From: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To: Celer and Patricius [senior imperial officials at the court of Justin I]
Date: ~519 AD (January)
Context: A diplomatic letter to two powerful courtiers, asking them to support the papal legates' mission at the imperial court — a standard piece of late antique papal networking.
Hormisdas to Celer and Patricius, jointly.
Although our office prevents us from ever being silent on the cause of the catholic faith, the most serene Emperor has himself greatly encouraged our efforts by his own communications, and it is at his request that we have sent legates.
Since a cause of this kind ought to be supported by the help of the children of the Church, we greet Your Excellencies with the respect and honor that is your due, and we ask that you support the representations of those who have been sent on behalf of ecclesiastical peace before the mind of the most serene Emperor.
The reward for Your Excellencies' labor in this matter will not be small: you will have caused us to give thanks to almighty God for your works.
HORMISDA CELERI ET PATRICIO A PARI, Quamuis prO loci
nostri consideratione de causa fidei catholicae minime tacere possimus, tamen ad hanc partem serenissimus princeps ma- gnopere directis affatibus nostrum incitauit studium, pro cuius 20 2 legatos uoluntate direximus. et quia huiusmodi causa filioiiim ecclesiae subleuari debet auxilio, salutantes cultu atque hono- rificentia competenti poscimus, ut pro ecclesiastica pace allega- tiones eorum, qui directi sunt, apud animos serenissimi principis adiuuetis. siquidem celsitudinis uestrae laborem non 25
Epist. CLI 1 — CLIIII 2.
601
parua retributio subsequitur, cum omnipotenti deo nos gratias persoluere de uestris operibus feceritis.
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From:Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To:Celer and Patricius [senior imperial officials at the court of Justin I]
Date:~519 AD (January)
Context:A diplomatic letter to two powerful courtiers, asking them to support the papal legates' mission at the imperial court — a standard piece of late antique papal networking.
Hormisdas to Celer and Patricius, jointly.
Although our office prevents us from ever being silent on the cause of the catholic faith, the most serene Emperor has himself greatly encouraged our efforts by his own communications, and it is at his request that we have sent legates.
Since a cause of this kind ought to be supported by the help of the children of the Church, we greet Your Excellencies with the respect and honor that is your due, and we ask that you support the representations of those who have been sent on behalf of ecclesiastical peace before the mind of the most serene Emperor.
The reward for Your Excellencies' labor in this matter will not be small: you will have caused us to give thanks to almighty God for your works.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.