Letter 11: [Latin text — full translation pending]

Rescript of the Emperor Honorius sent to the Emperor Arcadius. 1. Although regarding the statue of a woman, carried about through the provinces as a new precedent, and through the talk of detractors spread throughout the whole world, I have already urged in other letters that through repentance for such a deed and abandonment of the course, the hostile rumor might grow old, and that public gossip might have nothing to criticize in the manners of the times; and although I have also disclosed with pious affection to you our grief over the ruin of perishing Illyricum, and why you were unwilling to acknowledge these disasters to the commonwealth, and the news was reported by other, more public indicators rather than by letters of your piety: nevertheless I cannot dissemble even this before your serenity — what has most recently occurred in divine matters, not without risk to the public, which swift rumor has not kept silent. And just as is the nature of men, which is always stirred to criticism by new events, seizing the occasion to carp, it poured out its malice — we say this not to increase what is evil, but lest it seem that we have been silent over things of this magnitude and appear thereby to have consented. How was it that, while episcopal judgment was being awaited, sacred bishops were driven into exile? That by imperial favor, while the wretched prisons of the guilty were being opened, the innocent ministers of sacred law and peace were shut in by a cruel prison? That everything was thrown into confusion in the manner of war, and some were killed in the very sanctuaries of the churches, and such violence raged around the altars that the sacred rites were drenched with human blood — which is unspeakable to say? When these things were suddenly made known to us, I confess we were stricken. For who, in so bloody a crime, would not fear the offense of Almighty God? Or in what way could anyone think it beyond the utmost danger of the Roman world and of all mortals — when God Almighty, the author of our empire and the governor of the commonwealth He has entrusted to us, was believed to be angered by these utterly abominable deeds committed against Him, O venerable brother and nephew of our lord the Augustus? Especially when, if anything concerning religion was being treated among bishops, it ought to have been a matter for episcopal judgment. For the interpretation of divine things belongs to them; to us belongs the dutiful observance of religion. 2. Indeed the facts themselves teach what the divine majesty has felt about these things. For the first judgment of this present disturbance — and would that it were the only one! — causes human trepidation, conscious of so great a crime perpetrated, to dread that something worse (which may Almighty God avert) may be expected after these proofs of terrible vengeance. I hear that the most holy church, built at the expense of so many emperors, renowned for its precious furnishings, made most august by the prayers of so many suppliant rulers, has burned, and that this singular light of the city of Constantinople has collapsed in ashes, God not preventing it — for He seems to execrate the polluted rites and to have turned His eyes from that place which blood had already defiled, lest anyone might beseech heavenly mercy from blood-stained altars. Buildings no less distinguished by their splendor, consumed by the flame of the raging fire spreading more widely, and the adornments which decorated the public trust, established by our ancestors, were all burned as in a kind of funeral of the city. 3. Although I, provoked by frequent injuries, ought to keep silent, and not so faithfully admonish a most closely joined brother and sharer of the kingdom, nevertheless, putting the bond of blood before the stimulus of silent grief, I exhort and urge that these things, if it can be done, be corrected by amendment of future conduct, and that the divine wrath, which appears to have been aroused, be placated by the devotion of prayers. Accept from me the utmost judgment of sincerity. I thought this should be brought to the attention of your clemency, lest silence itself should make me suspect before anyone of a kind of hidden rejoicing, and lest anyone should believe that I gave my consent to such deeds — I who have often warned that they should not happen, and who would grieve after they have been committed. 4. For who could be free of grief, who remembers himself a Christian, when so great a disturbance of religion has been suddenly introduced, that the entire state of the Catholic faith must necessarily be in turmoil? There was a case between bishops which ought to have been resolved by conference and deliberation of counsel. Envoys were sent from both sides to the priests of the eternal city; a judgment was awaited from the authority of all, which would set the rule of discipline. It ought to have remained whole, and nothing should have been changed while the deliberated decision was proceeding. But meanwhile a certain precipice of haste burst forth, so that without waiting for the letters of the priests who had been consulted by the embassy of the parties, without examining the facts, bishops were thrust into exile — subjected to punishment before they had experienced the sentence of episcopal judgment. How premature that condemnation was, the facts have proven. For those whose authority was awaited, having granted peaceful communion to Bishop John, judged that harmony should be established, and did not think anyone should be expelled from fellowship before judgment. 5. What else now remains, but that schisms, torn apart in different directions, should lacerate the Catholic faith? That heresies always hostile to communion should be born from such great variety of events? That it should scarcely be imputed to the people if perhaps they depart into discordant factions through the diversity of sects — since from public authority the material of discord has been provided, and a kind of fuel for nurturing sedition has been kindled? That this may not grow worse into some great ruin of the human race, prayers must be made, that a patient God may prosper and favor a matter badly managed against human failings. For as far as it lies in us, we can fear what has been done; but as far as pertains to the piety of an ever-placable God, the impunity granted will not be of merit, but of pardon.

SEU EXEMPLUM a SACR/E HONORII AUGUSTI MISS/E AD PRINCIPEM ORIENTIS ARCADIU». Dolet Honorius de iis, qum in dic Paschte Constanli- nopoli perpetrala sunt. Templi augusti et senalus incenditim primum esse divinm iracunditc indicium. Mia metuenda esse nisi Deus placetur. Uac de re cerdotes, scilicel ut eo pplissimura icnipure, quoin- tacere senon posse, ne silentium pro assensn liabea- dulgentia principali e trislia noxiorum clauslra re- tur. Quam pnvpropcrc, dttin episcopale judicium serantur, piae legis et pacis miuislros sajvus carcer exspcctabtti.ur, in essilium pulsi sinlsacri antislites. includeret, omniaque bo.llicum in nioduni lurbata Ilinc religionis perlurbationcm inductam, cl latum mysleria, nonnullos in ipsis ecclesire sacrariis inler- hmresibus atque schismalibus campum apertum esse. cniptos, lanlamqtie circa allaria vim s;evisse, ut et venerabiles episcqpi in exsilinm trudercnliir, etsan- 1. Quamvis super b imagine mnliebri, novoexem- plo, per provincias circumlata c etdiffusa, per uni- versuni miindum oblrectantium fania, liueris aliis commonuerim, ut talisfacti pcenilentia et iniermis- sione propositi, rumor aemulus consenescat, et quod in moribus lemporiim earpat publica Mngna non ba- beat : quimvis eiiam supcr excidio pereuniis lllyrici pio apud vos prodiderimus alTeclu esse nobis dolori, cur ista d vos detrimenlareipttblicaenoluerilis agno- scere, et aliis politis iiidicibiis.quan pieiatis veslrae litieris, fuerint nuniiaia : tamen ne illud quidem apud serenitateni veslram dissiinulare n>s fas est, quod in rebus divinis, non sine publici discriminis nictu, nuperrime contigisse, cila semper mabiriini guis buinaniis, quod diciu nefas est, cceleslia sacra- menta perfuudcrel. His repenle compcrlis, imbalos esse nos fateor. Quis cnim in facinore tam cruenlo Dei oninipoieniis non linieiet offensam ? aut quo pacio exira sinniniim Romani orbis omuiuniqiie mnrtalium [Supple, qnis ] pularel esse discrimen ? cuin ipse sjuctor nostri Iinperii, et reipublicrjc, qnam nnbis credidil, guhiTiialoromnipoieus Deus, funeslis adinodum oxsccr biUbusque commissis crederetur irasci, dnmiiii sancii frater neposque augusti vene- rabiles ; ciun si quid de causa religionis inler antisli- les agereiur, episcopale f oporlue; il esse jiulieiiiin. Ad illos enim divinarum reriiin inlerprelatio, ad nos enunti;itri\ fama non tacnii ; el ut na|ui a fei 1 homi- „ religiqnis exspectat [Aniiquo more pro speclat] obse- niim, qnae ad oblreciandum novis semper casibus qiiium. Sed esto, sibi de myslicis ct catbolicis quae- exciiatur, oblata occasione carpendi, maliliam suam siionibusamplius aliquidprincipaliscura piresuinpse- » In cdit. Concil. posi epist. 31. E veiuslo bi- blioihecae Vatieanoe libroin cuilectione Itomana pon- tiliciarum episiolarnm primum prndiit. Nec ira- ineiilo inler epislolas liinocenlii eollinata est, nt pote cujus ille scribendae auctor prsccipuus ex- stitit, Ut enim Palladius pag. 28 testis esi , cuni uniliqiie Homam confluercnt sancti episoopi aliiqiie viri religinsi, variarum ecclesiarum synodnrumve de inbero eeclesirc Constaiilinopolitanx siatu litte- ras alferentes, non amplius sustinens pius pontifex, Hnnorium imperatorem de iis qure siri.gillaiim ill.e ferrent epistolre, certioretn fecit. Quibns ille mptus, seniel atque iierinn, immo el teriio Arcadium, quid facto opus esset, missis liueris commonuit. Ex tti- bus illis epistolis prinia e\cidil; h;cc secuudi tan- liim laiine liabelur, tertiam girece Palladius, ex quo eain huie siihjiciemus, nobis asservavii. A Baronio ad aniiiini -404 hacc referlur : sed ad aiiuiini illo, et quidein jam labentem pertinere, ordo renim, qu;e Palladio tcsie eam pr;ecesserunt, pnsiulai. Marcellinus coraes inChronico, Socrates lib. vi, c. 18, el Sozoiiieiius lib.vm, c. 20, meinoriiecoiiimen- daniiit; boc factuin Barouius ad aiinum 40-i, Pagius vero to. II, pag. 60,circa exilum ami 310 conligisse putal. scd per provincias qunque circuntlaia fnerit, non se- cus ac olim eibnici Cybeles circumferre simulacrum solereni, atque banc vcriorem esse causam, cur ad- versiss Eudoxiam Joa.nnes laniopcre commotus fue- ril. Sed bnic intellectui repugnat unn mmlo velerum Scriplorum de lam prolaici ritu silenliiiui, sed el quqd imaginein illam muliebreni ercclam, cnllocatam et dedicatam, non circumlalam prrjcdicant. Ethis qtii- dem nativus cst intellecUis, famam obircciantium super hac re per provincias circumlalam et per uni- versum mundiim dilTusam fuisse. * Orntionis series postulat nos, non vos. Expnslulat quippe i! nioiiiis cum Arradio, qnod reipublicae de- iiinienia ip-.i latere yoltierit, de qttibiis niliil ipsi scriberb sit dignalus. 609 EPISTOLyE rit:itme usquc :id cxsilia sacerdntum, usijue ad bominum c;edes debuil indignatio conciiata proce- dcre ; ut ulii castne prcces, ubi vola sincera, ubi sa- crificia illibala solvunlur, illic se gladius, baud facile ciiam ia jiigaluin iioxiorum disiringendiis, exsere- rct ? 2. Uebus denique ipsis docetur, quid super liis seiiscril divina iuajeslas. Priinum quidem Imc pra> senlis coinmoiionis ;l judiciuin fuit, ati|iie uiinam siilum ! facit enim huinana irepidatio, tanti sibi con- scia perpetrali, ut gravius aliquid, quod averlat om- nipulcns Deus, post leriibilis uliinnis cxpeiiinenta nuiiuainus. Audio (Pnllud. pag. 91 ct 95) ecclesiam sacrosanctani, tot iinperaloruin opibus expusitain [Vorie expolitam], preliosis culiibus noiileni, tanta supplieanliuin prineipum oralione augiisiissiniain, flagrasse, et illud Constanlinopolilan;e uivds \Baron. attlil. ecclesiie] unicum luinen in f.ixill.is dilapsum Deo non vctante fumasse ( exsecrari enim videlur inquinal i niysteria, el avertisse oculos ab eo loco, qucm jam sanguis infeceiat, ne obsecraie quis pieta- lcm covleslcm siibcruenlis possel altarihus ); aedifi- cia ipioque b divina non minorc splendore nobilia, cx conciiatione sscvicntis inccndii, flamma selatius efliindenle cnnsuinpia, et qusD publicam ficiein cla- Jmrala a majonbus imstris ornaincnla dccnrabanl, veliil quodam uibis fuucre concreni Ua. 5. H.ec cgo quauivis crebiis injiuiis laccssilus tace- rc debiierim, ncc coujiiiiclissiiiiiun IVaireiu regiique consortes [Baron. consorlem] tam fldeliteradmonere, laiiien nccessiliidinem sangiiinis siimulo tacili (hdo ris aniefercns, hortor atque suadeo, ut h;cc, si lieri polesl, eniciidatis in posteiuin iimribus corriganlur, ae divina iracundia, quaiituin re proditui' cxcilata, volornm scdnlitale placetur. Accipile a me siiiiiiiuiin sinplicitaiis r indiciiim. Idcirco lioc clcmeniix vp- sir;e insinuamlum putavi, ne mc vclul gralulaliono occulta facerel apud quemquam laciturniias ipsa >u- spectum, neve quis credcrci ine lalihus (aclis pr;e- » Baron. mallel indicium. Reiincndum lamen ju- riicium, hoce-l pcena et viudicia Dei jii.iicis. '' Baron., contracloque concilio. Antecedens ver- Iuim collato, suadet et recte consequi in edil. Rom., traclaloque consilio. '■ Et bic Baron. snbsiituit, missis,.... leguiis. .Missi sunl Honiain, teslc Palladio, pag. 9, 23, eic, ai> uiraque parte lcgaii : primurn a Theophili paite le= ctor Alexandriiiusliileras ipsius deferens. iiim rju- sdem Theophilj presbyter Peims iipniine cuni Mir- tyrio ecclesiae Ciiostauiinop. diacono , qui alias Ihcopliili lineras cum quibiisijam actis Innopenlio papc i vddiderunl ;$ac deuiuni Paternus, qui se Cou- staininop. ecclesiic presbyterum dicebat, litteras pcrforens episcoporum Acacii, Pauli, Anlioclii, Se- U DEClil.TA. »10 A lere consensum, el qni sape nc acciderent commo- niierim, posteai|uam commissa sunt non dolerem. i. Nam (|iiis esse pnsset expers doloris, qui se meminit Cbrisiianum, taniani subiio pcriurhaiioiiem rdigioois indnciani, m onuiem calholicac fidei sta- tum necesse sit fluciuare ? Erat interepiscopos causa quae collato ll tractaioque consilio dcberel absolvi. Missi c ad sacerdotes urbis asierna; alquellaliaeutra- que ex parte legaii : exspectabalnr ex omnium au- cloritate senlcniia , informatura regulam disciplinx ( iniegruin nempe esse debuerat, ncque quidquam novari, dum deliniiio dclibciata prorcderet ), cum interea iniiuin quoddam prnecipitium fesiinaiionis exarsit, ut non exspcciatis litieris saccrdotuni, qui fueranl nuit:;a partium legatione consulti, non exa- B niinaiis rebus, iu cxsilium triidereniur antistitcs, aoimadversioni prius addicli, qiiam senlentiam judi- cii episcopalis experti. Denique quani inimatura illa damnaiio fueril, res probavit. Namque hi f quorum exspectabatur auctorilas, paciliea Joanni episcopo coininuiiione permissa [Baron. pnemissa], sancicn- dam concordiani censuerunt, nec qiieniquam puia- riint anle jiidiciuin consortio repellendiini. 5. Quid nuiic aliud superest, quam ut catholicam fideni schismala in diversum dissnciala dilacerenl, quam ut hasreses communioni semper inimicac ex lania gestarum rerum vaiietatc nascaoiur, ut jam popolo pene noii debeat iioputari, si forte in disso- nas par!es seciarum diversilate discedat ; cum ex ar.eioritate publica discordiarum materies sit prai- C missa, et fomes quidam nuirienda: seditionis ani- inaliis. Quod ne in inagnain aliquam generis lniinaiii perniciem recrude-cat, vota facienda sunt, ut ad bnmanas prolapsioues paliens Deus reni male gcs- tam prosperet ac sccundet. Nam quanliun in nobis est, possuiniis tinierc quod gcslum est ; qnantum ad pieiatem seinper placabilis Dei, nou eril meriii im- puuitas indulta. sed veui.c. veriani el alioruni quorumdaiii, in qnihns calumnia- banlur Jiianneiii, quasi ecclesiam S. Sophi:e incen- dissel. A Joannis aiilem paple, ut alms niiitam qui poslea nia^ooniiiiiero venerunl, priiuum Roiuain se conliilerunt quaiuor episcopi, Pansophius, Pappus, D Dcuiietrius ei Eogcnius, Iresque reddidernnt epislo- las, iiuain Joaiuus, alleram 40 episcoporum de com- inuoinne ejus, iciiiain r.leri i|isius. Ac nouiiiiaiiin de epiitola Joamiis ad I.iim. cniiiiiu testilicaiur Falladius pig. 22, eaiu eiiun ad Vencriiini Mediolmii el ChrO- iiiaiiiim Aquileiic episcopos scripiain liii^se. Ilinc llonorio dicere lieuil, legalos illos ud sacerdoles llr- bis ivtemw ct Iluliw fnisse nussos. 512 5M S. INNOCENTII I PAP/E