Letter 238: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We bless the Lord with the affection of fraternal love, because not only has the synodical report of your ordination been welcome to us, but also the legates who bore it, and likewise the gifts which you have sent for the ministry of blessed Peter. Through these signs we recognize the sincerity of your devotion and the firmness of your attachment to the apostolic see. We have received your legates with the honor that is their due and have learned from them many things concerning the state of the churches which give us cause for both gratitude and continued concern. We exhort your brotherhood to persevere in the same course, maintaining the unity that has been restored and laboring for the extension of peace to those churches which have not yet been fully reconciled. The gifts you have sent have been received at the altars of the blessed apostle Peter, and we trust that his intercession will accompany and bless your pontificate.

Hormisdae papae ad Epiphanium episcopum Constantino- ^* ^^i d. i-x 26 Mart. politanum. 20.| Gratam sibi fuisse synodicam ordinationis illius relatio'nem , gratos legatos , grata quoque munera ab iUo in ministerium s, Petri destinata. Hormisda Epiphanio Oonstantinopolitano. Benedicimus Dominum fraternae caritatis affectu, quia non solum synodica relatione ad sacerdotium te digne pervenisse cognovimus, ep. 131. sed factis atque moribus comprobamus, et ita se meriti tui gradus patefecit affectibus, ut ante fratrum et. coepiscoporum nostrorum testimonium cuncta crederemus. Quod enim illi te promittunt posse *) moribus agere, nos videmus implesse; et tamquam fidei tuae servata pacis fuerit gratia, sic unitatis hactenus dilata sunt vota^). Divina eorum praedestinatione caritati tuae vocabulum quo nimcuparis ac- cessit, sub quo spiritu apparente concordia factum est, ut dicamus: Ecce quam honum et qmm Jucundum hdbitare fratres in unum! Q^^'\^^' propter in Christo Domino nostro reddentes officia salutationis, hor- tamur, ut boni operis initium laudabile continuet institutum secun- dum sanctum evangelium, quo monemur: Qui perseveraverit in fine, ^q^' hic salvus erit. Adhortamini igitur reliquos, invitate monitis, colligit^ blandimentis : quia talenti crediti multiplicata compendia sacrificia sunt divina. Praeterea gratissime tulimus, quod Johanni fratri et coepiscopo nostro necnon HeracKano presbytero atque Constantino filiis nostris internuntiis promotionem caritatis tuae cognovimus, qua esse aliquid dulcius non putamus. £t quum te praedicti viri, etsi pro obsequio suscepto facerent, non tantum ratione, laudarent, beati omnium sumus, quod dignae rei nuntius relator dignus exstabat, ut tibi absolutissime de legatorum meritis probatio sit honoris. Et mann papae: Suscepimus calicem aureum gemmatum, pateuam ar- genteam et aliiun calicem argenteiun et vela duo ministerio basilicae M) Sic G» H; a^ Boqu. ril Kalendas, h» IX Kal,, J 0 c« i« datum prorsus omittimt. 138 ') G> possessoribus agere, quod ad similitudinem ep. 139 (conf. ctiam cp. 111 et 131 n. 2) correximus. Ed. posse omnia, a. 521. beati Petri apostoli profutura; a caritate tua directa. Data YIP) Galendas Aprilis, Valerio viro clarissimo consule.