Letter 67: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We received the revered communications of your apostolate through your sons Leo and Eulogius with welcome gladness. The first of their instructions reproached us for not having reported what happened at Thessalonica. But long before their arrival, having found an opportunity, we took care to report whatever we learned either through the rumor of arrivals, or through the writings of those who had endured them (copies of which we have appended below), or through the account of the most pious emperor. A promise of punishment followed, to the extent that Dorotheus, bishop of Thessalonica, was conducted to the city of Heraclea until the case should find its conclusion. In the meantime, in accordance with your instructions, we took care to convey to the emperor the authority of your apostolate, so that the aforesaid Dorotheus should be sent to Rome together with Aristides to receive the teaching of catholic purity. He responded that there was no reason for them to be directed to Rome to be heard, where without the challenge of accusers they could more freely excuse themselves. But suddenly, while these things were being transacted, he was released from the city of Heraclea, in which he was being held — as far as we learned — for what cause or by what reasoning or condition or through whose agency, we do not know. Regarding the date of Easter, let your blessedness know that the view of the Easterners agrees with that of the apostolic see, so that the feast is expected to be celebrated on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of May [April 19], as will also be evident from the report of John, bishop of Constantinople. It remains that, with the aid of the prayers of your blessedness, we may soon, as we desire, deserve to be presented at your feet.

SUGGESTIO GERJrANI EPISCOPI FELICIS ET DIOSCORI DIACONORUM ET BLANDI PRESBYTERI. 10 Reuerenda uestri apostolatus alloquia per filios uestros Leonem atque Eulogium desiderabili hilaritate suscepimus. quorum prius praeceptum, cur quae Thessalonicae contigerunt non insinuauimus, arguebat. sed longe ante eius aduentum occasione comparata curauimus significare, quaecumque uel 15 rumore uenientium uel eorum, qui pertuierunt, scriptis (quorum exemplaria subter adiunximus) uel piissimi principis narratione comperimus. secuta est uindictae promissio, adeo 2 ut Dorotheus Thessalonicensis episcopus ad Heracliam deduce- retur ciuitatem, donec causa terminum reperiret. inter haec 3 w secundum ea, quae praecepistis, auctoritatem apostolatus uestri principi insinuare curauimus, ut ad percipiendam doctrinam catholicae puritatis Bomam praefatus Dorotheus una cum Aristide mitteretur. qui respondit causam non esse, pro qua Komam dirigerentur audiendi, ubi sine accusatorum 25 controuersia sese possent liberius excusare. sed repente, dum haec geruntur, ab Heracliensi, quantum agnouimus, in qua 1 Rom. 8, 28 1 diligetib; a 4 nititimur a, corr. o 185* Dat. fU ep. 161; respondet episiulae deperditae datae ab Hor- misda sub finem a. 519. Edd. Car. P 530; Bar. ad a. 519, 141; Collect. Concil.; Thiel 910. 8 SuggestioJ incipit rursus uetus scriptura codicis V DiAC V 11 hylaritate V 12 tliesalonice V 18 thesa- lonicensis V 19 repperiret V 22 romanam l\ corr. 23 aristi- dimitteretur F, corr. o 24 diligerentur V, corr, p^; delegarentur 41* 642 Indiculus directas a lofaanne uel Epiphanio tenebatur, dimissus est ciuitate: quam ob causam uel qua 4 ratione aut conditione uel quibus agentibus, ignoramus. de paschali die uestra beatitudo cognoscat concordare Orientalium cum apostolica sede sententiam, ut XIII. Kal. Maiarum die festiuitas celebranda speretur, sicut lohannis quoque Constan- 5 tinopolitani antistitis relatione clarebit. superest, ut orationis beatitudinis uestrae adminiculo celeriter, sicut cupimus, uestris mereamur praesentari uestigiis.