Letter 214: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

It would have been desirable and agreeable to our wish to announce things consonant with the past: namely, that John, the bishop of the church of Constantinople, was still alive, and the confession he issued in the libellus [formula of submission] still in force; whose merits doubtless please God, since he merited to pass from this life among Catholics and communicants of the apostolic see. In his place a certain Epiphanius [Epiphanius of Constantinople, patriarch 520-535], formerly a presbyter and his syncellus [close ecclesiastical adviser], has succeeded, whose beginnings appear good; for he speaks reasonably, and promises to preserve the rules of the fathers; not to break the peace and unity that has been established, but rather to augment it. These are the things he promises; what, however, he can accomplish in deed, we do not yet know. We sent these letters on the fourth day after his ordination, having found an opportunity; we have not yet communicated with him, not as if resisting, but because we have not yet been invited by him. It remains for the prayer of your blessedness to press on, so that by the help of divine grace such a one may emerge through whom we can rejoice in perfect unity. Received on the seventh day before the Ides of April [April 7], in the consulship of the most distinguished Rusticus [520 AD].

seu Suggestio^) Dioscori diaconi ad Hormisdam papam. a. 520d. 29 Febr. Johannem Constantinopolitanum antistitem ex hac vita discessisse ejusque loco acc. d. electum esse Epiphanium. 7 April. Erat optabile et voto nostro conveniens, consonantia praeteritis perior 97, altera per Eulogium, quae adhuc latet, transmissa. De hac postrema loqui yidetur Johamies in proxima epistola 109 n. 2, ubi Dominicae passionis diem, qui in ipsius Hormisdae litteris contiuetur, recte adscribi respondet. Conf. not. epist. Horm. non exstant. n. XXVII. ') Ita G'. Ed. exempla. Ex his unum ad nos pervenit, scil. epistola 102 seu indiculus a Johanne episcopo et Epiphanio presbytero directus, qui re ipsa in Vaticano exemplari epistolae huic subncctitur. a. 520. nuntiare; scilicet pontificem Constantinopolitanae ecclesiae Jolianneiii esse superstitem^ et confessionem libello editam; cujus merita non est dubium Deo placere^ qui inter catholicos et communicatores sedis apostolicae meruit ad aliam ex hac vita discedere. In cujus locum Epiphanius^) quidam presbyter quondam sjncellus ejus successit, cujus initia bona videntur; nam rationabilia loquitur, et promittit patrum se regulas servaturum; pacem unitatemque ordinatam non dissipare sed magis augere. Ista sunt quae promittit; quid tamen opere possit implere, adhuc ignoramus. Has siquidem litteras quarta post ordinationem ejusdem die reperta occasione transmisimus; nec- dum cum eo communicavimuS; non quasi resistentes, sed quia adhuc ab eo non sumus invitati. Superest, ut beatitudinis vestrae insistat oratio, quatenus divinae gratiae adjutorio talis erumpat^ per quem de perfecta possimus unitate gaudere. Accepta VII Idus Aprilis, Rustico viro clarissimo consule.