Letter 112: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Anastasius Augustus to Hormisdas the pope. Divine concerns must be set before all other business: for we trust that, by the favor of God almighty, the commonwealth will both be preserved and made better. Since, therefore, certain doubts concerning the orthodox religion appear to have been stirred up in the regions of Scythia, it has especially pleased our clemency that a venerable synod be held in the city of Heraclea in the province of Europe: so that, with minds in concord and all the truth thoroughly examined, our true faith may become more manifestly known to the whole world, in order that henceforth there can be no doubt or discord. Wherefore let your holiness, together with such most reverend bishops as he shall please, whom he has approved, from among the churches established under the care of his priesthood, to be suitable and well instructed in regard to the orthodox religion, deign to come to the aforesaid city of Heraclea before the day of the Kalends of July. Given on the fifth day before the Kalends of January [28 December] at Constantinople, in the consulship of Senator, vir clarissimus [most distinguished man]. Received on the day before the Ides of May [14 May], in the consulship of Florentius, vir clarissimus.

Aiiastasii iiiiperat^ris ad Uoriiiisdam papaiii. ^s^Dec H. Ipsuin ad concilium fleracleae propler quasdam de /ide f/uaestiones in Scythia motas celehrandwn invitat. Anastasius Augustus Hormisdae papae. Omiiibus negotiis diyinae res praeponendae sunt: Deo etenini omnipotente propitio rempublicam et eonservandam et meliorandam esse confidimus. Quia igitur dubitationes quaedam de oiiliodoxa religione in Scythiae partibus videntur esse commotae, id specia- liter clementiae nostrae placuit, ut venerabilis synodus in Heracleo- tana civitate provinciae Europae celebretur^): quatenus concordanti- bus animis et omni veritate discussa vera fides nostra orbi terrarum omiii manifestius innotescat, ut deinceps nulla possit esse dubitatio vel discorJia. Quapropter sauctitas tua cum quibus sibi placuerit 2Conf. Aviti ep. ad Honn. (1. c. ep. 21), ad Joh. Constantinopol. (od. Sir- ,11, 41). 1 ') Pacifl initae cum Vitaliano, qiii in gratiam cathoUcorum rebeUaverat, una haec erat conditio secimdum Cedrenum ad an. 23, Anastasium scUicet im- peratorem conciUum Heracleac acturum. a. 514. reverentissimis*) episcopis, quos de ecclesiis sub sui sacerdotii cura coustitutis idoueos et instructos erga orthodoxam religionem esse probaverity ad praefatam Heracleotanam civitatem intra diemCalen- darum Juliarum venire dignetur. Data V Cal. Januarii Constanti- nopoli, Senatorc v. c. consule. Accepta pridie Idus Majas, Flo- rentio v. c. consule.