Letter 57: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We congratulate you on the result of the labor which, with the help of almighty God, you have undertaken, for that part which has been accomplished, and we indicate that you should consider how those who have condemned the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon [451 AD] by written document ought to be recalled, lest perhaps such persons appear not merely as schismatics but rather as heretics — or whether the case is one and the same for both those who are convicted of having condemned by spoken words and those convicted by written document, because through this distinction our son the illustrious and devout Albinus seems to raise a question. And consider whether those who have written against the Council of Chalcedon ought to be received solely through that general libellus [formula of submission to Rome], or whether they should add something further. Regarding the churches of Alexandria and Antioch, strive with the aid of the comfort of our God, so that with all things rightly ordered they may be joined to catholic communion. The long detention of our brothers and fellow bishops Thomas and Nicostratus also grieves us, and we are surprised that bishops appear to be laboring for the right faith at the court of a catholic emperor, yet their desires your charity should seek to relieve by acting so that the sorrow of those who await the desired outcome may be turned into joy. John, bishop of Nicopolis, has written to us through the deacon Ammonius that certain ill-disposed persons are attempting to generate calumny against him before the emperor: we commend him to your affection, urging you to work so that the malicious approach of his enemies cannot harm his peace. We were unwilling to receive the said deacon Ammonius, who came to us, into the communion of the apostolic see until, having held consultation with the deacon Sergius, we could determine what ought to be arranged, and our deliberation found this to be satisfactory to the aforesaid deacon: that he should be joined to catholic communion through the testimony of the libellus [formula of submission]. We report that, having solemnly offered the libellus, we have admitted the one offering it to our communion.

<H0RMiSDA nioscoRO DiACONo. > De laboris tui, quem cum dei omnipotentis iuuamine suscepisti, pro ea parte, quae acta est, gratulamur effectu et indicamus ut, quemadmodum reuo- candi sint hi, qui exscripto constituta Chalcedonensis concilii damnauerunt, debeas cogitare, ne forsitan tales non scismatici sed magis haeretici uideantur an certe una sit causa tam eorum qui sennonibus, quam eorum qui conuincuntur scripto damnasse, quia per hanc distantiam filius noster uir illustris Albinus religiosus uidetur facere quaestionem. et cogita, utrum et scribentes contra Chalcedonense concilium per illum generalem libellum tantum suscipi debeant an certe aliquid aniplius adicere. de Aleiandrina et Antiochena ecclesiis 2 solatio dei nostri adiutus enitere, ut omnibus recte dispositis communioni catholicae socientur. Thomae quoque et Nico- 3 strati fratrum et coepiscoporum nostrorum obseniatio nos longa contristat et miramur, cur apud catholicum principem corr. p 7 Cdie>quo Bupra scripsi: (^f V 178. Haec episiula mtssa non uidetur, immo ni fallor nihil est nisi vetustior quaedam forma epietulae 175. Edd, Car. P 508; Collect. Concil; BTA I 429; Thiel 904; commemorat Bar. ad a. 519, 134. 10 Hormisda Dioscoro diacono praefimt Car. (cf. indicem generalem editum in Prolegom. cap. I): om. V 11 deo F, corr. o 13 sunt Car. ei scripto F, correxi 14 cogitari F, corr. scismaticis^F, corr. a 15 uidentur F, corr. o 17 per F: propter Couat. 22 nostrij nri a: nn ut uidetur V enitire F, corr. o 630 Hormisda Pompeio; Honnisda DioBcoro rectae fidei laborare uidentur episcopi. quorum desideria tua debebit caritas subleuare ageudo, quatenus optata consequen- 4 tium maeror conuerti possit in gaudium. loliannes Nicopoli- tanus episcopus per Ammonium diaconum nobis scripsit, quod ei aliqui maliuoli apud principem nitantur generare calumniam: quem dilectioni tuae commendamus hortantes, ut elabores, ne eius quieti inimicorum possit nocere subreptio. 5 quem Ammonium diaconum ad nos uenientem in sedis apo- stolicae noluimus communione suscipere tamdiu, donec habito cum Sergio diacono tractatu quid ordinari debuerit quaereremus, et hoc deliberatio nostra supra dicto diacono probabilis inuenit, ut per testimonium libelli communioni catholicae iungeretur: quem libellum soUemniter oblatum et nostrae offerentem communioni significamus adiunctum. Data.