Letter 99: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

While the joys of ecclesiastical prosperity were uplifting you and we were daily reaping the nearly full fruit of your labor, suddenly a report hostile to everything that had happily succeeded confounded us. Although, since you have not yet reported it, we suspect the account of this rumor to be uncertain, we have nonetheless thought it should not be passed over in silence because of the magnitude of the matter itself. It has been reported, then, that our brother and fellow bishop John, when he was approaching Thessalonica solely for the purpose of receiving the libelli [formulas of submission] that had been promised, was so shaken by an irrational sedition of the mob that — after first the man who had provided him hospitality on his arrival was killed — he himself was almost slaughtered in a similar fashion and barely escaped, rescued by the reverence of the holy baptismal font. The beginning of this sedition is reported to have arisen from the contrivance of a deceitful interrogation by the priest Aristides. But we, if these things are clear, do not so much complain about the mob. It will be within the power of the venerable emperor to cut away the injury done to his time and to a catholic priest by whatever censure he commands. But that which pertains to us, we desire to be fulfilled through you, with God's favor, with watchful care, because we do not wish anyone either to be converted without an account being rendered, or to profess the right way of the faith in such a manner that he claims something is being imposed on him by the emperor without a remedy of teaching. Therefore carry out this matter through the submission of your supplication: that the bishop of Thessalonica, who under the pretext of interrogation strives to break apart ecclesiastical peace by dragging out the affair at length, should — since he was unwilling to receive it from you — be directed by the emperor to this city and receive teaching from the apostolic see, and whatever he thinks doubtful for himself, let him come here and learn through a face-to-face inquiry from us. For in this way he can prove that he is preserving the caution of a catholic profession, not pursuing disputes conceived in malice. Let him know that we are prepared both to instruct those who inquire in good faith and to recall those who err to the right path of the faith under the guidance of knowledge, because if one who doubts does not wish to try the teaching that is available, nor again to admit in simplicity of heart what is commanded for the sake of peace and religion, it is plain with what mind he either opposes the precepts of our God or despises the examples of an orthodox emperor. In this part, therefore, let the whole force of your supplication bear down, because they cannot be saved by any other means, and the cause of the mob that has been incited is better calmed under this moderation. Together with him, let the most clement emperor command the priest Aristides also to come to us, because, as we have said, all those whose ecclesiastical peace is divided by ambiguity [should come to us for resolution].

HOKMISDA GERMANO ET lOHANNI EPISCOPIS FELICI ET DIOSCORO DiAcoNis BT BLANDO PRESBYTERo. Cum uos ecclesiasticae prosperitatis gaudia subleuarent et prope plenum laboris uestri fructum cottidie carperemus, repente nos inimica uni- 20 uersis, quae uotiue successerant, fama confandit. cuius opini- onis ordinem etsi uobis necdum referentibus suspicamur incertum, pro ipsius rei tamen magnitudine credidimus non 2 tacendum. itaque perlatum est fratrem et coepispopum nostram lohannem, dura ad Thessalonicam pro suscipiendis tantum a libellis, qui promittebantur, accederet, ita plebis inrationabili seditione concussum, ut extincto primum eo, qui hospitium uenienti praebuerat, ipse quoque non dissimili caede mactatus 3et uix sacrosancti fontis reuerentia uindicatus euaserit. cuius 1 loannem Bar. (cf. p. 692, 8 sq. lohannis catholici interitus quem . . perhibetis extinctum): hominem V 5 qui add. Car. 7 catholicus Car. Epist. CCXXV 9 — CCXXVI 8. 691 seditionis initium sub interrogationis dolosae comraento ab Aristide presbytero naiTatur exortum. uerum nos, si haec manifesta sunt, adeo de plebe non querimur. erit in potestate uenerandi principis temporis sui et catholici sacerdotis iniuriam, 5 qua iubeat, resecare censura. sed id, quod ad nos attinet, 4 cura peniigili per uos deo propitio desideramus impleri, quia • nuUum uolumus aut non reddita ratione conuerti aut sic rectam uiam fidei profiteri, ut sibi a principe aliquid sine doctrinae remedio causetur imponi. hoc igitur suggestione 5 uestrae supplicationis peragite, ut Thessalonicensis episcopus, qui sub interrogationis obtentu ecclesiasticam pacem protracto in longum nititur dissipare negotio, quam a uobis suscipere noluit, a principe ad urbem directus ab apostolica percipiat sede doctrinam et, quicquid sibi dubium putat, huc ueniens praesenti a .nobis inquisitione condiscat; sic enim probare potest se catholicae professionis seruare cautelara, non maliti- ose concepta uindicare certamina. sciat nos pai^atos esse et 6 bene inquirentes instruere et errantes ad fidei rectum tramitem scientia duce reuocare, quia si dubitans paratam non uult experiri doctrinam nec rursus in simplicitate cordis, quae pacis et religionis causa iubentur, admittere, in aperto est, qua mente uel dei nostri praeceptis obsistat uel orthodoxi principis exempla contemnat. in hac ergo pai*te totus 7 suggestionis uestrae actus immineat, quia nec illi alia possunt ratione saluari et incitatae plebis sub hoc melius moderamine causa sedatur. cum quo etiam Aristidem pr^sbyterum clemen- tissimus princeps ad nos uenire praecipiat, quia, sicut praefati sumus, omnes, quorum pax ecclesiastica ambiguitate diuiditur, simul ad communionem nostram depulsa mali erroris aegi'i- tudine catholicae scientiae cupiraus sentire medicinam. prae- g terea, mox praesentia uos contigerit scripta suscipere, debe- a 692 Honnisda legatis; Hormisda legatis bitis ad nos de uestris aliquem destinare cum relatione, quae uniuersa contineat, unde <de> his, quae gesta sunt uel geruntur, soUicitudinem nostram releuare debeatis. datarium quoque litteris uestris adiungite, ne uobis portitoris tarditas possit adscribi. Data III. Idus Octobr. Eutharico cons. s