Letter 194: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Whatever is more cautious, whatever is firmer, we desire to be done for the holy faith and the concord of the holy churches. Whence both our brother, the most glorious Vitalian, wrote back to your blessedness through Paulinus, the distinguished defender of your church, and we too took care to communicate through the same, that your blessedness ought to accomplish those things which grant peace and concord to the holy churches. Nevertheless, we have dispatched one who may bring a more certain response to your holiness, together with letters from our most pious emperor. For how great a controversy has arisen in our regions, the aforesaid devout defender can also inform your holiness. Whence we ask that, if it is possible, having given a most speedy response and having satisfied the religious monks, you send John and Leontius back to us. For unless this question is resolved by your prayers and diligence, we fear that the peace of the holy churches cannot come about. Therefore, knowing that both the reward and the peril of this matter are reserved for you, treat it carefully, and send us a most firm response through the aforesaid religious monks, if possible before our legate arrives at your blessedness; for upon this alone hangs the entire contention.

sea Exemplum epistolae Justiniani per fratrem Froemptoris ad (a-^i^ m Hormisdam papam. » l/t expedito Scytharum monachorum negoticf Johannem et Leontium ad se remittat. Quidquid est cautius, quidquid firmius, ut pro sancta fide et concordia sanctarum ecclesiarum geratur, optamus. Unde ad beati- 87 *) 6* Data quo supra cons. Nullus autem in proximis epistolis nominatus est consul nisi Eutbaricus. Neque obscurum est, hanc epistolam cum superiori- bus fiiisse transmissam. 88 ') a' et cc ad marg. MilecopoHtano , et in textu ex „Vatic." Melicitano. Haud dubie ex titulo Ad Johannem EUcitanum librarius litteram M geminans cor- ruptionem hanc induxit, quae ope codicum laudatorum, quaravis in iis non sit haec salutatio, sauatur. Plura de inscriptione conf. supra mon. praev. pag. 113. (a.6l9.) tudinem vestram et frater*) noster gloriosissimus Yitalianus per Paulinimi virum sublimem defensorem vestrae ecclesiae rescripsit^, et nos per eumdem significare curavimus, illa debere beatitudinem vestram perficere, quae pacem et concordiam sanctis concedant ecclesiis. Subinde tamen, qui^) certius responsum ad sanctitatem vestram referat, cum litteris piissimi nostri imperatoris destinavimus. Nam quanta quaestio in partibus nostris orta est, potest etiam antefatus*) vir religiosus defensor sanctitatem vestram instruere. Unde petimus, ut, si est possibile, celerrimo dato responso et satisfactis religiosis monachis, Johannem et Leontium ad nos remittatis. Nisi enim precibus et diligentia vestra ista quaestio soluta fuerit, vere- mur, ne non possit ecclesiarum sanctarum pax^) provenire. Ergo cognoscentes, quia et merces et periculum liujus rei vobis servator, diligenter tractate, et firmissimum responsum per antefatos religiosoe monachoS; si est possibile, antequam legatus noster ad beatitudinem vestram perveniat, uobis remittite; in hoc enim solo omnis pendet intentio.