Letter 136: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to Anastasius Augustus. 1. Some time ago, when the envoys of Your Mildness were returning, I replied to your letters and instructions, not indeed in full upon every point, as the magnitude of the matter demanded, but treating it as the occasion allowed and touching on it briefly. Yet even if I had managed to set forth everything sufficiently, in pleading the cause of the faith before Your Clemency, could I be charged with importunity for repeating my petitions? Let those fear the stain of such ingratitude whose concern it is to expend their zeal upon worldly affairs! He does not fulfill the gospel who thinks he may pardonably cease from its preaching. The watch of shepherds must be ever vigilant, and their loins girded without slackening. As it is established that good admonition has a sweet fruit, so it is not fitting that there should be any distaste for it. And besides, why should anyone say that the frequency of my requests is troublesome to Your Mildness, since through those things which are done by virtue of my office, by the remedies of the faith, provision is made for your empire? For the care that burdens me profits you: it weighs upon me, but it will benefit you; although the fruit springs from a different seed, it belongs to us both. For just as it is a penalty neither to speak nor to do what is acceptable to God, so there is a sure reward both for him who shall have preached spiritual things, and for him who shall not have despised what he heard. 2. Your Clemency has indeed given, as it were, a hostage of your resolve in the testimony of your imperial discourse; and you have bound yourself by a kind of pledge of your will; but it is needful to add firmness to what has been begun: bring the laid foundations to their full beauty; let not the hands that fight for the churches of God be relaxed. As often as Moses did not let down his arms, so often was the enemy of Israel cut off. The accomplishment commends the work, the end commends the beginnings. It does not profit to have begun if one deserts, because only perseverance in the faith gives salvation. We bless God, by zeal for whom your piety professes that it pursues the impious transgressors Nestorius and Eutyches with hatred, along with their abominable and sacrilegious doctrines. He proves that he hates the vices, who condemns those who err; nor does he leave himself any room for defense, who has not spared the one who has transgressed. The first step of innocence is to hate what is blameworthy: but it concerns the truth, lord and son, and catholic discipline, that you should hate also the followers and partakers of those whom you judge to be accursed leaders. It is not in the condemned alone, that is, in the mere names, but also in these who follow the condemned, that crimes must be pursued. In vain does he assert that he turns away from the many, who has received even one of those who are judged worthy of detestation: for it is not the number of men, but the desert of their errors, that is to be considered. This I say lest Your Clemency easily suppose that the person of Acacius is to be passed over. Is he not that Acacius who, while he is joined to those defiled by the filth and doctrine and communion of Peter, Dioscorus, and Eutyches, immersed himself in their condemnation, enduring the punishment of him in whose communion he chose to share? He who individually hates the disciples of these men because of their impieties must of necessity hate Acacius among them, and all whom he did not love in this. From him, through the churches of the East, the leaven of wicked error grew strong. 3. Thence the pride of the Alexandrian perfidy has been nourished to such a degree that it does not yield, as you have written, to the salutary commands of him by whose authority it is governed; and in turning aside from error it does not follow the admonition of him whose power it experiences as useful to itself in the conduct of affairs. Whence men of this kind ought to be shunned with all the greater detestation, because they do not even take up the things which they ought to have taught, when they are instructed by others: despising in these matters the warnings of the one who commands, in which his commands are all but bidden to be feared; and forgetful of devotion against the salvation of the soul, who ought to have been stubborn for the sake of salvation. The communion of Acacius, joined with the faithless, in its presumption nourished these men with ruined minds: and therefore he is to be reckoned in the place of an author, by whose example a graver sin is committed. For nothing fosters vices more than imitation, while things are believed not to be reprehensible to which others also are seen to consent. Mortality is fragile and frail: hardly do wicked thoughts perish even while they are being checked. Often the noxious seed lies under terror and does not fail: he opens a wide entrance to wrongdoers, who joins his consent to depravity. Would that, most invincible emperor, in the very beginnings of apostolic severity the Eastern churches had avoided the abominable contagions of Acacius! That error had not yet spread its noxious poisons through many; perhaps even the necks of Alexandria, now raised, would then have fallen, while she recognized her own stricken perfidy in the condemnation of her imitator, and saw that she was displeasing in her accomplices. But while errors that are ill-nourished are fostered, and the unprofitable consent of the depraved is overlooked when it ought to be corrected with equity, through the impunity of its followers it has multiplied the evil doctrines of their authors. And you indeed, if it please you, may so effectively command, that you commend your resolve concerning another's error. But it must be considered, most clement emperor, whether it suffices before God for him to have blamed his faults, to whom He has given the power to correct them: the cure must not be deferred: let not feeble hands be withdrawn from deep wounds! Before Acacius, Alexandria alone was foul with the filthiness of her perfidy: behold now how many regions the neglected correction has polluted! 4. How long, lord and son, will you suffer the Church of God to mourn the division of her own members? Let your sighs, which will reach to God, anticipate your benefits: take up the care of the faith, and raising the standard of salvation, rise up like a second Hezekiah to remove errors from Israel: it is fitting for you to match by the praise of new works the titles of the men of old. He scattered the high places, do you bring down the pride of upraised impiety; he broke the images, do you shatter the hard hearts of the unbelievers; he removed the memorial of the bronze serpent, do you pour out the venom of the present one. Offer to God the right things that He has made, and hope for the gifts that He has merited. For the Lord is faithful, who renders to each according to their works. It is plain how great is the expectation of the faithful, how great the trembling of the faithless. The former long to rejoice with the angels over those received back: the latter fear lest, forsaken by those whom they had deceived, they remain for the punishments prepared for them. 5. The anxious hearts of all are in suspense. A legation directed to us from the farthest parts of Gaul, with rumor following, has inquired whether our solicitude had advanced anything concerning the restoration of unity. Nor is the work difficult for Your Clemency: God knows how to come to the aid of the labors of His own. It is in keeping with custom for subjects to turn their hearts toward their princes. The recent example of Marcian the emperor, of religious memory, gives in appearance the greatest sign. What then did the common people or the populace do? There is no need to recall what is known. This perfidy has grown up through those who wandered astray, and has been laid to rest through the just; imitate the integrity of resolve of that religious man, which you have equaled in your zeal for civility. To plead these things with our tears, with our prayers, we have sent Ennodius and Peregrinus, our brothers and fellow-bishops, in our stead, also for the offering of an honorable salutation, having especially for this reason laid upon the appointed man the burden of the second legation, so that the one who brought us the beginning of good hope may now, with God as helper, carry back its full accomplishment. Acquiesce, we beseech you, in faithful warnings, by whose precepts we have read that you were long since delighted. Given on the third day before the Nones of April, in the consulship of Agapitus, most illustrious man.

a.5i7 d. Hormisdae papae ad Anastaslam Augustum per Ennodi ^" ' Ticinensem et Peregrinum Misenatis ecelesiae in Cam]»! episcopos secundae legationis ad Anastasium destinatae mnne fnngentes transniissa. Se hisce repeiUis pro Kcciesiac puce precihus minimc importunum videri dehere quum per remedia fidei simul imperio consulalur, et in imperatore sola imtia fto» non sufficiant. Acacium omnino damnandum^ a quo per Orientaies ecciesiaM fer mentum erroris inoievit (n. 1 et 2). (Juantum dissimulatione error foveatur e^ ^ propaijelur t Alexandriae e.remplo probatur (n. 3). Denique imperator ithpenie-- ^^ excitatur, ut iandem Ecclesiam componere et ad uniiatem reducere festinet, Hormisda Anastasio Augusto. 1. Dudum legatis mansuetudinis vestrae remeantibus, ad litte^Taw vestras et mandata respondi^), non quidem universa plene, sic:ri/( magnitudo rei postulabat, expediens, ,et tamen pro tempore c^mriH perstringens. Verum etsi sufficienter me allegare omnia contigiss^^ numquid agens apud clenientiam vestram causam fidei, poteran :are- petitis precibus importunitatis incessi? Timeant notam hujus Im- gratitudinis, quibus cura est studium negotiis navare mundanis! Of>vs non implet evangelii , qui a praedicatione ejus venialiter putat po«se cessari. Pervigilem pastorum oportet esse custodiam, et lumbos sixae relaxatione praecinctos. Bonae admonitionis sicut constat dulce^in fructum, ita ejus non decet esse fastidium. Et alias, cur postulafci^ nis meae molestam mansuetudiiii vestrae quisquam dicat esse (Mre- quentiam, quimi per ea, quae fiunt ex officio meo, per remedia ficl^ vestro consulatur imperio? Etenim quae me onerat cura, vob tcH^ vat: mihi incumbit, sed vobis proficiet; licet ex diverso semine una** fructus amborum est. Nam sicut poena est nec dicere Deo accep^ nec facere, ita certa remulieratio vel illi, qui spiritalia praiedica' rit, vel illi, qui audita non spreverit. } ") Ita J /} i*. Alii Et per omnia spero, et mox vera (pro verax). 27 <) Est Ilormisdae cpistola 13. EPI8T0LAE 26. 27. 797 2. Dedit quidem clementia vestra veluti obsidem propositi sui a. 617. t^stimonio imperialis alloquii^); et se quasi pignore quodam &e voluntatis adstrinxit; sed opus est coeptis adjicere firmitatem: ant plenum decorem jacta fundamina; non remittantur pro- nantes^) pro Dei ecclesiis manus. Toties Israeliticus hostis inter- b, quoties Moyses brachia non remisit. Effectus opera, finis^^^*^- mendat initia. Non prodest coepisse deser^entem, quia sola per- trantia fidei dat salutem. Benedicimus Deum, cujus zelo pietas ^q^^o ra transgressores impios Nestoriura et Eutychetera^) vel odio se lequi cum nefandis et sacrilegis dogmatibus profitetur. Probat se se vitia, qui condemnat erranteS; nec relinquit sibi locmn de- idi, qui non pepercerit excedenti. Primus innocentiae gradus odisse culpanda : sed veritatis interest, domine fili. et catholicae iplinae, ut sectatores etiam eorum atque participes oderitis, quo- i exsecrandos principes judicatis. Non in damnandis sola id est a noraina, sed in his etiam, qui damnatos sequuntur, sunt cri- a persequenda. Frustra aversari se plures asserit, qui unum de qui detestatione digni judicantm- exceperit: non enim numerus atium hominum, sed meritura consideratur errorum. Hoc ideo, acile putet vestra clementia Acacii praetereundam esse perso- - Nonne ille est Acacius, qui coeno Petri, Dioscori et Euty- 18 dogmate et commimione polluti*), dum copulatur, immersus illius sustinens in condemnatione suppliciura, cujus elegit in munione consortiura? Qui viritira propter impietates suas horum ulos odit, et in illis Acacium necesse est oderit, et omnes in 3io non araavit. Ab illo per Orientales ecclesias fermentnra ne- i erroris inolevit. 3. Inde Alexandrinae perfidiae eousque nutrita superbia, ut non > Kon hic novum aliquod scriptum, quod desideretur, sed pristinum, per ^ixim ac socios dimi a prima legatioue reverterentur transmissum, hoc est dam 10, hic in memoriam revocari, ex subnezis planum fiet. Ita Q' a^ b pugnantes. G' Euiychen se vi odisse pse^ quicum nefandis ... pro/iletur, unde nostram ^em eruimus. Nam illud qui (in quicum) est vitium librarii, ultimam ante- ^^ verbi syllabam per oscitantiam repetentis. Bespidt quippe Hormisda ec Anastasii epistolae 10 u. 1 : Impiissimos Nestorium aique Eutychetem vita- ^^ter et horremus, eorum condemnantes et anathematizantes et 'personas et dog- ^etestabilibus sacrilegiis comparanda. Quocirca conciHorum editoribus pro- ^ non fuerat haec Baronii correctio: et Eutychetem vel eos persequitur, qui ^fandis et sacrilegis dogmatibus profitentur, Quid enim sibi vult barbara illa ^tda vel eos qui cum nefandis et saerilegis dogmatibus profitentur? Si his ver- ^telligantur , qui praedictorum haereticorum placita sectantur, repugnat correctio menti Hormisdae, hinc Anastasium arguentis, quod Eutychet^m ^^e contentus, sectatores ejus tueri non desinat. ') Sdlicet Petri Mongi, qui Dioscori et Eutychetis communione atque errore ^niinatus crat. — PJd. poUutus ... amaiit. a. 517. acquiescat; sicut scripsistis, ejus mandatis salutaribus/ cnjus fama- latur imperiis; et in errore declinando non sequatur admonitionem, cujus in agendis rebus experitur sibi utilem potestatem. Unde ei majore hujusmodi homines convenit detestatione yitari, quia, qnae docere debuerunt^ nec dum ab aliis instruuntur assumunt: spemen- ^*^tes in his imperantis®) monita, in quibus tantum non timerijnben- tur imperia; et immemores de^otionis contra salutem animae, qnos contumaces esse oportuit pro salute. Hos mentibus perditis ansus nutrivit Acacii cum perfidis juncta conmiunio: atque ideo aestiman- dus est auctoris loco'), cujus gravius peccatur exemplo. Nihilenim vitia magis quam imitatio fovet, dum creduntur non improbanik esse, ad quae alii quoque videntur accedere. FragiUs est et caduca mortabtas: vix nefariae cogitationes dum comprimuntur intereunt. Jacet saepe®) semen noxium sub terrore nec deficit: latum pandit delinquentibus aditum, qui jungit cum pravitate consensum. Utinam, invictissime imperator, inter ipsa apostolicae districtionis initia Orientales ecclesiae Acacii contagia nefanda vitassent! Non per multos error ille noxia venena ditfuderat^); ipsa quoque erectannnc fortasse Alexandriae tunc coUa cecidissent, dum perculsam perfi- diam suam in damnatione imitatoris agnosceret, et displicere in complicibus se videret. Sed dum male nutriti foventur errores, ct pi^avorum ***) consensus inutilis aequitate corrigenda dissimulator, per impunitatem sequacium mala dogmata multiplicavit auctorum. Et vos quidem, si placet, adeo^*) efficaciter imperetis, quo commendetis ') Id est: licet Eutychianae haeresis auctor non sit, pro auctore tameu hft* bcndus est, quia exemplo suo alios induxit ad peccandum. ^•) 6* a Deo efficnciter imperetis quo commendatis vestrum et de; b CC «rf» efficaciter impetretis^ ut condemnetis vestrum: Coustantius correxit qtio emeMif* nescio an necessaria correctio. Ut ne iu cassum imperata sua verti aiiieret, euni hortatur. restrum de alieno errore propositum. Sed cogitandum est, clemen- a. 517. Ii8sime imperator^ si ei apud Deum sufficiat errata culpasse*^)^ cui dedit posse corrigere; non est differenda curatio: amoveantur mo- dicae profundis vulneribus manus! Sola ante Acacium Alexandria perfidiae suae foeditate sordebat^^): respicite, quantas jam partes emendatio neglecta polluerit! 4. Quousque pateris, domine fili, Ecclesiam Dei divisionem suorum moerere membrorum? Anticipent beneficia tua ad Deum perventura suspiria : assume fidei curam, et vexillum salutis attoUens, ad errores ab Israele removendos velut Ezechias alter exsurge: fas tibi laude novorum operum titulos aequare priscorum. IUe dissi- pavit excelsa^ tu superbiam erectae impietatis inclina; ille simulacra contrivit, tu dura infidelium corda confringe; ille memoriam serpen- tis aerei sustulit, tu virus praesentis efiunde. Offer Deo recta quae feeit, et spera dona quae meruit. Fidelis est enim Dominus, qui red- Matth. dit singtdis secundum opera eorum. In aperto est, quanta sit exspe- ' ctatio fidelium, quanta trepidatio perfidorum. Illi ambiunt gaudere cum angelis de receptis: isti metuunt, ne ab his, quos deceperant, destituti poenis remaneant praeparatis. 5. Pendent anxia corda cunctorum. Ab ultimis ad nos Galliis directa legatio, si quid de unitatis redintegratione sollicitudo nostra promovisset ^^), fama secuta, consuluit. Nec difficile opus clementiae tuae: scit Deus suorum laboribus subvenire. Ex usu est, ad prin- cipes suos convertere corda subjectos. Dat specie maximum signum recens religiosae memoriae Marciani imperatoris exemphmi. Quid egit tunc vulgus aut populus? Non opus nota revolvere. Adulta est perfidia ista per devios, sopita per justos; imitare religiosi in- tegritatem propositi, quam studio civilitatis aequasti. Ad haec nostris lacrymis, nostris precibus alleganda, Ennodium atque Peregrinum fratres et coepiscopos nostros vice nostra pro exhibenda etiam hono- rifica salutatione direximus, ideo maxime designato viro fasce se- cundae^^) legationis imposito, ut qui nobis spei bonae detulit ini- ") Et hic respicit Honnisda ad verba Anastasii epist. 10, ubi divinas litte- ras a se Alexandriam multoties destiuatas commemorat, per quas, inquit, ob- jvrgaoimus ete. — Ibidem G* amoveantur modicae, ubi ed. admoveantur medicae. ") Primum Dioscori, tum Timothei, demum Petri Mongi, cujus societate 8e Acacius contaminavit, haeretica pravitate polluta. i^) Qnia nimirum idem Ennodius jam una functus fuerat. De hac secimda iegatione, quum adhuc in procinctu esset, Hormisda epist. 22 n. 5 et epidt. 23 n. 2 iogitare se significavit. Hi:gu8 etiam fama jam ab initiis hujus anni 517 in Gal- ias pervaserat, uti fidem facit epist. 21 u. 1. Phires in prima Ennodio adiuncti iunt Bocii, quia tum synodus colebranda putabatur. a. 617. tium, nunc adjutore Deo pleuum reportet efifectum. Acquiescite, precamur, fidelibus monitis^ cujus vos delectatos dudum legimus in- stitutis. Data III Nonas ApriliS; Agapito viro clarissimo console.