Letter 133: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Of Pope Hormisdas to John, bishop of Illici [Elche]. The year 517. [Summary:] He gladly heard of that man's arrival in Italy and approves his zeal for the integrity of the faith. He indicates that through the deacon Cassian he has sent to the Spanish churches the general decrees and definite instructions concerning the affair of the Greeks. Finally, he commits his own office to him, the privileges of the metropolitans being reserved. To our most beloved brother John, Hormisdas. 1. Your Affection has done a thing befitting charity and faith, in that you made known to us by a letter sent directly your arrival in Italy, and showed how great is the sum of religious goodwill within you. And would that, to the full contentment of a richer affection, the joys of your presence had fallen to us, so that we might rejoice to enjoy the speech of him whom we have thus embraced through his writings! But you have also given proof, most beloved brother, with what affection you reverence the Christian faith, in that you desire those things which pertain to the rules of the fathers and to the catholic mandates to be preserved without any transgression: hoping that, once the general decrees have been extended to the Spanish churches, we may sanction in accordance with ecclesiastical disciplines those things which are done either too negligently or too irreligiously. We have embraced the opportunity, seized upon, of this desire. For what is either sweeter to us than to speak with the faithful, or more blessed than to recall from error those who go astray? Greeting you therefore, in the charity by which we are joined, through your deacon Cassian we make known that we have sent the general decrees, by which we have either fittingly declared those things which ought to be observed according to the canons, or, concerning those who come from the clergy of the Greeks, we have sufficiently set forth what caution ought to be had. But the adjoined instructions from the ecclesiastical archives will also teach you the order of the matter itself, so that, recognizing both the transgression of the impious and the care of the apostolic see keeping watch on behalf of the rules of the fathers, you may show that through your hatred of [...] you love the fellowship of the faithful. 2. And because through the intimation of your Affection a way of this providence has been opened up to us, we requite your solicitude, and, the privileges of the metropolitans being preserved, we delegate to you the office of the apostolic see to this extent: that you be on the watch-towers, and that either those things which pertain to the canons and have been commanded by us be observed, or, if anything worthy of report should occur in ecclesiastical matters, it be disclosed to us under your intimation. This shall be a mark of your study and solicitude, that you show yourself in these things which are enjoined such that you imitate the faith and integrity of him whose care you undertake. Given on the fourth day before the Nones of April [2 April], in the consulship of Agapitus, most illustrious. Era 555. [The year 517, 2 April.]

Hormisdae papae ad Johannem Illicitanum episcopum. a.5i7d. S- Libenter se de illius in lialiani adventu audivisse ei probare ejus pro fidei in- tegritate studium. Pei' Cassianum diaconum se generalia constituta et certas in- strtictiones de Graecorum causa ad Hispanas ecclesias direxisse significai. De- nique vices ei suas reservatis privilegiis metropolitanorum committit. Dilectissimo fratri Johanni Hormisda. 1. Fecit dilectio tua rem caritati et fidei congnientem, ut^) adventum ad Italiam suum nobis directis litteris indicaret, et quae in te sit summa religiosae voluntatis ostenderet. Atque utinam ad plenioris affectus satietatem praesentiae tuae nobis gaudia contigis- sent, ut^) gratularemur nos ejus eloquio frui, quem ita sumus per scripta complexi! Verum etiam probasti, dilectissime frater, quo Christianam fidem venereris affectu, dum ea, quae ad regulas patrum pertinent et ad mandata catholica, sine aliqua cupis transgressione servari: sperans, ut prorogatis generalibus ad Hispanienses ecclesias constitutis, quae^) aut negligeutius aut irreligiosius fiunt, ecclesia- sticis disciplinis congruentia sanciamus. Amplexi"*) sumus captatam istius desiderii facultatem. Quid enim aut nobis dulcius, quam cum fidelibus loqui, aut-^) beatius, quara deviantes ab errore revocare? Salutantes igitur, caritate ") qua jungimur, per Cassianum diaconum tuum significamus, nos direxisse generalia constituta, quibus vel ea quae juxta canones servari debeant competenter ediximus, vel circa eos, qui ex clero Graecorum veniunt, quam haberi oporteat cautio- nem, sufficienter instruxiraus. Sed et causae ipsius ordinem in- «tructiones ') adjunctae de scriniis ecclesiasticis vos docebunt, ut aguoscentes et impiorura transgressionera et apostolicae sedis curara 24 *) J* et adventum ad It. suum n. diieciis ... indicare ... tendere. cc ut adven- ium tuum, * 3) 0*** add. superius forte pro super iis. J' constiiulis super quia nut ... san- iiamus. 50* "»: 788 8. HOKMISDAE PAPAE a. 517. pro patrum reguHs excubantem, ostendatis vos per odia^) d torum consortia amare fidelium. 2. Et quia per insinuationem dilectionis tuae hujus nobis via^) patefacta providentiae , remuneramus soUicitudinem tuam, servatis privilegiis metropolitanorum vices vobis apostolicae eatenus delegamus, ut in speculis ^^) sitis, et sive ea, quae ad canon pertinent et^*) a nobis sunt imper mandata, serventur, sive quid ecclesiasticis causis dignimi relatione contigerit, sub tua nobis i sinuatione pandantur. Erit hoc studii ac soUicitudinis tuae, ut tale te in his quae injuuguntur exhibeas, ut fidem integritatemque ej cujus curam suscipis, imiteris. Data IV Nonas Aprilis Agapito clarissimo consule. Era*^) DLV. el les de m us. "^ro a. 517 d. 2 April.