei si est in ipso, quod igno- retur aui verum esse non credatur, dicant, ei tunc ostendimus nihil exira judicium ecclesiasticum in eodem tibello esse conscripium; aui si illi possunt docere, quia non convenit religioni catholicae, iunc nobis incumbit probare, Relectus est . libellus sub conspectu principis et senatus. Nos statim subjunximus: Dicant praesentes quatuor episcopi, qui adsunt pro personaConstantinopolitani episcopi ^ si haec quaeinlibello leguntur, gestis ecclesiasticis minime continentur? Responderunt omnia vera esse. Post quae nos subjunximus: Domine imperator, ei nobis grandem laborem episcopi abstulerunt, et sibi convenientem rem fecerunt dicere veritatem. Mox clementissimus imperator his qui aderant dixit episcopis: Et si vera sunt, quare non facitis? Similiter et aliquanti de ordine senatorio dixerunt: Nos taici sumus; dicitis haec vera esse: facite, et nos sequimur, 4. Intermissa quarta feria episcopus Constantinopolitanus in Ex eoque conficitur miUiaria decem et decem millia synonyma esse. ^ b cc verbis secuti sunt omissis subinde cunctique cathoHcae ... fidei ardore. •) b facient, ad marg. fecerunt, quod perinde est atque exscripserunt et suh- scriptione sua ratum hahuerunt. 8G0 S. HORMISDAE PAPAE (a. 519.) palatio consuscepit*^) a nobis libellum, et imprunis quasi tentavit epistolam potius facere quam libellum. Sed non post multa certa- mina hoc convenit, prooeraium modicum facere, et subjungere mox libellmn, quemadmodum vestra beatitudo dictavit. Subscriptio ab eodem facta est libello conveuiens, similiter et datarium, cujiis ep. Gl. exemplaria et graece**) et latine apostolatui vestro direximus. Post factum libellum nomen Acacii de diptychis est deletum, similiter et Mavitae, Euphemii, Macedonii et Timothei ^^) : et non solum hoc in ipsa sola ecclesia, in qua episcopus manet, verum etiam peronmes ecclesias cura grandi diligentia Deo adjutore suggerimus foisse factum. Similiter deleta sunt de diptychis Zenonis et Anastasii no- mina. Episcopi diversarum civitatura, quanti inventi sunt, libellum similiter obtulerunt: et cum grandi cautela suggerimus custoditum, ne quis nobiscum communicaret episcopus, qui libellum primitais non dedisset. Pari modo et omnes archimandritae fecerunt. Apud quos archimandritas et certamina nos habuisse suggerimus, dicenti- bus illis: Sufficil, quia archiepiscopus nosier fecit; nos faclum ejus sequimur. Quid amplius ? Post multa certamina ipsi quoque ratione convicti libellos modis omnibus obtulerunt. 5. Post haec orania Deo juvante in^^) ecclesiam processimus: et qualia gaudia facta sint unitatis, et quemadmodum Deus bene- dictus sit, quae laudes quoque beato Petro apostolo et vobis relatae sunt, ipsius actionis consideratione perspicitis, quod mea hngua non valet explicare. Nihil est subsecutum secundum vota inimico- rum, non seditio, non effusio sanguinis, non tumultus, quod veluti terrentes iniuiici autea praedicebant. Ipsi quoque ecclesiastici Con- stantinopolitani aduiirantes et Deo gratias referentes dicunt, nmi- quam se meuiinisse nullis ^ *) temporibus tantam populi multitudinem coraraunicasse. 6. His adimpletis etiam elementissimus imperator ad beatitudi- cp. 06. nem vestram sua scripta subjunxit, ordinem rei gestae significans, ^'*) b cc snscepit. C cum snscepit, quae lectio expuncta deinde proxlm» particala e/, uon displiceret; nisi forte consuscepit legendum, quod correxirai». ^') Exstaut tantum latine, et ex alia quidem intcrpretatione ab ea, qoae a Dioscoro niisBa fuerat, ut in ipsam .fobannis epistolam 61 observavi. Christi corpus in commimionis indicium percepisse. **} Legendum cum b cc ullis, nisi forte Dioscorus Graecomm tostiinoiiiiim refcreus, graecam etiam rotinuerit plirasim, qua duplex negatio m^jorem af&r- mandi vim obtinet. EPISTOLAE 65. 66. . 861 similiter et vir reverendissimus Johaunes Constantinopolitanae civi- (a. 519.) tatis antistes. Noveris etiam et saera generalia esse dicta ^^), atque ^^* ^^' credimus Deo propitio et vestris sanctis orationibus per universas provincias quantocius destinari. Haec Constantinopoli gesta sunt. Et nunc de Antiochena ecclesia tractatur, et ideo adhuc laboratur, quia necdum persona congrua est electa. Oret ergo beatitudo vestra intentius, ut Deus, qui vestris precibus exoratus Constantinopolita- nam ecclesiam apostolicae sedi restituit, ipse et dignam personam donet in Antiochia ordinandam, et assiduas adunet ecclesias. Re- scribite episcopo Constantinopolitano. Si videtur beatitudini vestrae, facite mentionem damnationum Severi et illorum, quos nominastis in epistola illa, quam scripsistis ad secundam Syriam per Johannem ep. 40. et Sergium monachos, hoc ipsum *^) et ad imperatorem rescribentes. Si feceritis, videtur mihi necessarium esse.