Letter 225: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We have received your letters with the attention they deserve and have considered the various matters you have presented to our judgment. Concerning the questions of faith that have been raised, we respond that the teaching of the Catholic Church is sufficiently expressed in the sacred canons, the decrees of the four holy councils, and the letters of the blessed Pope Leo. These constitute the rule of faith, and what is consonant with them is to be received, what is dissonant rejected. We exhort all to maintain this standard and to avoid the novelty of expressions which, however orthodox in intention, may provide occasion for controversy. Given in the consulship of Maximus [523 AD].

a 620 d. Hormisdae papae ad eosdem legatos. 15 Jul. Unde tanla fiat reditus illorum mora, et quaecunque circa ipsos agantur, quam primum rescire cupit. Hormisda Germano episcopo, Felici et Dioscoro diaconis et Blando presbytero. Animos nostros tam diutnmum dilectionis vestrae silentiiiin ut tantorum temporum contristat absentia, praecipue quum vir magni- ficus patricius Symmachus*) et vir illustris Romanus magister mib- tum filii nostri reditum apud nos caritatis vestrae sine dilatione pro- miserint, et ignoramus, utrum illic causarum qualitas an certe fraus aliqua simulata sub necessitate detineat; quia nobis sollicitudinem sine cessatione gerentibus et pene universos homines illamm partium percunctantibus diversa et dissimilia nuntiantur. Et ideo, quoniam vos causas tantae tarditatis melius deprehendere et intelligere potestis atque cognoscere, significare nobis ista, de quibus noster cruciatur animus, debuistis; vel si est causa dilationis idonea, sicut constitatum est, aliquem de vestris ad nos oportuerat destinari. Unde ne forsitan per versutias aut aliquam corfcinnationem vobis dilatio et impedimenta generentur, sub celeritate nobis scribite, ut sub rationabili ordina- tione pro vestra repetitione ad filium nostrum clementissimum impe- ratorem dirigamus. Ergo tam circa personas quam de causa fidei, pro qua diu moramini, quid geratur instruite, atque plenissime nobis universa rescribite: ut omnibus cognitis Deo nostro favente tracte- mus, quemadmodum personis vestris et causae ipsius ci\jus res agitur possit misericordia subvenire. Data Idibus Julii^ Rustico viro daris- simo consule.