Letter 176: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

When God works his own wonders in his servants, then it is fitting to exclaim with confidence, in the very words of the divine Scriptures, what is contained in the sacred writings: "Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise" [Psalm 106:2] at all times? For behold, he has raised up such a pious prince for the Roman republic as the Catholic churches had long needed and as all mankind desired to see. And so the horn of grace has inclined upon him from above, that mercy has been abundantly poured upon his sacred head: and all at the time of his anointing glorified with a great voice the God of all, the ruler, because he has adorned such a head with such a crown by my hands. This greatest emperor has clearly shown the first triumph of his struggles in conquering the enemy; according to the merit of his virtue, he has most wisely secured union for the most holy churches; the third blessing of his reign — he has brought together what was scattered and most wisely procured the peace of the world. Therefore, giving thanks in all things to the great God who governs all things most wisely, I have announced to you, the son of peace, the good news of peace, beloved of God in all things: that you may leap with that joy with which David indeed exulted figuratively, according to the Law, at the return of the ark of God, while the apostles truly rejoiced through grace. Rejoice therefore in the Lord with a joy befitting your holiness, and write those things which befit your benign soul, O man of God! For the things that were divided have been joined, and the things that were scattered have been gathered; and the things that were far off have been united to one another; and, as it is fitting to say and as I wrote long ago, clearly understanding both churches — of the elder and the new Rome — to be one, and rightly defining the see of both as one, I acknowledge the indivisible union and the harmonious confirmation of us both with integrity of judgment. Wherefore I pray God that it may always remain inseparable, through the prayers of the holy apostles and the entreaties of your holiness; through which we pray that the most merciful and most Christian prince Justin, and his most pious wife, our daughter Euphemia, may be granted to us and to the whole world in peace for many years, in all things most blessed and dearest brother. Having rejoiced therefore at the presence of the most reverend bishops and also of your clergy, we give thanks that, according to our petition, you have sent such peaceful men, worthy of your apostolic see, preserving the rule of the fathers without confusion and guarding the undivided faith. Embracing their disposition in all things, we have done all things through them to the satisfaction of your holiness. All the brotherhood in Christ who are with your holiness, I and my people warmly greet.

seu 22 A^^n ^^Gi^P^^^^ relationis episcopi Constantinopolitani ad Hormisdam. Dei munere datum esse principem muUis ex partibus, praeprimit studio vnUatii •') Ita G* J* J* a* i*. b cc vestra, 0 c* c* nostrae. ') lidem noslrae rcligionis admonendi sunt. Sequimur G' J i*. ®) J 0 ^ c' c* inlalay sed in divinae providentiae Spiritu. *") Nota illa chronica, quae in a' b dciiiderabatur, suppletor ex aliis edihs atque omnibuB nostris mss. IIujus beneticio quando et PuUio Constantinopoli pro- fectus sit et tot illi littonic Roinam perfereudae datac sint, comperimiifi. EPISTOLAE 66. 67. 863 ecclesianm commendaium; unde veteris et novae Romae plenam restitutam esse (a. 519.) concordiam; legatorum Hormisdae commendatio, Domiuo meo per omnia sancto et Deo amabili fra- tri et comministro Hormisdae Johannes in Domino salutem. 1. Quando Deus propria mirabilia in suis operatur, tunc opor- tet ea, quae divinis litteris continentur, ipsius Scripturae vocibus fidu- cialiter exclamare: Quis loquetur potentias Domini aut auditas faciet^^^- omnes laudes ejus in omni tempore? Ecce enim talem pium princi- * pem Romanae reipublicae suscitavit, quali multo ante et catholicae ') indigebant ecclesiae, et omne genus hominum videre cupiebat. Ideo- que ita etiam cornu^) gratiae super eum coelitus declinavit, ut affluenter in sacrum ejus caput misericordia funderetur: omnesque^) annuntiationis ejus tempore cum magna voce Deum omnium prin- cipem glorificaverunt, quoniam talem verticem meis manibus tali corona decoravit. • 2. Is vero maximus imperator primam suonun certaminum pal- mam devicto inimico evidenter ostendit; secundum virtutis ejus me- ritum, adunationem sanctissimis ecclesiis sapientissime comparavit; regni ejus tertium bonum, dissipata conjunxit et pacem mundi sa- pientissime procuravit. Idcirco in omnibus Deo magno gratias refe- rens cuncta sapientissime gubemanti, annuntiare tibi pacem pacis filio nuntiavi^), in omnibus Deo amantissime: ut illud gaudium salias, quo David quidem secundum legem in arcae Dei revocatione figu- raliter exsultabat, apostoli vero per gratiam veraciter laetabantur. Gaude itaque in Domino gaudium tuae conveniens sanctitati, et scribe ea, quae vestrum benignum animum decent, homo Dei ! Nam quae fuerant divisa, conjuncta sunt, et dispersa coUecta sunt; et quae longe erant, sibi invicem adunata sunt; et, sicut oportet dicere et olim scripsi, utrasque ecclesias tam senioris quam novae Romae unam esse evidenter intelligens, et utriusque earum unam^) sedem recte esse definiens, indivisibilem adunationem et utriusque nostnun 67 ^) Ita G'. Editi catholica indigebai ecclesia, ') Editi omnique, G* omnisque. Dubium non est, quin praeferendum sit omnesque. Deinde loco annunliationis mallem inunciionis. Mox ed.. regnum. (a. 519.) consonam confirmationem cum judicii integritate coguosco. Unde rogo Deum semper eam inseparabilem permaijLere orationibus sancto- rum apostolormn et tuae precibus sanctitatis; per quas donari nobia et universo mundo clementissimum et Christianissimum prindpeni Justinum et piissimam ejus conjugem nostram autem filiam Euphe- miam in pace multis temporibus comprecatur, per onmia beatissime et^) carissime frater. 3. Gavisi igitur de praesentia reverendissimorum episcoporum nec non et clericorum vestrorum, gratias agimus, quoniam secun- dum petitionem nostram tales pacificos viros et vestrae dignos sedis apostolicae destinastis, regulam patrum sine confusione servantes fidemque indivisam custodientes. Quorum amplectentes in omnibus mentem, cuncta per eos ad satisfactionem vestrae egimus sancti- tatis. Omnem in Christo fratemitatem, quae cum vestra est san- ctitate, ego quoque et mei plurimum salutamus. Epistola (58 seu l^ A ^^n ^^^P^^^^ epistolae Justiniani comitis ad Hormisdam papam. Pcrfcctum esse nuniiaij quidquid Hormisda per iegatos mandavit. Imperalorem, rempublicam seque ipsum illius precibus commendat. Domino meo sanctissimo Hormisdae primae archi- pontifici et papae urbis Romae Justinianus comes salutem. Veneranda^) sauctitatis vestrae praedicatio regularum, quae Christo Deo pro ecclesiarum pace et pro plebis concordia jugiter supplicat, quidquid nunc per beatissimos suos sacerdotes jumuit pcragendum, propitia Divinitate cuncta effectui sociata sunt, uulla prorsus quorumdam valente discordia. Igitur vestris sacris orationi- bus ac praeceptionibus orthodoxoi-um fide muniti, supplices petimus, uti pro sanctissimo Augusto iiostro, totius fidei fautore, proque ejus republica, pro nobis quoque mandatoruni vestrorum custodibus, aeterno Kegi consueti impetrabiles preces offerre dignemini, nosque vobis fideliter supplices vestris salutiferis rescriptionibus visit-are.