Letter 161: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to John, bishop of Constantinople. 1. We have indeed rendered, brother, a fitting reply to your letter under ecclesiastical liberty; and what in these matters we have rejoiced over, and what we have passed over in silence, we have plainly set forth. And although now the frequent legation, now the long-standing custom of your protracted dealings within the Church, has instilled all these things into your understanding, it nevertheless pleases us to lay open our counsel still more fully by repeating the reasoning: because there is sound discourse concerning the firmness of the faith when the desire for procuring peace is unfolded in plain words. 2. For your desires, by which you testify that you are hastening toward ecclesiastical concord, that those parties might possess it, we have always wished for; nor, content with the mere striving of our prayers, we have also made use of supplications. The things we speak are confirmed by your testimony and that of the world: that, in order that the restoration of catholic unity may come about, we submit our authority with an integrity of faith undefiled. May divine compassion incline its ear to our prayers; so that what you believe must be entreated, you may follow and love when it is offered. For us there is one solicitude of the cause, one watch: so to desire peace, that thus the ordinances of religion, thus of the venerable fathers, may be preserved; since those things which do not differ among themselves by a harmonious belief, it is just that they should subsist with a like observance. But why do we delay longer? You yourself know what the cause of unity demands; you yourself know by what way you ought to come to the fellowship of the blessed apostle Peter. You have the guide of your journey, whom you already declare that you follow: the council held at Chalcedon for religion. Now too, since you have testified that you embrace the same, the doctrine of blessed Leo will accompany you as you return. 3. If these things please you, let the defense of the condemned Acacius not please you: this is the thing that holds back the prayers of a good zeal from their perfection. For if those things were appointed by the assembly of the venerable fathers against the enemies of God and of His law, so that whoever should follow them [the enemies] in communion would even then incur the sentence pronounced in his own condemnation: therefore the things which we steadfastly carry out are not new, but we preserve the judgments made in those times by the just constitution of the fathers. We exhort you therefore, brother, and, with the mercy of our God assisting, we knock upon your mind, that, by condemning Acacius with his followers, separating yourself from all contagion of heretics, you may be fed together with us in participation of the Lord's body. If you proclaim all things together with us, why do you not condemn all things together with us? For then you embrace together with us the things we venerate, if together with us you abhor the things we detest. Whole peace knows not how to have any distance, and that of the one God cannot be true except in the cultivation of the unity of confession. 4. Wherefore, greeting you with the affection of brotherly charity, we signify that your petition has been fulfilled, the most religious men having been sent, as you hoped: Germanus and John, bishops, Felix the deacon, Dioscorus the deacon, and Blandus the presbyter. With what mandates these men have been instructed, you will plainly recognize before their allegations, if you reflect. These men will receive your peace under that profession by which we have often written back. Fulfill therefore, dearest brother, our joy, and send back to us through them the proclamation of your right faith, so that through you an example may be given to all.

Hormisdae papae ad Johannein Constantinopolitanum (a.5i9in. episcopum. ^^-^ Pacem, quam laudabUUer desiderat, perfici non posse, nisi Acacium cum sequaci- bus ejus condemnety idque suhscriplione libelli per legaios Iransmissi profileatur. ' Hormisda Johanni episcopo Constantinopolitano. 1. Reddidimus quidem frater, congrumn litteris tuis sub eccle- ep. 43. siastica libertate responsum ^) ; et quid in his gratulati fuerimuS; in- ep. 47. sertum^ quid taciturnitate praeteritura, evidenter expressimus. Ac licet cuncta sensibus tuis nunc crebra legatio, nunc usu in Ecclesia diuturnae conversationis tuae vetustas infuderit, juvat tamen adhuc latius aperire nostrum repetita ratione consilium: quia tunc bene de fidei firmitate disseritur, quando simplicibus verbis conciliandae pacis cupiditas explicatur. 2. Desideria quippe tua, quibus te ad ecclesiasticam testaiis festinare concordiam, ut haberent partes illae, semper optavimus; nec sola votorum ambitione contenti; usi etiam precibus sumus. Vestro sunt haec et mundi testimonio roborata quae loquimur: quia ut catholicae unitatis reparatio fiat, auctoritatem nostram inteme- rata^) fidei integritate submittimus. Inclinet orationibus nostris aurem suam divina miseratio; ut quod creditis postulandum; sequa- mini et ametis oblatum. Nobis una causae sollicitudo; una custodia est: ita pacem cupere; ut sic religionis; sic venerabilium patrum constituta serventur; quoniam quae inter se consona credulitate non discrepant; aequum est; ut simili observatione subsistant. Sed cur diutius immoramur? Scis ipse, unitatis causa quid exigat; scis ipse, qua via ad beati Petri apostoli debeas venire consortium. Habes itineris tui ducem, quem te jam sequi asseris; Calchedone habitum pro religione conventum. Jam te quoque, quod idem amplecti te- status es; beati Leonis redeuntem dogma comitabitur. 3. Haec si placent, Acacii defensio damnati non placeat: hoc est, quod boni studii a perfectione vota suspendit. Si sunt enim iila adversum Dei et legis ejus inimicos venerabilium patrum con- gregatione disposita, ut quisquis eos communione sequeretur, jam tunc latam subiret in sua damnatione sententiam: non sunt igitur nova quae constanter exsequimur, sed temporibus illis facta judicia justa patrum constitutioue servamus. Hortamur itaque, frater, et mentem tuam Dei nostri misericordia adjuvante pulsamus, ut ab omni te haereticorum contagione, Acacium cum sequacibus suis con- demnando; disjungenS; una nobiscum dominici corporis participa- 62 •) Sdl. quae supra epistolae 43, 47. Mox ed. congralulati, ') Ed. omitt. intemcrata fidei, Mox 0' quo te Jam sequi. (a. 619.) tione pascaris. Si nobiscum universa praedicas, cur nobiscum non universa condemnas? Tunc enim nobiscum quae veneramur am- plecteris, si nobiscum quae detestamur homieris. Pax int^pra ne- scit aliquam habere distantiam, et unius Dei vera esse non potest nisi in confessionis unitate cultura. 4. Quapropter salutantes te fratemae caritatis affectu, petiiio- nem tuam, missis, sicut sperasti, religiosissimis viris Germano ac Johanne episcopis, Felice diacono, Dioscoro diacono atque Blando presbytero, significamus^) esse completam. Hi vero quibus faerint mandatis instructi, ante allegationes eorum, si cogites, evidenter agnosces. Hi pacem tuam sub ea, qua saepe rescripsimus*), pro- fessione suscipient. Imple ergo, frater carissime, gaudium nostrmn, et tuum ad nos per eos rectae fidei tuae remitte praeconium, ut per te universis detur exemplum.