Letter 217: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Since it is our intent, most devout father, that in every matter of ours our counsels should agree with one another, so also in the case of Elias, the most reverend bishop, we believe this should be decreed, with your legates advising, which has been found more expedient amid the various considerations on both sides. For at present, the pontiff of the city of Caesarea [Caesarea in Palestine] is supported by the favor of all, whom not only the inhabitants judge should be most firmly retained because of his excellent conduct, but nearly the whole East without doubt venerates; and he who was previously in the same priesthood complains that he was unjustly removed. It has seemed fitting, therefore, that we should neither make an assault against the wishes of countless multitudes, nor that a man noble for his integrity should be cast down from a see for which he shows himself worthy, nor should we allow the former bishop to be utterly deprived of hope of recovering the position from which he affirms he was stripped without cause; but that in a doubtful matter we should act more temperately, in such a way that for the time being this same Elias, the most reverend bishop, should remain in peace, but after his successor has departed this life, then at last he should return to the see from which he was removed — with all things first observed which the definitions of the most sacred rules demand for obtaining permission to return, and with the consent also interposed of both your apostolic see and this most flourishing city and of the other sees whose concern this is. Concerning Thomas and Nicostratus also, the most devout bishops, all things will be put into effect after the remaining venerable churches have also been joined to you and brought to unity, which we have determined should be established with heavenly protection according to the order of the most sacred rules. Since, therefore, it was proper that our deliberation be declared to your holiness as well, so that from it our desire may also be made evident — in which we direct every effort toward restraining and moderating controversies and extending the desired concord among all — we have judged that the present letters also should be sent, urging especially that the supreme divinity be entreated by your prayers for the safe condition of the republic. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of June [June 7] at Constantinople, in the consulship of Vitalianus and Rusticus [520 AD].

a.52od. Justiniani Augusti ad Hormisdam papam. 7 Jun. De Eiia, Thoma et Nicosirato quid visum sit decemendum. Justinianus Augustusi) Hormisdae papae, 1. Quum jn animo nobis sit^ pater religiosissimC; ut in omni exigi mirum non est. Prudentiae autem eratregiae urbis praesulibus, qoismn- mam prope in Ecclesia potestatem affectabant, nihil ab hujusmodi officiis, qoae ipsis consuetudo imposuerat, remittere. Ejus vero mons, quem HormisdaTiD- dicat, exemplum videre est apud Palladium in vita Cbrjsostomi, abi AcadiB Berocensis episcopus Romam venisse memoratur ferens ordinatioms Jokamds epi- scopi decretum. Sed neque hunc solum tunc venisse, Theodoretus k e. U, 23 et Sozomenus h. e. YIII, 3 testes sunt. Anatolium episcopum Constantinopofi- tanum post ordinationem suam Castenum presbyterum nec non PatriciiuD et Asclepiadem diaconos cum litteris Romam legasse, Leonis epistola 80 n. 1 fiden facit. Gregorius epist. lib. VI ind. 14 epist. 66 quum animo ad scribendiiiB Cyriaco recens ordinato regiae urbis episcopo propenderet, sese cohibmt, quiit inquit, consuetudo non est, ut prius quam ad nos ejus synodica defenUur, dehett- mus scribere. Et vero synodicam illam Georgio presbytero et Theodoro diaeOBO deferentibus se non ita multo post accepisse lib. YII ind. 15 episl 4 tesiaiar. Mox verbum sustinemus id est, quod patienter exspectamus. 114 ^) Ita G* a*. In aliis autem omittitur Augusti titulus, quem re i^Ma, ^!^ EPISTOLAE 113. 114. 9X5 re nostra inter se concnrrant consilia, tum et in Elia viro reveren- a. 620. dissimo episcopo id constituendum credimus legatis admonentibus vestris, quod inter varias *utrasque rationes expeditius esse per- '^^^ spectum est. Nam et in praesenti pontificem Gaesariensium^) urbis favor tutatur omnium, quem ob instituta pulcherrima non solum incolae validissime retinendum arbitrantur, sed prope cunctus Oriens sine dubio veneratur, et qui prior in eodem fuit sacerdotio, injuria ^) se esse remotum queritur. Visum est itaque convenire*), ut nec faciamus impetum contra infinitarum vota multitudinum, aut homo integritate nobilis sede dejiciatur, qua se dignum exhibet, nec an- teriori spem prorsus adimi patiamur repetendi locum denuo, quo se spoliatum sine causa eonfirmat; sed in re dubia temperantius ver- semur, ita ut interim quidem hic idem Elias vir reverendissimus episcopus in quiete permaneat, verum postquam successor ejus vitam deposuerit, tum demum ad sedem revertatur qua^) destitit, adhiben- dis prius omnibus, quae ad impetrandam reditionis licentiam sacra- tissimarum regularum postulant definita, interponendo etiam con- sensu tam tuae sedis apostolicae quam florentissimae hujus urbis nec non aliarum quarum hoc interest. 2. De Thoma etiam et Nicostrato viris religiosissimis episcopis omnia mancipabimtur efiectui, postquam ceterae etiam vobis copu- latae fuerint et^) ad unitatem venerabiles eeclesiae, quae praecedente riorum errore huc irrepsisse arbitramur. Marcellino quippe in chronico et Evagrio h. e. IV, 9 testibus Justinianus tantum Calendis Aprilis anni 527 qua- tuor ante obitum Justini menses Augustus nuncupatus est. Unde Possessor in epistola sequenti, quam ex Hormisdae rescripto circa idem tempus scriptam esse liquet, Justinianum et Vitalianum aeque magistros militum cognominat. ') Baronius ad ann. 519 et 520 hoc de Caesareae Cappadociae civitate in- terpretatur, sed nullam interpretationis suae rationem affert. Probabilius tamen videtur de Caesareae Palaestinae urbe dictum esse, maxime quum adversariorum Calchedonensis sjnodi notae sint impiae in Syria secunda et Palaestina moli- tiones, ac de Cappadocia nihil simile memoriae proditum sit. Yide, quae in epistolas 39 et 106 obseryavimus. 68* i a. 520. supemo praesidio statuenda duxerimus pro sacratissimarum regola- rum itidem ordine. Quoniam itaque vestrae quoque sanctitudini de» liberationem nostram oportuerat declarari; ut ex hac etiam patefiat desiderium, in quo omnem operam intendimus ad compescendas atque temperandas controversias et optatam inter omnes concordiam prorogandam, praesentes quoque litteras duximus destinandasy mo- nentes") praecipue, ut pro incolumi statu reipublicae numen super- num vestris exoretur precibus. Data VII Idus Junias Constantino- poli, Vitaliano et Rustico consulibus.