Letter 1: Cuperem indeed, quantum to meae spectat deuotionis arbitrium, qua principes Christianos iugi ueneratione suspicio,...

Bishop Simplicius to Zeno [the manuscript heading reads Zeno, but the letter was in fact addressed to the emperor Basiliscus] Augustus. I should indeed wish, so far as it depends on the judgment of my own devotion (by which I look up with continual veneration to Christian princes), to render to your Piety the services due by uninterrupted conversations. But since to the increase of this intention there is added also the care of holy religion, a more weighty matter of business lies upon me, namely that I may at one and the same time discharge to you with a willing mind the honor that is owed, and confidently bring forward the causes of the faith; because to both of these either the devoted affection of your Clemency, ever consecrated, draws me, or the regard for my office and the solicitude of the apostolic governance compels me. Having therefore performed, most glorious and most merciful son, the emperor Augustus, the duty of greeting you, I neither ought nor am able to be silent concerning the scandals which by the brigandage of heretics are said to be stirred up anew, recurring once more, in the churches of the East. For just as the writings of monks fervent on behalf of the catholic faith have brought it to my notice, I have learned that Timothy the parricide [Timothy Aelurus, the Alexandrian heretic], who long ago was the devastator of the Egyptian church after the manner of Cain, as the divine reading testifies, having been cast out from the face of God, that is, removed from the dignity of the church, and as one wandering through the deserts, destined long to suffer the torments of a guilty conscience, was led away into the exile of his own error, has, after the fires of his former madness were taken up again, nonetheless gathered together bands of the lost, and has invaded once more the church of the city of Alexandria, which he previously made bloody with priestly blood, having now again made it bloody by the expulsion of its lawful bishop; so that the humiliation of that banishment, which from the things he had impiously done ought to have driven into him the sting of repentance, is seen rather to have furnished him with leisure for a more atrocious madness. Whereby without doubt he is proved far more detestable than Cain himself: for Cain indeed, once condemned for the crime committed, abstained, but this man advances to greater crimes after his punishment. Nor, content with this as the end of his crimes, is he reported to have boldly entered besides the city of Constantinople, ever burning with love of right doctrine—lest the despoiler of human salvation should leave anything undefiled—and to have gladly heard from the partners of his depravity the cry owed to Christ alone, by which it was plainly shown that he comes not in the name of the Lord as one blessed, but is manifestly the usurper of the divine summit, the Antichrist. And although he had been so commendably excluded even from catholic communion, he is recorded, through certain private houses, with hands sprinkled with human blood, to have celebrated not divine sacrifices but sacrileges. In which matter assuredly it is not his acceptance that was confirmed, but the treachery of his accomplices that was made public, since together with him—unless they repent—they are by every means about to fall from that seat of iniquity, which, like his father the devil, he the faithless one does not cease to build for himself unto eternal ruin, making himself like to the Most High. Though my mind shudders, venerable emperor, that such things were even attempted by so great a gladiator, yet I confess I am held by the greatest astonishment that they could have been committed under the eyes of your Piety. For who could either be ignorant of, or doubt, the mind of your Clemency, ever devoted to God and given over to orthodox rules? Inasmuch indeed as by the disposition of supernal providence, just as for the public benefit Marcian of august memory and Leo alike were endowed with virtues, so they were instructed in their dispositions toward catholic truth as well; nor can it be in any way doubtful to anyone that your Piety is a follower of the faith of those whose successor you are in empire. And since these things concerning the mind of your Tranquillity are held by all as certain and fixed, far be it that in your times the integrity of divine worship and the sincerity of the catholic faith, strengthened of old, should be thought capable of being tampered with. Look, I beg, to the divine benefits, and weigh what things have been bestowed upon you; and, that these prosperous things may be able to remain, judge that the author of the gift must be propitiated, not injured. For amid whatsoever public occupations it must be greatly seen to by a religious prince that which protects his principate; and the rectitude of heavenly observance is to be preferred to all things, without which nothing rightly stands. There are abundantly at hand for your Clemency, if you should order them to be sought in the archives of your own palace, the copious documents of our forefathers which agree in their definition. Nor indeed must it be believed that there is hidden from your conscience what things have been spread throughout all the provinces of the East and from the very citadel of your empire—those things, namely, which my predecessor Leo sent as decisions to Marcian of august memory and likewise to Leo, or concerning the Council of Chalcedon of blessed remembrance, and in which he so fully and so lucidly set forth the mystery of the Lord's incarnation, that whoever does not there clearly recognize the causes of his own redemption can be called not only no catholic but not even a Christian. Certainly, so that the necessary instruction may more easily not be lacking to you, I have sent copies of those same letters to my brother and fellow-bishop Acacius, to be offered to your understanding. If therefore your Piety should deign to review these, or what the bishops of the whole East have written back concerning their agreement with this preaching, you will assuredly perceive that they have been both diligently examined and truthfully promulgated, and therefore ought by no means to be assailed by the windings of pestilent falsehood; because in truth those things which have flowed pure and clear from the most pure fount of the scriptures can be agitated by no arguments of cloudy cunning. For there abides in his successors this same norm of apostolic doctrine—to him [Peter] the Lord enjoined the care of the whole fold, to him he promised that he would by no means fail him even unto the end of the age, that against him the gates of hell would never prevail, whose sentence, that whatsoever things were bound on earth could not be loosed in heaven either, he testified. Wherefore I beseech and implore your Clemency, to whom in my stead my brother and fellow-bishop Acacius will the more earnestly make supplication, that, as imitators of the deed of so great and such predecessors, spurning with a catholic heart the workers of unspeakable presumption, you may judge them to be restrained by royal power. Whoever, as the apostle foretold, undertakes to sow anything other than what we have received, let him be anathema. Let no access be opened to perilous minds for stealing in upon your ears; let no confidence of retracting anything of the old constitutions be granted; because, as must be repeated again and again, that which by apostolic hands, with the assent of the universal church, deserved to be cut off by the edge of the evangelical pruning-hook, cannot take up vigor to be reborn, nor can it return into the fruitful shoot of the Lord's vine, since it is established as appointed to eternal fire. Thus, in short, the contrivances of all heresies, laid low by ecclesiastical decrees, are never permitted, once shattered, to renew the struggles of assault. Above all, however, I ask that the see of the blessed evangelist Mark (I speak of the Alexandrian church), freed from the brooding of that most bloody robber, may be restored to a catholic bishop and may alike recover its liberty and its quiet. But indeed let that wicked parricide, who is at once guilty before the divine laws and the human, brought back to the same place by which right he had before been thrust out, be drawn away from the innocent slaughter of souls; let the poisons of that deadly head depart far from the realm of your Piety, which poisons, since with ears stopped against the words of the saving preaching they could not receive the healing words, being led away from the destruction of human assembly, may waste away in the solitude befitting their own virulence. The more, therefore, do I, the minister of his see, such as I am, adjure your Piety by the voice of the blessed apostle Peter, that you do not allow the enemies of the ancient faith to rage unpunished—you who desire to have your foes made subject; that you may decree the peace of the true confession to be preserved by all the churches of the Lord—you who desire to hold the world of your empire in peace; that you may suffer the one hope of salvation, which leads the human race to the heavenly kingdoms and to eternal life, to be violated in no part—you who desire God to be appeased either for your realm or for your salvation. May Almighty God preserve your kingdom and your salvation with perpetual protection, most glorious and most merciful emperor. Given on the fourth day before the Ides of January, in the consulship of Basiliscus Augustus.

ZENONI AUGUSTO SINPLICIUS EPISCOPUS. Cuperem quidem, quantum ad meae spectat deuotionis arbitrium, qua principes Christianos iugi ueneratione suspicio, debita. pietati uestrae continuis officia deferre colloquiis. sed cum ad huius inten- tionis augmentum etiam sacrae cura religionis accedat, ratio mihi negotii potioris incumbit, ut simul honorificentiam uobis prona mente persoluam et causas fidei fidenter insinuem,: quia me ad utrumque uel dicata trahit clementiae uestrae semper affectio uel respectus ordinis mei et apostolici modera- minis sollicitudo compellit. functus igitur, gloriosissime ac clementissime fili imperator Auguste, munere salutandi, 1 reuocandidis V 2 a ueritatis o: alieritatis V ferocfüs que V 8 486. sentiant Ballerinii ὅθ. Dat. simul cum epp. 58 et 59 a. 476 die 10 Ian. Epp. 566—859, 61—66, 68—81 extant etiam in. codice Berolinensi lat. 79 (— Phillipp. 1776) saec. IX, cutus lectiones subscribam adposita littera B. Ep. 56 edd. Car. I? 310; Bar. ad a. 476,9; Collect. Concil.; BTA I208; Thiel, Epp. Roman. pontif. 1179. — 12 zgNoN1 αὐαῦϑτο Simplicius episcopus V: svuPLICIUS BASILICO AUGUSTO B Basilisci nomen quamuis rectis- sime, nescio tamen an sola coniectura restituens, cum haec epistula ut data Zenoni iam anno 553 commemorelur a Vigilio $n Constit. de tribus capp. — ep.83$ 295 18 meum expectatarbitrium quia B 14 ueratione suspitio 8 pietatis B 15 desterre B 16 sacre cura V: sca puritas tuae B l7 denegotii B 18 et om. B 19 trahet B 20 atfecio αὶ 21 com- pelliti fultus B 22 ac V: et B 5 10 en 10 15 Epist. LYVI 2—4. 125 quae in ecclesiis Orientis per haereticorum latrocinia recidiua rursus dicuntur scandala concitari, nec debeo silere nee pos- sum, nam sicut iu meam notitiam feruentium pro fide catho- liea detulerunt scripta monachorum, comperi Timotheum par- reidam, qui Aegyptiae pridem uastator ecclesiae in morem Cain, ut lectio diuina testatur, eiectus a facie dei, hoc est ab eeclesiae dignitate seciusus, et tamquam per deserta ua- gus sceleratae conscientiae diu tormenta passurus in exilium proprii erroris abductus est, resumptis pristini furoris incen- diis conflasse nihilominus agmína perditorum et Alexandrinae urbis ecelesiam, quam sacerdotali prius sanguine eruentauit, ipsum denuo nunc eruentum depulsione legitimi peruasisse pontifieis, αὖ eui illa relegationis humilitas inicere debuerit 3 ex his, quae impie gesserat, aculeum paenitendi, nutriendae potius otia praebuisse uideatur atrocioris insaniae. quo procul dubio Cain ipso longe detestabilior adprobatur: ille siquidem à perpetrato semel facinore damnatus abstinuit, hic proficit ad crimina maiora post poenam. nee eo tamen scelerum fine contentus Constantinopolitanam insuper urbem recti sem- per dogmatis amore flagrantem, ne quid intemeratum populator humanae salutis omitteret, fertur audacter ingressus et a suae consortibus prauitatis libenter audisse soli Christo de- bitam uocem, qua plane non in nomine domini uenire benedictus sed diuini culminis usurpator euidenter mon- 6 sq. cf. Gen. 4, 14. 23 cf. Matth. 21, 9 quam B: etiam quam V — 8 Jiu V: du B exilio B 9 sduotiis resumpteis (om. est) B pristinis B incendimus B 11 qm sacer- dotalia B — 12 cruentum V: locum, B legittimi V 18 inicere V: mmecrre ΒΒ 14 his V: is B gesserit acaleum .B nutriendi 8 15 quo om. B 16 destestabilior Β 20 populater B 21 omitteret fertur audacter V: omittereretur audatur .B 28 plane V: plena B domini om. E 24. benedictos reddiuini .B monstratus est B: est monstratus V i 126 Simplicii papae epistulae Stratus est anlichristus. qui cum etiam ἃ communione catho- lica tam laudabiliter esset exclusus, per quorundam priuatas domos respersis humano sanguine manibus non diuina sacrificia sed sacrilegia celebrasse memoratur. in quo utique non eius est firmata susceptio sed consciorum diuulgata pro- ditio cum eodem de illa iniquitatis sede, nisi resipiscant, omnimodis casurorum, quam sicut diabolus pater eius altis- simo similem se faciens aeternam sibi perfidus construere non desinii ad ruinam. M haec, uenerabilis imperator, cum horreat animus uel a tanto gladiatore fuisse temptata, ma- ximo iamen, fateor, stupore detineor sub uestrae pietatis aspectibus potuisse committi. quis enim deuotam semper deo clementiae uestrae mentem οὖ orthodoxis deditam regulis aut ignoret aut ambigat? quippe qui supernae dispositione pro- uidentiae, sicut pro utilitate publica augustae memoriae Marciani pariter et Leonis eruditi uirtutibus, sic eorum sitis etiam ad catholicam ueritatem sensibus instituti nec cuiquam omnino sit dubium pietatem tuam illorum fidei esse sequacem, quorum es successor imperii ^ quae cum de uestrae tran- quilitatis animo certa ab omnibus teneantur et fixa, absit, ut temporibus uestris diuini cultus integritas et antiquitus roborata fidei catholicae putetur interpolanda sinceritas. re- Spicite quaeso ad diuina beneficia et, quae sint uobis conlata, perpendite atque, ut haec prospera ualeant permanere, pro- pitiandum esse censete auctorem muneris, non laedendum. inter quaslibet enim occupationes publicas a religioso principe magnopere procurandum est, quod eius protegit principatum, et praeferenda cunctis rebus est caelestis obseruantiae rec- e 10 1 Epist. LVI 5—9. 197 titudo, sine qua recte nulla consistunt. ^ suppetunt affatim 8 clementiae tuae, si in palatii sui requiri mandet archiuis, cum nostrorum coeuntia definitione maiorum documenta copiosa, neque enim conseientiam uestram latere credendum est, quae per eunetas prouincias Orientis ek ipsa imperii uestri arce diffusa sunt, illa scilicet, quae 1161] ad augustae memoriae Marciani nihilominus et Leonis uel ad Calchedonensis concilii beatae recordationis prodecessor meus Leo consulta direxit et quibus ita plene atque dilucide sacramentum dominicae in- carnationis exposuit, ut non modo catholicus sed nec Chri- stianus quidem ualeat nuneupari, quisquis illic redemptionis suae causas non euidenter agnoscat. certe ut facilius uobis necessaria non desit instructio, earundem exemplaria litterarum ad fratrem et coepiscopum meum Acacium misi uestris sen- sibus offerenda. haec igitur pietas tua si recensere dignetur 9 uel quae totius Orientis episcopi de huius praedicationis consensione rescripserint, aspiciet profecto et examinata dili- genter et ueraciter promulgata atque ideo pestiferae falsitatis ambagibus nequaquam debere pulsari, quia reuera, quae de scripturarum fonte purissimo sincera perspicuaque manarunt, nullis agitari nebulosae uersutiae poterunt argumentis. perstat enim in successoribus suis haec eadem apostolicae norma doctrinae, cui dominus curam totius ouilis iniunxit, cui se usque in finem saeculi minime defuturum, eui portas inferi numquam praeualituras esse promisit, cuius sententia quae 23 sq. cf. Ioh. 21, 15 sq., Matth. 28, 20 24 sqq. cf. Matth. 16, 18 sq. lIsinaB ἢ mandit B 8 coeontia B — ducumenta B 4 constien- tiam B 5 ipsa om. V arche B 6 sunt V: est B 7 uel ad B: uelud V . 8 processor V direxerit B 8 et scripsi: ἃ V, om, B 9 plenae sdque delucide B 10 nec VB: ne cod. Angelic. 11 quidem om. B 12 suáe B non om. B agnoscit B 18 earum de B 14 misi om. .B 15 offerendà .B l7 et om. V 18 fulsitatis V 19 deberi .B 80 perspicua quae V ?21agritare nobulosae B pre stat V 29 eadem B: et &adem ὀ 23 obilis VB — 24 saeculi V: om. B cui B: cum V. inferi V et Vulgata: inferni .B 128 | Simplicii papae epistulae ligarentur in terris, solui testatus est non posse nec caelo. lOquapropter clementiam uestram, cui mea uice propensius frater et coepiscopus meus Acacius supplicabit, precor atque obsecro, ut imitatores facti tantorum et talium praecessorum nefandae praesumptionis operarios catholico pectore respuentes regia censealis potestate cohiberi. quisquis aliud, sicut prae- dixit apostolus, praeterquam aecepimus seminare molitur, anathema sit. nullus ad aures uestras pernieiosis mentibus subripiendi pandatur accessus, nulla retractandi quippiam de ueteribus constitutis fiducia concedatur, quia, sicut saepius iterandum est, quod apostolicis manibus cum ecclesiae uni- uersalis adsensu acie meruit euangelicae falcis abscidi, uigorem sumere non potest renascendi nec in dominicae uitis fructiuam ualet redire propaginem, quod igni deputatum constat aeterno. Sic haeresum denique machinamenta cunctarum ecclesiasticis prostrata decretis numquam sinuntur oppugnaltionis elisa llreparare certamina. ante omnia autem quaeso, ut beati Marci euangelistae sedes (Alexandrinam loquor ecclesiam) a cruentis- simi praedonis incubatione liberata catholico reformetur anti- stiti libertatemque suam pariter recipiat et quietem. at uero improbus parricida, qui diuinis simul reus est legibus et humanis, reductus eodem, quo iure fuerat ante detrusus, ab 6 cf. Gal. 1, 8 intem quae B ad B 29 re erat (om. ante) detrusus B 0 e $ Epist. LVI 10 — LVII 1. 129 innocentium nece retrahatur animarum; procul a regno pietatis uestrae funesti capitis uenena discedant, quae quoniam saluti- ferae praedicationis auribus obturatis medicantia uerba capere nequiuerunt, ab humani conuentus abducta pernicie in uirulen- tiae suae congrua solitudine contabescant. ^ quo magis 8012 magis pietatem tuam beati Petri apostoli uoce qualiscumque sedis eius minister obtestor, ut inimicos antiquae fidei non sinatis impune grassari, qui uestros optatis hostes habere sub- leetos; ut uerae confessionis pacem cunetas domini seruare t decernatis ecelesias, qui orbem uestri desideratis imperii te- nere paeatum; ut unicam spem salutis, quae genus hominum ad regna caelestia uitamque perducit aeternam, nulla patia- mini parte uiolar, qui plaeatum deum uel regno uestro cupitis uel saluti. ^ Omnipotens deus regnum et salutem ]3 : uestram perpetua protectione conseruet, gloriosissime οὗ clementissime imperator. ^ Data est IIIT. Iduum Ian. Basilisco Augusto consule.