Letter 86: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

It is the highest zeal of our purpose and prayer, most blessed and thrice-blessed father, both to write frequently to you most holy ones and to earn mutual discourse, and it befits me at no time to be deprived of this joy. Since therefore I have clearly learned that certain persons are disturbing your holy ears, and since I know beyond doubt that you are perfect in all things and that you cannot hear anything without judgment nor accommodate your spirit to anyone whatsoever, and so that I may not seem by my silence to grant further time to those who have in no way been harmed by us but have armed themselves against us without cause and superfluously: I make satisfaction to God and to your holiness, because on behalf of John, the most reverend bishop who was dispatched not long ago from your venerable authority, I have exposed myself to dangers and endured death and know that I offered my own life for his — and this is shown by the official records and by those who, though they seem to have been most harshly investigated during my absence, nevertheless... And what need is there to use a long speech, since our Lord God Jesus Christ is able to make all things manifest and give satisfaction to you? Because even when I learned that you were being called to the leadership of the apostolic see, I judged it to be the common joy of the whole world. For from that time, writing to you, as far as I am concerned I have omitted nothing that pertains to your honor and the satisfaction owed to you and to the apostolic see, nor do I omit it now. Shortly hereafter, most reverend ones, with the Lord Jesus Christ granting it, you will know that these things have been thought out by me from the beginning, and when the Lord God gave the time, they have been brought to fulfillment. I and those with me send abundant greetings to all the brotherhood in Christ that is with your holiness.

EXEXPLUM RELATIOXIS DOROTHEI EPISCOPI THES8AL0NICEXSIS. SANCTISSIMO AC BEATISSIMO PATRI ET COMMINISTRATORI HOR- MISDAE D0R0THEU8 IN DOMINO SALUTEM. PropOSiti nOStrf Ct 15 orationis est summum studium, per omnia beatissime et ter beate pater, et scribere frequenter ad uos sanctissimos et mutua mereri colloquia et nuUo tempore exortem me ab huiusmodi laetitia esse condecet. quoniani igitur manifeste 2 cognoui quosdam sanctas aures uestras perturbare et scio » procul dubio, uos in omnibus esse perfectos et quia nihil sine iudicio audire possitis nec ulli penitus uestrum animum accommodare, et ut non amplius per taciturnitatem largiri tempus uidear illis, qui nihil quidem a nobis laesi sunt sed sine causa et superflue aduersus nos armati sunt: deo tamen 3 n et uestrae satisfacio sanctitati, quia pro lohanne uiro reueren- tissimo episcopo, qui paulo ante a uestra uenerabili corona directus est, praedestinaui me periculis et mortem sustinui et meam pro eius scio me obiecisse animam et hoc ostenditur gestis et ex his, qui quamquam per meam absentiam acerrime 8 coDtameliam edit reg. 668 Hormisda Dorotheo, Heliae etc» Germano 4 uideantur esse discussi. et quid longo sermone opus est uti, cum uobis omnia dominus deus noster lesus Christus pate- facere et satisfacere possit? quia et, quando cognoui uos ad apostolicae sedis praesulatum euocari, commune gaudium totius mundi esse iudicaui. ab illo enim tempore hoc ipsum scribens ad uoS; quantum ad me, quicquid ad honorem et satisfactionem uobis et apostolicae sedi pertinet, nihil prae- 5 termisi sed nec praetei-mitto. paulo post autem scietis, peruenerabiles, annuente domino lesu Christo, quia haec ab exordio mihi sunt excogitata et, quando dominus deus tempus dedit, ad effectura haec sunt perdueta. omnem cum uestra sanctitate in Christo fraternitatem ego quoque et mei plurimum salutamus.