Letter 157: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Editorial summary:] Of Pope Hormisdas to Justinian the count [comes]. (519, in January.) Having praised the beginning of his good will, he asks that the name of Acacius together with his followers be removed. Finally, he indicates the legates sent by himself. Bishop Hormisdas to Justinian. [Editorial note: the series of your letter, the resource of religion being strong... of devotion; in the manuscript, after a rejection at the margin concerning charity, which indeed is to be preferred. Thus in G; the edition adds "Augustus," but in fact the name "Augustus" did not then befit Justinian.] (519.) Your letter having been received with the most welcome rejoicing, we have rendered thanks to the Divinity, because you have given a sign that what we might have exhorted is easily done by you. Hence it is that, because you of your own accord desire things worthy of praise, the lineages of your descent have fittingly arrived at the summit of sovereignty. Wherefore press on, and bear down with the spirits of a religious vigor, so that, just as for the beginning of good will your race has merited the height of empire, your triumphs may, in eternal glory over the work brought to perfection, be yours. See with what longing for peace the world, long mocked, prays for the joys of peace; consider that the spirits of the whole community are lifted up by the presumption of your benefit, in the sure hope of repose. There is no reason for doubt to insert itself, no reason for any ambiguity to enter in, when you bear witness, what indeed we too know well, that the vows of a religious prince are joining themselves to the concord of the churches. Wherefore, giving thanks to so great a magnanimity, with as great a petition as we can we entreat that the name of Acacius, together with his followers, which fully impedes the joy of the unity of the churches, be removed by the procedure of condemnation. For we, suiting ourselves to the nature of the case, have dispatched legates, so that, with them present, the beginning of joy which you have given may be able to be fulfilled according to what is contained in the instructions.

Hormisdae papae ad Jostiniannm comitem. (a. 5i9in. Jan.) Laudato Ulius bonae volunialis initio rogaty ut Acacii cum seguacibus nomen re- moveatur. Denique missos a se legatos indicat. Hormisda episcopus Justiniano*). Litterarum vestrarum serie religionis ope pollente devotionis ') b civitate, rejecto ad oram de caritate, quod sane praeferendum. 48 ') Ita G^ Ed. add. Augusto, Ao vero Augusti nomen Justiniano tum non Qongruebat. (a. 519.) op^^^issima gi-atulatione suscepta, gratias Diviiiitati retulimus, quia dedistis indicium, facile a vobis fieri quod potuissemus bortari. Hinc est, quod quia sponte laudabilia cupitis, digne ad principatos api- cem generis*) vestri stemmata pervenerunt. Quapropter insistite et religiosae vivacitatis animis imminete, ut quemadmodum pro bonae voluntatis initio genus vestrum meruit culmen imperii, in aetema vobis de perfectione gloria sint triumphi. Videte, quo desiderio pacis^) gaudia ludificatus diu mundus exoret: respicite, generalita- tis animos vestri praesumptione beneficii certa spe quietis attoUL Non est quod se dubietas inserat, non est quod «iliquid ambigoitatis accedat, quum testamini, quod et nos quidem bene novimaSy acce- dere ad ecclesiarum concordiam religiosi principis vota. Quapropter tantae magnanimitati gratias agentes, quanta possumus petitione deprecamur, ut Acacii nomen cum sequacibus suis, quod plene uni- tatis ecclesiarum impedit gaudium, damnationis ordine sit remotum. Nos enim convenientes causae qualitati direximus legatos, quibns praesentibus initium, quod dedistis, gaudii possit secundum quae mandatis continentur impleri.