Letter 27: Simplicius writes to Acacius on a matter concerning the Alexandrian and Antiochene churches.

Simplicius, bishop, to Acacius, bishop of Constantinople. 1. As to how the beginning of the priesthood of the bishop of Antioch [Calendio] came to be reported to us rather late, although it might have been [communicated] with the least delay, [...] he himself, by his own synodical letter, made it known. And just as we did not wish this to happen, so we have proved indulgent toward the excuse which necessity made: because what is not voluntary cannot be called into account. And therefore, through our brother and fellow bishop Anastasius, who has been sent from the aforesaid region, the letters of your love having also been received, we have rendered to your charity the reciprocal exchange of discourse in turn; and, having of necessity embraced into the bosom of the apostolic see the priesthood of our brother and fellow bishop Calendio, we reckon him, through the grace of Christ our God, the prelate of so great a city, by the union of the college, into our fellowship. 2. We are astonished, however, that we have learned nothing from you instructing us about the state of the Alexandrian church, which we now find to be in such a condition that wicked men, by the occasion of the death of Timothy of holy memory, are attempting to hold that same church captive. Hence your love must take action with the most clement prince [emperor], lest there be torn away under his rule what could be obtained in the times of the tyrant [Basiliscus]. Given on the Ides of July, in the consulship of Severinus, most illustrious man.

SiinpliciP) papae ad Aeaciam. U 482 d jr T 1 ' Calendionis Antiocheni epiMcopi eUctionem confivmat Simplicius (w. l), Aracii silenfinni de Atcvandvina eccleaia simul arguens (n. 2). ' Simplicius opiscopus Acacio epistopo Oonstanti- n o p o 1 i t a n o. . 1. Antiocheni oxordium sacordotis '^) qua ratione fuerit serius indicatum, quamvis minimo nos hatore potuorit, tainen et ipse vd Haronius, qui hic submitteret ]>osuit, ])08toa ad oraiionis integritatem substitDers quoijuc (U*l)ut'rat rcciperetnr. Zeno autoni addita clausula, qua Caleiidionm " sine praejudicio canonum ordinari dcclaravit , sanctis Ecclpsiae regulis potestalOB ; suani submisit. Antiochiae episcopo fatis functo Stephanum alterum Zenonis imperaioris jMSsm im <^^ tocum ordinavn'unt. Quem /idei perduelles pro sua in Petntm FuUonem propen§imB in amentiae subsidium furorem armantes in sancti martt/ris Barlaam bapiisterio Mi» tis calamis perfossum ct necatum in Oronlem fluinum projecerunt, Zeno porro fmc^ nus attentatum ntturus Acacio Constantinopolitano praesuli ut Antiockiae erearet epi- scopum mandavit, qui consecravit Calendionem. Scriptores alios, qiii Calendion€ll ab Acacio ordinatum jiariter test-ati sunt, jam j^rotuli. QuibuB addo Theodore* tum juniorem, qui senioris historiam ecclesiasticam continuavit et qainque liblii .uixit, et Theodorum lectorem, in cujus frf?m. hb. H legimus: Scribii Mc Tkeoderma noster, Calcndionem Constantinopoti ordinatum fuisse, cum Theodoriio con$eniiens. . EPISTOLAE 10. 17. 207 syncKliis ipsius indicavit^). QikkI sicut non optavimus fieri, ita fa-a. 482. eiles excusatioui, quam necessitas feeit, exstitimus: quia quod vo- Imitarium non est, vocari non potest in reatum. Et ideo per fra- trem et eoepiscopum nostrum Anastasium, qui ex })raedicta reorione directus est, litteris quoque tuae dilectionis acceptis, alterni vicissi- tudinem sermonis tuae reddidimus cliaritati, necessario fratris et coepiscopi nostri Caleridionis sacerdotium gremio aj^ostolicae sedis amplexi^ in consortium nostrum per gratiam Christi Dei nostri tantae urbis antistitem collegii uiiione numeramus. 2. Miramur autem nihil nos de statu Alexandrinae *) ecdesiae te instruente didicisse, quem nunc ita habere se comj)erimus, ut im- probi per occasionem obitus sauctae memoriae Timotliei eamdem ecclesiam conentur habere cajitivam. Uude agendum est dileetioni tuae cum cleraentissimo principe, ne convellatur sub ejus imperio, qnod tyranni*) temporibus potuit obtineri. Data Idibus Julii Seve- rino viro clarissimo consule. -) Hie colligitur, Calendionei», nbi Constantinojjoli ordinntua C8t, continno Antiochiam contondisse , doinde comprobata in Oricntati nynodo cjus ordinatione sTncNlicam epintolam ejusdem indicem ad Sinij)liciuni miBisse pcr Aiutslasium Orientis epiBcopura. Quum itaque ait Simplicius C-iilcndionis ejnscopatus r.ror- dium &ibi aeriutt ipsius litteris indicatum^ hoc dicit liabita rationo tcnij)oris, quo Olud ex imperatoris litteris didicerat. Victor Tununensis de Calendioiiis ordi- nationc praefatus Bubdit: Orientales episropi lamquam nescienles Johannem cogno- menio Codonatutu eidem Antiochenae ecclesiae consecrarunt episcopum. Qui])us con- sentit Tbeophanes l. c. : Antiochenses ordinationis faclae nescii Johannem nomine Codonatum sibi praefecerunt , quem episcopum Calenf/io postmodum in Tyri sedem^ ^mae posl Aniiockiam prima est, transtuHt. Verum his repugnat, quod Simplicius epist. 15 n. 2 ex fide Zenonis imperatoris scribit , Calcndioncm Antiochcnis ^/;)m^ CmtMtanUnopolim iisdem petentibus ordinatum esse antistiteni. Id vcro Thoophani et Victori dedit errandi causam, quod Felix papa, Gelasius et Lib(Tatus de Johanne narrant, eum videlicet a Petro Fullonc Apamenis ordinatum et ab eis rpjectam, statim in Antiochenam ecclesiam ejecto ipso Fullone invasisse, ac de- nnnn Tjriis praefectum ab Acacio fuisse. Valesius quidem (in acbiotat. in Kvagr. in, 16 et maxime in dissert. ad ejd. op. calc. pa^. 185) hunc Johanuem, quom Tjrii* praefecit Acacius, non aliuni esse censens ab eo, queni Victor et Tlieo- phanes Codonatum vocant, eommdem narrationem adhil)ita quadani correctione admittit. Sed nova ejus bypotbesis \o\\^e difficilius componi cuni historica veri- taie potest. QuiB enim credat, Johannem ilhim, queni SimpHcius epist. 7 n. .3 tmh anaihemaie a Ckristianorum consortio vel appellationc romoverat, aut ab An- tiocheuiii cooptatom aut a Calendione praefectum T^Tnis fuisse, et eo praeser- tim tempore, quo et Zeno imperator et Ac^icius sese Simpbcio acUhctos et ca- tholicae fidei studiosos exhibebant. Nos igitur nulhim Codonatum fuisse susj^i- camnr, sed ex confusione eorum, (luae de Johatme ConstantinopoHtano SinipHcius Felix, Gelasins, Liberatus scripsere, conflatam osse Victoris ac Theo))hanis de Jnkanne Codonaio fabiilam. '-) Etasilisci videlicet, quamqnam liujus tyranni temporibus Timotheus hae-