Letter 107: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to Epiphanius, Bishop of Constantinople. We bless the Lord with the affection of brotherly love, because we have learned not only from the synodal report that you have worthily attained to the priesthood, but we also confirm it by your deeds and character; and the rank of your merit has so revealed itself in its effects that we would believe everything even before the testimony of our brothers and fellow bishops. For what they promise that you are able to accomplish by your conduct, we see that you have fulfilled; and, as if the grace of peace had been reserved for your faith, so the prayers for unity have until now been deferred. By the divine predestination of those men there came to your charity the name by which you are called, under which, the spirit of concord appearing, it has come about that we may say: behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Wherefore, rendering in Christ our Lord the offices of greeting, we exhort you to continue the praiseworthy practice of a good work begun, according to the holy Gospel, by which we are admonished: he who shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. Exhort, therefore, the rest, invite them with admonitions, gather them with kind encouragements, because the multiplied returns of the talent entrusted are divine sacrifices. Moreover, we have received it most gratefully that we have learned of the promotion of your charity through John, our brother and fellow bishop, and also through Heraclianus the presbyter and Constantine, our sons, as intermediaries; than which we think nothing is sweeter; and since the aforesaid men praised you, even though they did it out of the obedience they had undertaken, yet not without reason, we have been made blessed of all men, because a worthy reporter stood forth as messenger of a worthy matter, so that you might have a most complete proof of honor from the merits of the legates. [...to the pope:] We have received a golden chalice set with gems, a silver paten, and another silver chalice, and two veils, sent by your charity to serve the ministry of the basilica of blessed Peter the Apostle. Given on the seventh day before the Kalends of April, in the consulship of Valerius.

HORMISDA EPIPIIAMO EPISCOPO COXSTANTINOPOLITANO. Beue- dicimus dominum fraternae caritatis affectu, quia non solum synodica relatione ad sacerdotium te digne peruenisse cogno- uimus sed factis atque moribus comprobamus et ita se meriti tui gradus patefecit effectibus, ut ante fratrum et coepi- 2 scoporum nostrorum testimonium cuncta crederemus. quod enim illi te promittunt posse moribus agere, nos uidemus implesse et, tamquam fidei tuae seruata pacis fuerit gratia, sic unitatis hactenus dilata sunt uota. diuina eorum praede- stinatione caritati tuae uocabulum quo nuncuparis accessit, sub quo spiritu apparente concordiae factum est, ut dicamus: ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare 3 fratres in unum! quapropter in Christo domino nostro reddentes officia salutationis hortamur, ut boni operis initiura laudabile continuet institutum secundum sanctum euangelium, quo monemur: qui perseuerauerit in fine, hic saluus erit. adhortamini igitur reliquos, inuitate monitis, coUigite blandimentis, quia talenti crediti multiplicata compendia 21 Psalm. 182, 1 25 Matth. 10, 22 1 aut cominunionis Thiel, et <alicnos a> communione Bar. 3 ad- a mittit V 6 ad om. ol, unde <in/ abscissos Car. 239, JDat. ut ep. 236. Edd. Car. P 551; Collect. Concil; BTA I 447; Thiel 965; commemorat Bar. ad a. 521^ 6. 16 posse moribus Thiel: possessoribus V, posse omnia Car. 18 eorum V: nimirum 20 concordia Car. Epist. CCXXXVIIII 2 — CCXXXX 2. 739 sacrificia sunt diuina. praeterea gratissime tulimiis, quod 4 lohanne fratre et coepiscopo nostro nec non Heracliano presbytero atque Constantino filiis nostris internuntiis promo- tionera caritatis tuae cognouimus, qua esse aliquid dulcius 5 non putamus, et cum te praedicti uiri, etsi pro obsequio suscepto facerent, non tamen ratione laudarent, boati omnium sumus, quod dignae rei nuntius relator dignus extabat, ut tibi absolutissime de legatorum meritis probatio sit honoris. et 5 XANU papae: Suscepimus calicem aureum gemmatum, patenam 10 argenteam et alium calicem argenteum et uela duo ministerio basilicae beati Petri apostoli profutura a caritate tua directa. Data VH. Kal. Apr. Ualerio cons.