Letter 234: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Considering that the church of your brotherhood, before the evils of the passing discord, was long bound with the apostolic see by a special bond of love, we grieve all the more at the reports which rumor brings concerning you. Would that what fame reports were not true! We exhort you, in the reconciliation of the faith, to follow the example of others who have returned, and to embrace without further delay the communion of the apostolic see, from which you have been so long estranged. For it is not fitting that the shepherd of so great a church should remain apart from the fellowship of the blessed apostle Peter, especially when the way of return lies open and the conditions of reconciliation are known. We write to you not in anger but in love, desiring your salvation and the restoration of that bond which once united our churches in the closest fellowship.

^23^*Q^^' Hormisdae papae ad Dorotheum Thessalonicensem episcopum. ^" Ulinam quae de illo fama nunliat vera non sint! Ut in recondKatione fidei aliorum, qui reversi, sequatur exempbm, Hormisda^) Dorotheo episcopo Thessalonicensi. Considerantes tuae fratemitatis ecclesiam ante praetereuntis mala discordiae olim cum sede apostolica praecipua fuisse caritate con- junctam, te nuper pacis desuper^) redditae esse credebamus aucto- 133 ^) Superiori Justiui epistolae 126, quam Eulogius detolerat, rescribitar, eidemque Eulogio Constantinopolim redeunti creditur. ') Ita G'. Ed, nec mutatione ... credimus. 134 *) Ipsius Dorothei epistolae 128 reapondet. Ut eodem die quo proiimA, ita et eidem Eulogio videtur tradita. EPI8T0LAE 133 — 135. 957 rem. Sed quia quos praevenire debueras ^ sequi etiam remoraris^ a. 520. non leviter pro fratemitate tua dilatae correctionis ingemiscimus tarditatem. Scribis enim aures nostras cujusdam sceleris atrocitate ep. 128. turbatas. Utinam usque ad nos tantum detestabilis fama percurre- ret, et non toto orbe Christianis mentibus tam dolendum quam ex- secrabile facinus nuntiaret, ut^) qui te innocentem nesciunt, a Chri- stianitatis ^imul credant tramite deviasse! In qua enim mundi parte immanitatis hujus invidia non et catholicas contristat ecclesias^ et haereticorum prava vota laetificat^ quae nos a dilectionis tuae con- scientia^ sicut litteris intimas^ ostendi cupimus aliena! Quid enim Yotis nostris magis conyem*t, nisi ut redire ad pacem catholicam volentes episcopos a crudelitate et criminibus contingat semper in- noxios comprobari. Exspectamus igitur^ si non desunt fratemitati tuae veritatis Deo nota praesidia^ ut et tanti sceleris a te repellas invidiam^ et in reconciliatione fidei tandem eorum qui reversi sunt sequaris exempla. Data IV Calendas Novembris, Rustico viro cla- rissimo consule.