Letter 78: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

As is proper, we first pay the duty of greeting to your blessedness, desiring that the divinity may cause this page to be reviewed by your venerable eyes and may deign to grant salutary increases to your life for the vigor of his church, so that by your ever-watchful station the church may be vindicated against its adversaries and rabid dogs. Indeed, venerable father, the fact that you bear concern for the integrity of our faith — these things befit the vicars of the glorious apostle Peter, upon whom the Lord laid the duty of feeding his sheep [cf. John 21:17]. Let your holy concern for us therefore know that we hold firmly the immovable constancy of the right faith, for the sake of which, lest we violate its sanctity, we have thus far fought back. As for what your apostolate has commanded care to be taken for the cause of so great piety, as far as we have been able and according to our strength, we have not ceased to admonish our adversaries with a spirit of gentleness, with the grace of God cooperating with us.

EXEMPLUM EPISTOLAE lULIANAE ANICIAE. DOIINO BEATISSIMO ATQUE APOSTOLICAE SEDIS PROBATISSIMO PONTIFICI HORMISDAB PAPAE PATRI lULTANA ANICIA. QuaC prima sunt, tuae beatitudini salutationis obsequium persol- uimus, optantes ut hanc paginam tuis uenerandis optutibus diuinitas faciat recenseri et pro suae ecclesiae uigore aug- 108. Bat. ut ep. 192. Edd. Car. D 536; Collect. Concil; Thiel 920. 42* 658 lastinus Hormisdae; lustinianus Hormisdae menta salutaria uestrae uitae suifragare dignetur, quatenus te peruigili poterit contra aduersos et rabidos canes statiis ecclesiae uindicari. etenim, uenerabilis pater, quod de nostrae fidei integritate curam geris, uicariis gloriosi Petri apostoli ista ^ conueniunt, cui dominus pascendarum ouium iniunxit 5 2 ofBcium. cognoscat ergo tua pro nobis sancta soUicitudo nos firmius tenere rectae fidei finaitatem immobilem, pro qua, ne eius uiolaremus sanctimoniam, hactenus repugnauimus. quod uero tuus apostolatus pro tantae pietatis causa curara ferre praecepit, in quantum potuimus, pro nostris uiribus non 10 desiuimus spiritu lenitatis aduersos admonere dei nobis gratia cooperante.