Letter 109: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Justin Augustus to Hormisdas the Pope. So that what has befallen Paulus, a most reverend man, may be made plain to your apostolate [the papacy], who, endowed with the priesthood of the city of Antioch, is said to have so conducted himself [...] in many matters which are foreign to religious bishops: that he is accused of the betrayal of his own clergy, and likewise of the inhabitants of the said city, and moreover of numerous others, not only before the legates of your holiness stationed in this royal city, whom we judge that they too should be detained, but indeed even after their departure. Overcome by the testimony of his own bad conscience, and further terrified lest, once an inquiry had been held, the outcome of the affair should demand a graver penalty, he submitted documents of recusal, that it might be permitted him to withdraw from the office of the episcopate which, as has been said, he had taken up. Since therefore it both is and has been in our heart that the prelates of the cities should always be in the common love of all, whose souls they are believed <to have received> for governing, but Paulus, a most reverend man, of his own accord renounced his priesthood, as we have recounted, we have judged that the present letter should be directed [...] that it may be opened to you, and by your own prayers you may deign to obtain for us heavenly protection. Given on the Kalends of May at Constantinople, in the consulship of Justinian and Valerius, most distinguished men.

lusTiNus AUGUSTUS HORMiSDAE rAPAB. Ut quod in Paulo uiro reuerentissimo contigit apostolatui uestro patefiat, qui sacerdotio praeditus Antiocbenae ciuitatis ita uersatus esse m 1 po8t praesuscepte lacuna^n 11 fere litte)'arum reliquit V, praesus- cepta <argunienta> snnt BuU. Taur.; fortasse talia aliqua excideruntprsie' susceptae <spe8 operante clementia expletae^' sunt 9 transcribuntur V. corr. edit. reg. 14 filiis nostris F, corr. 15 luctumina dis- siciat Vj con\ 16 compescant F, corr. 17 epifanio V 19 apri- lis V 20 8q. uerba gesta . . habemus quae collectoris sunt litteris minusculis V man, 1 in noua linea scripsit tvaiapolitani V 241. Bat. (simul cum ep. 242) a. 521 die 1 Mai. Edd. Car. P 562; Bar. ad o. 521 37; Collect. Concil.; Thiel 983. 25 predictus V, corr. p Epist. CCXXXX 3 — CCXXXI 2. 741 dicitur in multis causis, quae religiosis alienae sunt episcopis. ut clericoi*um suorum proditione, habitatorum etiam dictae ciuitatis, aliorum insuper frequentium incusetur, non tantum legatis uestrae sanctitudinis in hac regia positis urbe, ut 5 ipsos quoque retinere censemus, uerum post eorum recessum : qui malae conscientiae suae uictus testimonio, territus insuper ne quaestione habita grauiorem formam exitus rei posceret, recusatorios libellos obtulit, ut liceret ei secedere a suscepto, sicut dictum est, episcopatus officio. quoniam igitur cordi 2 10 nobis et est et fuit, ut semper ciuitatum antistites in amore sint omnium communi, quorum regendas <accepisse> creduntur animas, Paulus autem uir reuerentissimus ultro se suo, prout memorauimus, abdicauit sacerdotio, praesentem epistolam duximus dirigendam « « uobis aperiatur et orationibus propiiis 15 caeleste nobis praesidium digneris acquirere. Data Kal. Mai. Constantinopoli lustiniano et Ualerio uu. cc. conss.