Letter 2008: From the see most worthy of reverence — Avitus to Pope Hormisdas.

To the most worthy occupant of the see, Pope Hormisdas, from Avitus. Since you perceive that it accords with the state of religion and with the full rules of the Catholic faith that the watchful care of your exhortation should shape the flock entrusted to you throughout all the members of the universal Church, last year - if you deign to remember - you visited the province of Vienne with a letter sent to my humility; and your words reached me through the clergy of the church of Arles, according as the offered opportunity had granted, and indeed they were most full of pastoral solicitude. In them, just as you summon us to the communion of rejoicing through the conversion of the provinces - that is, of Dardania, Illyricum, and Scythia - so likewise you instruct us with most cautious admonition, lest anything be able to anticipate us through ignorance. The condemnation, therefore, of Eutyches and Nestorius, whom long ago the authority of your holy see trampled down through your most blessed predecessors, was brought to our notice some time ago by the providence of the apostolic diligence shown toward us. But one thing now renders us greatly suspended and anxious: that, although you bade us wait with every effort of expectation for the outcome of the legation sent a second time to Constantinople, you have indicated neither what your holy son, my brother Ennodius, reported, nor whether it returned having succeeded; and you keep your promise in suspense by so long a silence that the silence of the preacher now leaves us no less astonished than the delay of the legation had earlier left us in suspense. For this sole reason I have sent your servants, my sons, Aletius the presbyter and Viventius the deacon, in the name of the whole province of Vienne (which has been committed to the church belonging to me by all your predecessors and by the apostolic see), together with this present document of service: so that through them I may learn from the oracle of your most blessed reply whether the fervor of the aforesaid schisms - which had blazed up within the city of Constantinople through the vice of pernicious obstinacy, and to which (what is the more to be lamented) you say the churches of Alexandria and Antioch are bound - has, with Christ's favor and your teaching, been quenched by worthy correction; or whether the returned legation displayed in plain documents something that might be read straightforwardly, or whether perhaps it reported more by word of mouth, whence some suspicion of this sort is reserved for you. For we fear lest the pontifical judgment, while it does not announce favorable things, may have perceived adverse ones. To this is added that we have learned by the faithful report of various persons that Greece boasts of a reconciliation or concord with the Roman church. This, just as it is to be embraced if it is truly spoken, so it is to be feared lest it be cunningly feigned. We therefore all beg, by my service, that you instruct us as to what reply ought to be given to your sons, my brothers - that is, the Gallican bishops - if you think it fitting. For since I confidently promise, not to say of Vienne but of the devotion of all Gaul, that all will seek your judgment concerning the state of the faith: pray that the feigned profession of the lost may not deceive us, just as the truth made known does not separate us from the unity that you govern. [Received on the third day before the Kalends of February, in the consulship of Agapitus. By Aletius the presbyter and Viventius the deacon.] Hormisdas to Bishop Avitus and to all the bishops of the province of Vienne residing under your diocese. He who, knowing best, desires to be instructed concerning those things which pertain to Catholic discipline, plainly shows what zeal he has for the divine commands. For there cannot be care of this kind except where the faith has been unfeigned. And therefore we rejoice at the sincerity of your purpose, most beloved brother, when we behold you, according to the letters directed through Aletius the presbyter and Viventius the deacon, both recalling the decrees of the apostolic see concerning those impious transgressors Eutyches and Nestorius, and inquiring whether our admonition has accomplished anything against them, by whom the Eastern churches are thrown into confusion. A solicitude clearly worthy of the faithful, that they should groan over the lapses of the wretched and themselves take care lest they be polluted by another's contagion. But do not believe that we have neglected this either - that, if anything had been done, suitable information should bring it to your notice. Yet briefly let us clear away our silence, by which your love is stung. For as to the fact that our admonition does not visit you more often, we trust in the stability of your conscience and faith. Solicitude must perhaps be expended on the doubtful: for the perfect, it is enough to have pointed out what is to be shunned. But concerning our legation - which we sent once, not a second time as you write - if a desired outcome had befallen it, we would at once have been eager to share with you the things longed for: knowing that this accords with reason and with our own purpose, that with those whom we have made partners in our solicitude we should join the joys of restored unity. But as for the Greeks, they put forward vows of peace with the mouth rather than with the heart, and they speak just things more than they do them: in words they boast that they are willing, while by their works they declare themselves unwilling; what they have professed, they do not exhibit; the things they have condemned, these they follow. For how does it come about that, although through our brother and fellow-bishop Ennodius they had promised that they would send priestly men to confirm those things which the apostolic see had demanded, also promising many things which had been required of them by us for the correction of their depravity, they not only did not send - according to their own decrees - the religious men in whose hands the full settlement of the matter itself might lie, but moreover, as though some trifling matter were being conducted, by appointing laymen and persons foreign to the ecclesiastical body, they not only made no effort to extricate themselves from the mire in which they are held immersed, but even believed - which God forbid - that they could darken with their dullness the brightness of the Catholic faith as it shines? This was the cause of our silence, which you too have seen, your spiritual prudence revealing it to you. For what could I indicate concerning this matter by sending letters, when I saw it stubbornly guarding its perfidy unchanged in its condition? New developments require that the diligence of a report inquire carefully: he who indicates nothing about known matters amply declares that the former state of things remains as it was. Wherefore, most beloved brother, we both exhort you with these present words, and through you also, since the occasion has been given, we admonish others throughout Gaul whom the same faith embraces together with us: keep the promised and God-pleasing constancy of faith, and, having declined the fellowship of transgressors, present your constancy as a chaste virgin to the one man, Christ, as you have pledged; and beware lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, so the minds of some be corrupted from the simplicity and chastity that is in Christ Jesus. The blandishments of the harmful are pernicious, and therefore it is fitting for you to be watchful: for the adversary of human salvation, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour; resist him, strong in faith. For those who follow and love the footsteps of their father, cast down from the citadel of heaven, have this peculiar trait: that, deprived of the light of truth, they rejoice that others too should be darkened by their obscurity, and, since they know that they are to pay the penalties of their perversity, they exult if they join the wretched to their own condemnation. For how does it come about that, although for the most part they are abandoned by their neighbors the Thracians, Dardanians, and Illyrians, who have recognized their perversity, they strive to entice those set far off, in hope of their ignorance, by frauds or various arts, except in order that they may also defile others with impious contagion in the light which they themselves do not possess? But that you may be able to recognize what the inclinations of those regions are: many of the Thracians, though they are worn down by the assaults of persecutors, nevertheless persist in our communion, knowing that faith is made brighter through adversities. Dardania and Illyricum, neighbors of Pannonia, sought from us - which we have already done, where it was necessary, that bishops should be ordained for them - rejoicing to separate themselves so far from the fellowship of the lost that they sought remedies, provided only that they should have nothing in common with the transgressors. The metropolitan of Epirus - that is, the bishop of Nicopolis - lately separated from the impious together with his synod, betook himself, by a declared profession by which he accomplished it, to apostolic communion. These things we have judged ought to be inserted in the present writing, so that, just as it is fitting for us to grieve over the lot of those perishing, so we may rejoice equally over the salvation of those returning, and so that the faithful, established at a distance from them, may be instructed by what solicitude their poison ought to be avoided - those whom they see shunned even by their own people with so just a detestation. And we indeed, mindful of our stewardship, must needs approach them with the duty of a renewed legation, so that, if they are not moved by regard for their own salvation, by respect for God, or by the consideration of reason, they may at least yield to those who knock importunately and persistently, and either, their errors set aside, return to the right way, or, on account of their impenitent heart, be judged inexcusable by all - they who, though so often admonished, persist in the obstinacy of perfidy. Do you pray and join with us your prayers and vows to God, that through the help of His mercy our action, laboring for the stability of the Catholic faith, may make progress, preserving you spotless and whole from all fellowship with transgressors, so that either we may join minds and hearts with the corrected, or may deserve to be untouched by their poisons. For we who know - as you too testify that your conscience is not hidden from us - that Eutyches and Nestorius were condemned by the authority of the apostolic, that is, the Catholic judgment: how shall we be able to be saved if we cling in any part of communion to their followers and successors, since Belial cannot have a portion with our Christ? Moreover, we believe it concerns your instruction that we should make known to you, by the reading of the documents themselves, those things which have been done among us by the Nicopolitans and Dardanians, or in what order they have been received into communion. Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of March, in the consulship of Agapitus.

sede dignissimo, papae Hormisdae Avitus. Dum religionis statui et plenis catholicae fidei regulis perspicitis convenire, ut gregem per tota vobis universalis ecclesiae membra commissum pervigil cura vestrae adhortationis informet, Viennensem provinciam superiore anno, si meminisse dignamini, datis ad humilitatem meam litteris visitastis, quaeque ad me, secundum quod oppor- tunitas oblata contulerat, per Arelatensis ecclesiae clericos pervenerunt, et quidem plenissimae sollicitudine pastorali. In quibus nos, sicut per conversionem provincia- rum, id est Dardaniae, Hillyrici vel Scythiae, ad communionem gaudiorum provocatis, sic admonitione cautissima, ne quid nos per ignorantiam praevenire possit, instruitis. Eutychetis igitur Nestoriique damnatio, quos iamdudum per beatissimos decessores sanctae sedis vestrae calcavit auctoritas, ad notitiam iampridem nostram apostolicae ad nos diligentiae provisione perlata est. Sed illud nos modo suspensos multum redigit et anxios, quod, cum pendere nos ad effectum legationis secundo Constantino- polim destinatae omni expectationis studio iusseritis, nec quid filius vester sanctus frater meus Ennodius retulerit, nec utrum secuta redierit, indicastis et promissionem vestram tanta silentii diuturnitate suspenditis, ut non minus modo praedicatoris taci- turnitas reddat attonitos, quam antea fecerat legationis mora suspectos. Vnde sola causa servos vestros filios meos, Aletium presbyterum et Viventium diaconum, to- tius provinciae Viennensis nomine, quae ecclesiae ad me pertinenti ab universis de- cessoribus vestris et apostolica sede commissa est, cum praesentis famulatus pagina destinavi: per quos oraculo beatissimae responsionis agnoscam, utrum fervor scis- matum praefatorum, qui intra Constantinopolitanam urbem vitio perniciosae obstina- tionis exarserat cuique, quod magis dolendum est, Alexandrinam vel Antiochenam ecclesias dicitis inligatas, vobis Christo favente docentibus digna fuerit correctione restinctus, aut si reversa legatio in paginis evidentibus quod simplex legeretur, ex- hibuit, an forte nuntio magis retulit, unde vobis ad hoc qualiscumque suspicio reser- vetur. Veremur enim, ne pontificale iudicium, dum non indicat prospera, sensisset adversa. His adicitur, quod diversorum fida relatione comperimus de reconciliatione vel concordia ecclesiae Romanae iactitare se Graeciam. Quod sicut amplectendum, si veraciter dicitur, ita metuendum est, ne callide simuletur. Quaesumus ergo servitio meo cuncti, ut, quid filiis vestris, fratribus meis, id est Gallicanis, si consular, re- sponderi debeat, instruatis. Quia cum securus, non dicam de Viennensi, sed de totius Galliae devotione pollicear omnes super statu fidei vestram captare sententiam: orate, ut sic nos perditorum professio fucata non fallat, sicut ab unitate, quam regitis, veritas comperta non separat. [Accepta III. kl. Febr. Agapito consule. Per Aletium presbyterum et Viventium diaconum]. Hormisda Avito episcopo vel universis episcopis provinciae Viennensis sub tua dioecesi consistentibus. Qui de his, quae ad disciplinam catholicam pertinent, maxime sciens instrui cupit, quid studii circa mandata divina habeat, evidenter ostendit. Non enim potest esse huiusmodi cura, nisi ubi fides fuerit infucata. Atque ideo exultamus a sinceritate propositi tui, dilectissime frater, dum te secundum directas per Aletium presbyterum atque Viventium diaconum litteras intuemur et de impiis transgressoribus Eutychete atque Nestorio sedis apostolicae constituta recolere et, si quid adversum eos ad- monitio nostra promoverit, per quos Orientales ecclesiae confunduntur, inquirere. Digna plane sollicitudo fidelibus, ut de miserorum lapsibus ingemiscant et ipsi ne aliena polluantur contagione, provideant. Sed ne nos quidem hoc supersedisse cre- datis, ut ad notitiam vestram, si quid actum fuisset, competens perferret instructio. Verum breviter silentium nostrum, guo dilectio mordetur vestra, purgamus. Nam quod non saepius nostra admonitio vos frequentat, de conscientiae vestrae et fidei stabilitate confidimus. Sollicitudo impendenda fortasse sit dubiis: satis est vitanda indicasse perfectis. Legationis vero nostrae, quam semel, non secundo, sicut scribitis, misimus, si votivus contigisset eventus, alacres illico vobiscum fueramus desiderata partiti: scientes hoc rationi, hoc nostro proposito convenire, ut quos participes sollicitudinis fecimus, cum his redintegratae unitatis gaudia inngeremus. Sed quantum ad Graecos, ore potius praeferunt pacis vota, quam pectore, et loquuntur magis iusta. quam faciunt: verbis velle se iactant, quod operibus nolle declarant: quae fuerint professi, non exhibent, quae damnaverint haec sequuntur. Nam unde est, quod cum per En- nodium fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum sacerdotales viros ad confirmanda ea, quae sedes apostolica poposcerat, directuros se esse promisissent, multa quoque, quae ad correctionem pravitatis suae a nobis quaesita fuerant, pollicentes, non solum non reli- giosos viros, penes quos causae ipsius plena esse posset instructio, secundum con- stituta propria non miserunt: verum etiam, quasi res parva gereretur, laicos et alie- nos ab ecclesiastico corpore destinantes non se quondam studuerunt de caeno, quo inmersi tenentur, evolvere, verum etiam catholicae fidei claritate fulgente sua, quod absit, se posse crediderunt satietate fuscare. Haec fuit nostri causa silentii, quam vos quoque spiritali vobis prudentia revelante vidistis. Quid enim de hac causa po- teram directis litteris indicare, quam in statu suo videbam duram pertinaciter custo- dire perfidiam? Novi exitus sollicite diligentiam relationis inquirant: qui de rebus cognitis nihil indicat, abunde in statu suo manere priora declarat. Quapropter, di- lectissime frater, et vos praesentibus hortamur adloquiis et per vos quoque, quia oc- casio data est, alios per Gallias, quos fides eadem nobiscum amplectitur, admone- mus: promissam et amabilem deo fidei servate constantiam et transgressorum socie- tate declinata constantiam vestram uni viro virginem castam, sicut spopon- distis, exhibete Christo, et cavete ne, sicut serpens Evam seduxit astutia sua, ita sensus aliquorum corrumpantur a simplicitate et casti- tate quae est in Christo Iesu. Perniciosa sunt blandimenta nocentium, atque ideo vigilare vos convenit: quia adversarius salutis humanae. sicut leo ru- giens circuit quaerens, quem devoret: cui resistite fortes in fide. Quia hoc speciale habent patris sui de caeli arce deiecti, qui vestigia eius sequuntur et diligunt, ut illa veritatis luce privati alios gaudeant sua obscuritate fuscari et cum perversitatis suae poenas luituros esse se sciant, exultent, si miseros cum sua condemnatione coniungant. Nam unde est, quod, cum pro magna parte a conterminis suis Thracibus, Dardanis, Hillyriis cognita eorum perversitate deserantur, procul po- sitos ignorantiae spe, fraudibus aut variis artibus nituntur adlicere, nisi ut lucem quam ipsi non habent, in aliis quoque impia contagione commaculent? Vt autem quae sint partium earum studia, possitis agnoscere, plures Thracum, licet persequen- tium incursibus atterantur, in nostra tamen communione persistunt scientes fieri fidem per adversa clariorem. Dardania et Hillyricus vicina Pannoniae a nobis, quod iam fecimus, ubi necessarium fuit, ut sibi episcopi ordinarentur, expetiit in tantum se a consortio perditorum separare gaudentes, ut remedia quaererent, dummodo commune cum transgressoribus nihil haberent. Epiri metropolitanus, hoc est Nicopolitanus epi- scopus, cum synodo sua nuper segregatus ab impiis ad apostolicam communionem deprompta, qua efficeret, professione se contulit. Quae ideo scriptis aestimavimus indenda praesentibus, ut, sicut sortem nos convenit dolere pereuntium, ita laetemur pariter de salute remeantium et ut fideles constituti ab eis longius instruantur, qua virus eorum sollicitudine debeat effugi, quos et a suis videant tam iusta detestatione vitari. Et nos quidem dispensationis nostrae memores necesse est eos repetitae le- gationis officio convenire, quo adfectu salvationis suae si respectu dei, si rationis in- tuitu non moventur, saltem pulsantibus inportune et pertinaciter adquiescant et aut ad rectam viam declinatis erroribus revertantur, aut propter impaenitens cor ab omnibus inexcusabiles iudicentur, qui et moniti totiens in perfidiae obstinatione persistunt. Vos orate et nobiscum ad deum preces et vota coniungite, ut per opem misericordiae eius nostra actio laborans pro catholicae fidei stabilitate promoveat, immaculatos vos et integros ab omni transgressorum societate servantes, ut aut cum correctis sensus et corda iungamus, aut ab eorum venenis intacti esse mereamur. Nam qui, sicut vos quoque conscientiam vestram non latere testamini, novimus Eutychetem atque Nesto- rium apostolicae, id est catholicae sententiae auctoritate damnatos: quemadmodum salvi esse poterimus, si eorum sectatoribus ac posteris qualibet parte communionis haereamus, cum Belial cum Christo nostro portionem habere non possit? In- structionis autem vestrae interesse credimus, ut ea, quae apud nos a Nicopolitanis vel Dardanis acta sunt vel quo in communionem ordine sint recepti, vobis nota fa- ceremus ipsarum lectione chartarum. Data XV. kl. Mart. Agapito consule.