Letter 196: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Having received through the most distinguished Eulogius, our son, the letters of your eminence, and he returning, we discharge the due office of greeting, and we indicate that the Scythian monks [monks from Scythia Minor pressing the Theopaschite formula] have alleged many things which we cannot leave unexamined: but we await, God helping, the arrival of our legates; for which reason we believe they must be detained in the City, from which arrangement they themselves do not dissent. We trust, however, that your amplitude recalls what you wrote to us about them in your letters sent at an earlier time. In their allegations, when we have been properly informed by our returning legates, if our investigation discovers anything deserving of blame, it will be necessary for us to maintain ecclesiastical discipline toward them. Furthermore, let Victor, who is said to hold the office of deacon, whose faith these same monks vehemently accuse, and others who perhaps raise perverse questions, be directed to the City at the order of our lord and son, the most merciful emperor, at your suggestion, so that we may be able to examine all the allegations about which they contend.

Hormisdae papae ad Jnstinianum comitem. ^^J^^^xf *^ ^ 2Sept.) Monachos Scythas usque ad legatorum reditum Romae detinendos existimat. i- Det ipse Justinianus operam, ut Victor diaconus ab illis accusatus et alii perver- sas quaestiones objicientes in Urbem dirigantur. Hormisda Justiniano illustri. Eulogio viro clarissimo filio nostro deferente litteras celsitudinis ep. 78. vestrae suscepimus, eoque remeante debitum persolventes salutationis officium, significainus ^) , Scythas monachos allegasse plurima, quae nos relinquere indiscussa non possumus: sed legatorum nostrorum 90 ^) Quae supra epist. 78, non proxiine antecedens epist. 89. ') Ed. volentes, Coucinnius G' nolentes. Hoc scribit Hormisda, quia Justi- nianuB epist. 78, ut monachoB illos a se depellere dignareiur, semel atquo itcruiu petierat. Mox ed. habuimus. 91 *) G* a' significantes. (a. 5l9.)Deo juvaute sustinemiis') adventum; pro qua re eos in Urbe credi- mus retinendos, a qua nec ipsi ordinatione dissentiiuit. Amplitudi- nem vestram tamen retinere confidimus^ quod de ipsis nobis praeterito tempore litteris') destiiiatis scripserit. In quorun; aUegationibos, quimi legatis remeantibus competenter fuerimus instructi, si quid reprebensione dignum cognitio nostra repererit, necesse est, ut circa eos teneamus ecclesiasticam disciplinam. Victorem^) praeterea, qui diaconis habere perhibetur officium, cujus fidem hi ipsi moiiachi vehement^r accusant, vel alios, qui perversas forsitan objiciunt quae- stiones, ordinatione domini filii nostri clementissimi imperatoris ad Urbem vobis suggerentibus dirigantur, ut miiversas allegatioues de quibus contendmit nos possimus agnoscere.