Letter 4: The Emperor Anastasius Augustus to Pope Hormisdas.

The Emperor Anastasius Augustus to Pope Hormisdas. Divine matters must take precedence over all other business. With God Almighty's favor, we are confident that the republic can be both preserved and improved. Since certain doubts about the orthodox faith appear to have been stirred up in the region of Scythia [roughly modern Romania and Bulgaria], it has specifically pleased Our Clemency that a venerable council be held in the city of Heraclea in the province of Europa [in Thrace, near Constantinople], so that with minds in harmony and all truth thoroughly examined, our true faith may be made more plainly known to the entire world, and henceforth no doubt or discord may remain. Therefore, may Your Holiness, together with whichever most reverend bishops you choose — those whom you judge to be capable and well-instructed in the orthodox faith from among the churches under your pastoral care — deign to come to the aforesaid city of Heraclea by the first day of July. Given the fifth day before the Kalends of January at Constantinople, in the consulship of Senator; received the day before the Ides of May, in the consulship of Florentius.

ANASTASIUS <AUGUSTUS> HORMISDAE PAPAE. OmnibUS UCgOtiis diuinae res praeponendae sunt; deo etenim omnipotente propitio rem publicam et conseruandam et meliorandam esse 2 loh. 14, 27 502 Homiisda Anastasio; Anastasius Honnisdae 2 confidimus. quia igitur dubitationes quaedam de orthodoxa religione in Scythiae partibus uidentur esse commotae, id specialiter clementiae nostrae placuit, ut uenerabilis synodus in Heracleotana ciuitate prouinciae Europae celebretur, qua- tenus concordantibus animis et omni ueritate discussa uera fides nostra orbi terrarum omni manifestius innotescat, ut 3 deinceps nuUa possit esse dubitatio uel discordia. quapropter sanctitas tua cum quibus sibi placuerit reuerentissimis epi- scopis, quos de ecclesiis sub sui sacerdotii cura constitutis idoneos et instructos erga orthodoxam religionem esse proba- lo uerit, ad praedictam Heracleotanam ciuitatem intra diem Kalendarum luliarum uenire dignetur. Data V. KaL lan. Constantinopoli Senatore u. c. cons. Accepta prid. Idus Maias Florentio u. c. cons.