Letter 213: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

The reverend communications of your apostleship we received through your sons Leo and Eulogius with welcome joy; the first directive of which reproached us for why we had not reported the events at Thessalonica. But long before his arrival, having found an occasion, we took care to report whatever we learned either by rumor from travelers, or from the writings of those who endured these events — copies of which we have appended below — or from the account of the most pious emperor. A promise of punishment followed: to such a degree that Dorotheos, bishop of Thessalonica, was led to the city of Heraclea [in Thrace], to be held until his case reached a conclusion. In the meantime, according to your instructions, we took care to bring the authority of your apostleship to the emperor's attention, that the aforesaid Dorotheos together with Aristides should be sent to Rome, to receive the teaching of Catholic purity. He responded that there was no cause for which they should be sent to Rome to be heard, where without the controversy of accusers they could more freely excuse themselves. But suddenly, while these things were going on, he was released from the city of Heraclea where he was being held, so far as we have learned: for what cause, or by what reason or condition, or through whose agency, we do not know. Concerning the day of Easter, let your blessedness know that the determination of the Orientals agrees with the apostolic see, so that the celebration is expected to be held on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of May [April 19, 520 AD], as will also be evident from the report of John, the bishop of Constantinople. It remains that, with the support of the prayer of your blessedness, we may swiftly, as we desire, be worthy to be presented at your footsteps.

BCU l9Js^ ) Suggestio Germani episcopi, Felicis et Dioscori diaoonorum et Blandi presbyteri. Dorotheum Thessalonicensem Heracleam fuisse perductum, donec causa ejus /tni- retur; ut tamen idem cum Aristide Romam mitteretur , ^ imperatorem remdsse, immo interea illum Heraclea repente dimissum modo accipiunt (n. 1). De proximo Paschate die 19 Aprilis celehrando Orientalem ecclesiam cum Romana constn- tire (n. 2). 1. Reverenda vestri apostolatus alloquia^) per fihos vestros Leo- Inslantem Dominicae pnssionis diem recte celebrari XI II Calendas Majas, Cui in- telligentiae favent veteres , qui Pascha a passione derivaut. Quia tamen Tenzm ost, eum qui in die Paschac non fallitur, neque in Dominicae pasaionis desig* nanda errare, nihil vetaret, quominus Doininicae passionis diem etiam secnii- dum proprietatem verborum intelligeremus , nisi ipse Johannes, quod piimo Dominicae passionis nominibus, apertius postea diei paschalis vocabulis deeigni* ret. Ceterum Pascha, quod anno 520 ecclesia Romana cmn Constantinopoii- tana d. 19. Aprilis celebravit, quidam Occidentales die 22 Martii oelebruidiim duxerunt. EPISTOLAE 109 — 111. 911 nem atque Eulogium desiderabili hilaritate suscepimus; quorum prius (a.520.) praeceptum, cur quae Thessalonicae contigerunt non insinuavimus, ®P arguebat. Sed longe ante ejus adventimi occasione comparata cura- ep. lOO. vimus significare, quaecunque vel rumore venientium vel eorum qui pertulerunt scriptis, quorum exemplaria^) subter adjunximus, velep. lO^. piissimi principis narratione comperimus. Secuta est vindictae pro- missio: adeo ut Dorotheus Thessalonicensis episcopus ad Heracleam deduceretur civitatem, donec causa terminum reperiret. Inter haec secundmn ea, quae praecepistis, auctoritatem apostolatus vestri prin- ®P|^ cipi insinuare curavimus, ut ad percipiendam doctrinam catholicae puritatis Romam praefatus Dorotheus ima cum Aristide mitteretur. Qni respondit causam non esse, pro qua Romam dirigerentur'^) audiendi, ubi sine accusatorum controversia se possent liberius excusare. Sed repente, dum haec geruntur, ab Heracliensi, quantmn agnovimus, in qua teuebatur, dimissus est civitate : quam ob causam, vel qua ratione aut conditione, vel quibus agentibus, ignoramus. 2. De paschali die vestra beatitudo cognoscat concordare Orien- talium cum apostolica sede sententiam, ut XIH Calendarum Majarum die festivitas celebranda speretur, sicut Johannis quoque Constanti- nopolitani antistitis relatione clarebit. Superest, ut orationis beati- ep. 109. tudinis vestrae adnuniculo celeriter, sicut cupimus, vestris mereamur praesentari vestigiis.