Letter 3

From: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome To: Emperor Anastasius I, Constantinople Date: ~April 515 AD Context: Hormisdas responds warmly to the Emperor's overture, expressing hope for reunification and insisting that peace must be grounded in orthodox faith rooted in the authority of St. Peter. Hormisdas to the Emperor Anastasius Augustus. Thanks be to the power above, which through the words of Your Piety has seen fit to end a long silence, granting us such a beginning to our exchange that we may both rejoice at the prosperity of Your Clemency and trust that, God willing, the holy church can return to unity. This was the work of heavenly mercy, and it was always the prayer of our predecessors, whom the course of events has shown to have been both faithful stewards of the tradition handed down by the fathers and guardians of the true faith. Peace is the beginning of all goodness. Nothing should be considered stronger, nothing more exalted, when it comes to the practice of the Catholic faith. For its sake, anyone who wishes to be a true disciple of Holy Scripture must be ready both to do everything and to endure everything. Christ our Lord is known to have preached this peace to his disciples, saying: "My peace I give to you; my peace I leave with you" [John 14:27]. This peace we, with the care that our sacred office demands and with the Lord's help, are mindful of as we think about the harmony of the orthodox church, keeping the divine commands especially in reverence for the blessed apostle Peter. This devotion secures for your empire a greater defense of heavenly favor, for worship rightly offered to God grants an unshakeable wall of protection to devout minds. Therefore we beseech almighty God with earnest prayers that he who has given Your Piety the desire to seek peace among the churches will also grant the fulfillment of your wish under the consecration of the Catholic faith. Furthermore, Your Piety has seen fit in your sacred letter to mention a holy council. On that matter, we will be able to give a full response once you have clearly informed us of the reason for convening it. For now, since the Lord our God has granted us the opportunity to communicate, we will offer the duties of speech with fitting reverence. Given the day before the Nones of April, in the consulship of Florentius. Delivered by Patricius.

HORMiSDA AXASTASio AVGrsTO. Gratias supernae uirtuti, quae per uestrae pietatis alfatus diuturnum dignata est termi- nare silentium, tale praestans coUocutionis exordium, ut et de uestrae clementiae prosperitate laetemur et ad unitatem 2 deo donante reuerti posse sanctam confidamus ecclesiam. hoc opus supernae clementiae, haec et decessorum nostrorum fuit semper oratio, quos etiam rerum actus paternae tradi- 3 tionis ministros et rectae fidei declarat fuisse custodes. pax . est enim totius bonitatis initium, qua nihil, quantum ad catholicae fidei cultuni, ualidius, nihil aestimari oportet ex- celsius: <pro> hac scilicet et facere cuncta et sustinere con- uenit, qui sanctarum scripturarum probabilis cupit esse disci- pulus; hanc omnium bonorum matrem et nutricem Christum Epist. CVn 3 — CIX 1. 601 dominum nostmm his constat praedicasse discipulis dicentem: pacem meam do uobis, pacem relinquo uobis. quam 4 nos religiosi cura propositi domino adspirante prouidentes de ortbodoxae concordia cogitatis ecclesiae in beati apostoli Petri s reuerentia diuina specialiter praecepta seruantes. quae res maiorem supemi fauoris defensionem uestro procurat imperio ; Tecte enim oblata deo ueneratio inexpugnabilem deuotis men- tibus murum defensionis indulget. proinde omnipotentem 5 deum fusis precibus exoramus, ut qui uobis studium quae- rendae ecclesiarum pacis indulsit, ipse quoque sub consecra- tione catholicae fidei desiderio uestro super hac parte praestet affectum. praeterea directis ad nos sacris affatibus comme- 6 morationem sancti - conoilii facere pietas uestra dignata est. de qua re tunc plenissimum poterimus praebere responsum, dum causam congregationis nos uolueritis euidenter agnoscere. nunc uero quia praestante domino nosti-o data est facultas alloquio, congrua ueneratione debiti praebebimus sermonis oflicia. Data prid. Non. April. Florentio u, c. cons. Per Patricium.