Letter 108: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

15. Of [or: to] Bishop Epiphanius. We rejoice that our brother and fellow bishop Epiphanius, having been taken up - by God's favor - into the office of the priestly ministry at most fortunate Constantinople, has come to us through your brotherhood's report, because reports are received in a way all the more welcome when a beloved person has conveyed them; and the joy that arises is the greater, in proportion to the authority of the messenger, the more there is nothing about the testimony that can be disputed. (2) Thus was it fitting, dearest ones to us, thus was it becoming to disclose your affection toward your neighbor, that through you there might be made known to the Apostolic See what shines forth in his character and holiness - how thoroughly he long ago steeped himself in good principles, as you too affirm - so that there is no stronger testimony of merit than that which has been called forth in honor of a priest. For what is there that could be held doubtful concerning him, in whom, with respect to good character, under the proof of the concord that was achieved [...] the divine things were beforehand received? (3) Wherefore you act in a holy manner, you act in a religious manner, you act in a dutiful manner, in that you willingly render testimony to the truth, in that you do not deny a reward to the well-deserving: because the same error it is to keep silent the truth as it is to lend support to falsehoods, and the same injustice it is if honor be denied to pleasing characters as it is if it be granted to the unworthy. It is certain, most loving ones, that you who make this known share in the praises of the priest, because that which is praised as existing in the one whom you chose from among yourselves is credited to the whole order of your brotherhood. (4) May Almighty God, preserving in perpetuity the peace of his own faith, so strengthen with great firmness your election and ordination - which you religiously entrusted to be conveyed to the Apostolic See through John our brother and fellow bishop, and likewise through the presbyter Heraclianus and the deacon Constantine, our sons - and so dispel all the struggles of those who disagree, so restrain the hearts of the dissenting, that, just as a token of pacification has been given under our brother and fellow bishop Epiphanius, we may give thanks for the result. Issued on the seventh day before the Kalends of April [26 March], in the consulship of Valerius [521]. [Editorial apparatus and source notes: line 2, "to his brother John" in F, corrected by me; line 3, "of the inter-messenger" in T, corrected; "promotion" corrected from "pronouncement" in V; line 6, "to thee" in V; "so great" in Car. - 240. Bar. as in epistle 230. Editions: Car. P 550; Collectio Concil.; BTA I 447; Thiel 966; mentioned by Baronius at the year 521, sections 6 and 14. Line 14, "CONSTANTINOPOLITAN" in F, corrected by p; line 16, "most fortunate" (accusative) in F, corrected by p; line 21, "because" in Car., "in which" in V; line 26, "merits" in Car. - 740. Justinus to Hormisdas; Epiphanius of Constantinople to Hormisdas.] [Register heading:] PROCEEDINGS LV. THE CASE OF ABUNDANTIUS, BISHOP OF TRAIANOPOLIS, WE HAVE IN THE ARCHIVE.

15 EPiPHANii EPiscopi. Fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum Epi- phanium apud felicissimam deo fauente Constantinopolim in officium muneris sacerdotalis adsumptum peruenisse ad nos fraternitate uestra referente gaudemus, quia gratius quodam- modo suscipiuntur indicia, quae significauerit amata persona, 2u et tanto maius pro auctoritate nuntii nascitur gaudium, quanto non est quod de testimonio disputetur. sic erat 2 congruum, karissimi nobis, sic se circa proxirauin patefacere decebat aifectum, ut per uos sedi apostolicae innotescat, quod moribus et sanctitate fulgeret, quod usque adeo se olim bonis 25 sicut et uos asseritis, imbuit institutis, ut non sit fortius meriti testiraonium quam in honorem' sacerdotis adscitum. quid est enira, quod de eo habeatur ambiguum, in quo de 2 iohanni fratri F, correxi 3 internuncii 7, corr. p promotionem ex pronunciationem corr. V 6 tiTi V: tantuni Car. 240. Bat. ut ep. 230. Edd. Car. P 550; Collect. Coticil; BTA I 447; Thiel 966; commemorat Bar. ad a. 521, 6. 14 constantino- POLITAXO F, corr. p 16 felicissimum F, corr. p 21 quod Car.: quo V 26 meritis Car. 740 lastinus Hormisdae; Epiphanius Cpolitanus Hormisdae bonis moribus sub probatione factae concordiae praesusceptae 3 * * sunt diuina? quapropter facitis sancte, facitis religiose, facitis pie, quod ueritati testimonium libenter impenditis, quod praemium bene meritis non negatis: quia idem error est tacere ueritatem, qui est falsis adsistere, et eadem * iniustitia est si negetur honor moribus placitis, quae est si concedatur indignis. certum est, amantissimi, participari uos cum sacerdotis laudibus intimatis, quia omni fraternitatis uestrae ordini transcribitur, quod in uno, quem ex uobis 4 elegistis, esse laudatur. deus omnipotens fidei suae pacem lo sub perpetuitate conseruans electionem ordinationemqueuestram, quam insinuandam sedi apostolicae per lohannem fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum nec non et Heraclianum presbyterum atque Constantinum diaconum filios nostros religiose credidistis, tanta firmitate confortet et ita omnium discordantium lucta- is mina disiciat, ita dissidentium corda compescat. ut, quemad- modum sub fratre et coepiscopo nostro Epiphanio pacificationis datum est indicium, gratulemur eflfectum. Data VII. Kal. April. Ualerio cons. GESTA LV CAUSA ABUNDANTII EPISCOPI TRAIA< NO >POLITANI IN »0 SCRINIO HABEMUS.