Letter 174: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Report of the deacon Dioscorus, sent by the subdeacon Pullio. 22 April, year 519.] [Summary: What was done at Thessalonica and what at Constantinople (sections 1-6); concerning the state of the church of Antioch; he offers counsel as to the manner in which a reply ought to be written by Hormisdas to the bishop of Constantinople.] 1. The ineffable mercy of Almighty God, and His devotion, which He mercifully pours out upon the human race, cannot be measured by human strength nor explained in words; but it suffices only to admire His marvels with devout feelings, and to know that all good things depend solely upon the remedies of His grace. This is a daily proof; yet I boldly presume to say, my lord most blessed pope, that the present cause surpasses all that has gone before, which God has reserved for your times and your merits. What was done at Aulon, what at Scampae, what followed at Lychnidus, I have already reported in an earlier communication. We have arrived at Thessalonica; what intentions we had with the bishop of Thessalonica, and what was said or even determined, you will learn from the living account of the bearers of this letter. That, however, which ought not to be passed over in silence, I do not delay to make known. After many contests the aforesaid bishop, convinced by reason, was willing to subscribe the document [the libellus of Hormisdas]. But because the bishops who are established under his ordination were not all present, it was agreed in the present circumstance, and he promised this, that after the holy days [Easter], when one of us had been dispatched from the see of the city of Constantinople, and the bishops who are established in his diocese had been gathered together, they would subscribe the document; which we believe is to be accomplished with God's help. These are the things determined at Thessalonica. 2. Commended by your prayers, we arrived at the city of Constantinople on the second day [Monday] of the authentic week [Holy Week]. At the tenth milestone from the aforesaid city, exalted and magnificent men came out to meet us, among whom are the master of soldiers Vitalian, Pompeius, and Justinian; other senators also followed, and many burned with the ardor for the catholic faith and the desire for restoring peace. What more? We entered the city amid the highest joys of almost everyone. 3. On another day, which is the third day [Tuesday], we are presented to the sight of the most pious prince [the emperor Justin]: the whole senate was present there, in which assembly there were also four bishops, whom the bishop of Constantinople had sent in his own person. We presented the letters of your beatitude, which the most clement prince received with great reverence. Those things were said which it was fitting to make known before the examination of the cause: presently the cause was begun. The most clement emperor was exhorting us, saying this: "See the bishop of this city, and render account to one another in peaceful order." We, on the contrary, replied: "Why do we go to the bishop to make contests? Our lord the most blessed pope Hormisdas, who sent us, did not command us to dispute; but we have at hand the document, which all the bishops willing to be reconciled to the Apostolic See have produced: if your piety so commands, let it be read; and if there is anything in it which is unknown or not believed to be true, let them say so, and then we will show that nothing has been written in that same document outside ecclesiastical judgment; or if they can demonstrate that it does not accord with the catholic religion, then it falls to us to prove it." The document was read again under the gaze of the prince and the senate. We immediately added: "Let the four bishops present, who are here on behalf of the person of the bishop of Constantinople, say whether these things which are read in the document are by no means contained in the ecclesiastical records?" They replied that all were true. After which we added: "Lord emperor, the bishops have both taken a great labor from us, and have done a thing suitable to themselves, in speaking the truth." Presently the most clement emperor said to the bishops who were present: "And if they are true, why do you not do them?" Likewise also several of the senatorial order said: "We are laymen; you say these things are true: do them, and we will follow." 4. The fourth day [Wednesday] having been passed over, the bishop of Constantinople in the palace took up the document from us, and at first as it were attempted to make a letter rather than a document. But after not many contests it was agreed to make a brief preamble, and presently to subjoin the document, just as your beatitude dictated. A subscription befitting the document was made by him, likewise also a dating, of which we have sent copies both in Greek and in Latin to your apostolate. After the document was made, the name of Acacius was deleted from the diptychs, likewise also those of Mavites, Euphemius, Macedonius, and Timothy: and not only this in that one church alone, in which the bishop resides, but also throughout all the churches with great diligence, God helping, we report that it was done. Likewise the names of Zeno and Anastasius were deleted from the diptychs. The bishops of the various cities, as many as were found, likewise presented the document: and we report that it was guarded with great caution, lest any bishop should commune with us who had not first given the document. In like manner also all the archimandrites did so. With which archimandrites we report that we also had contests, they saying: "It is enough that our archbishop has done it; we follow his deed." What more? After many contests they too, convinced by reason, presented the documents in every way. 5. After all these things, with God's help, we proceeded into the church: and what joys of unity were made, and how blessed God was, what praises also were rendered to the blessed apostle Peter and to you, you perceive by consideration of that very action, which my tongue is unable to explain. Nothing followed according to the wishes of the enemies: no sedition, no shedding of blood, no tumult, which the enemies, as if terrifying, had previously been predicting. The ecclesiastics of Constantinople themselves also, marveling and giving thanks to God, say that they never remembered, at any time, that so great a multitude of people had communed. 6. These things being fulfilled, the most clement emperor also subjoined his own writings to your beatitude, signifying the order of the matter done, and likewise the most reverend man John, prelate of the city of Constantinople. You will know also that the sacred general decrees have been issued, and we believe that, God being favorable and by your holy prayers, they are being dispatched as quickly as possible throughout all the provinces. These things were done at Constantinople. And now the matter of the church of Antioch is being treated, and on that account labor is still expended, because a suitable person has not yet been elected. Let your beatitude therefore pray more intently, that God, who, entreated by your prayers, restored the church of Constantinople to the Apostolic See, may Himself also grant a worthy person to be ordained in Antioch, and may unite the churches assiduously. Write back to the bishop of Constantinople. If it seem good to your beatitude, make mention of the condemnations of Severus and of those whom you named in that letter which you wrote to the second Syria through the monks John and Sergius, writing back this same thing also to the emperor. If you do so, it seems to me to be necessary.

8611 (a.5l9 d. Suggestio Diosoori diaconi per Pullionein subdiaconum. 22 Apnl.) ^^ Quae Thessalonicaey quae Constantinopoli sint gesta (n. 1 — 6); de ecclenae An- tiochenae siatu\ qua ratione episcopo Constantinopolitano ab Hormisda rescriben' dum sii, consilium interponit. M 1. IneflFabilis Dei onmipotentis misericordia et pietas ejuS; quam super humanum genus clementer effundit, humanis viribus aestimari non potest nec sermonibus explicari; sed sufficit ejus tantum mira- bilia^) devotis sensibus admirari, et scire omnia bona de ejus tan- tum gratiae pendere remediis. Est ista quotidiana probatio ; audacter tamen praesumo dicere, domine meus beatissime papa, quia prae- sens causa praeterita cuncta transcendit, quam Deua vestris tempo- ribus et meritis reservavit. Quid in Aulone^) sit actum, quid Scam- pis, quid Lignidi fuerit subsecutum; anteriore significatione suggessi. Ad Thessalonicam pervenimus; quas intentiones ^*) habuerimus cum episcopo Thessalonicensi, et quae dicta fuerint vel etiam constituta, harum portitoris viva insinuatione discetis. Quod tamen non oportet praeterire silentio, insinuare non difFero. Post multa certamina praefatus episcopus ratione convictus libellum subscribere voluit. Sed quia episcopi, qui sub ejus sunt ordinatione constituti, omnes non aderant, in praesenti hoc convenit, hoc promisit, ut post dies sanctos^), uno ex nobis a sede Constantinopolitanae urbis directo, episcopis congregatis, qui in ejus sunt dioecesi constituti, Mbellum subscriberent; quod cum Dei adjutorio credimus esse complendum. Haec suut Thessalonicae constituta. 2. Vestris orationibus commendati ad CJonstantinopolitanam 65 ') Ita G' a'. Al. consilia, ') G' in Aulana. Notantur hic sup. epistolao 59 et 60, quia vix creden- dum, Dioscorum etiam seorsim de illis rebus ad pontificem rctulisse. EPISTOLAE 64. 65. 859 pervenimus civitatem feria secunda hebdomadis authenticae*). De-(a. 619.) cimo ab urbe praedicta milliario^) sublimes et magnifici viri nobis occurrerunt, inter quos sunt magister militum Vitalianus, Pompejus et Justinianus; secuti^) sunt et alii senatores, multique catholicae £dei calore ac desiderio redintegrandae pacis ardebant. Quid plura? Cum summis pene omnium gaudiis ingredimur civitatem. 3. Alia die, quae est tertia feria, piissimi principis praesenta- mur adspectibus : cunctus illic aderat senatus, in quo conventu erant et episcopi quatuor, quos episcopus Constantinopolitanus pro sua persona direxerat. Obtulimus beatitudinis vestrae litteras, quas clementissimus princeps cum grandi reverentia suscepit. Dicta sunt, quae ante examinationem causae oportuit intimare : mox causa coepta est. Hortabatur nos clementissimus imperator, hoc dicens®): Videte dvUaiis hujus episcopum, et invicem vobis pacifico ordine reddite ra- tionem, Nos e contra respondimus: Quid imus ad episcopum certa- mina facere? Dominus noster beatissimus papa Hormisda, qui nos direxit, non nobis praecepit cerlare; sed prae manibus hdbemus libel- lum, quem omnes episcopi volenies sedi aposiolicae reconciliari fece- runt^): si praecipii pietas vestra, legatur; ei si est in ipso, quod igno- retur aui verum esse non credatur, dicant, ei tunc ostendimus nihil exira judicium ecclesiasticum in eodem tibello esse conscripium; aui si illi possunt docere, quia non convenit religioni catholicae, iunc nobis incumbit probare, Relectus est . libellus sub conspectu principis et senatus. Nos statim subjunximus: Dicant praesentes quatuor episcopi, qui adsunt pro personaConstantinopolitani episcopi ^ si haec quaeinlibello leguntur, gestis ecclesiasticis minime continentur? Responderunt omnia vera esse. Post quae nos subjunximus: Domine imperator, ei nobis grandem laborem episcopi abstulerunt, et sibi convenientem rem fecerunt dicere veritatem. Mox clementissimus imperator his qui aderant dixit episcopis: Et si vera sunt, quare non facitis? Similiter et aliquanti de ordine senatorio dixerunt: Nos taici sumus; dicitis haec vera esse: facite, et nos sequimur, 4. Intermissa quarta feria episcopus Constantinopolitanus in Ex eoque conficitur miUiaria decem et decem millia synonyma esse. ^ b cc verbis secuti sunt omissis subinde cunctique cathoHcae ... fidei ardore. •) b facient, ad marg. fecerunt, quod perinde est atque exscripserunt et suh- scriptione sua ratum hahuerunt. 8G0 S. HORMISDAE PAPAE (a. 519.) palatio consuscepit*^) a nobis libellum, et imprunis quasi tentavit epistolam potius facere quam libellum. Sed non post multa certa- mina hoc convenit, prooeraium modicum facere, et subjungere mox libellmn, quemadmodum vestra beatitudo dictavit. Subscriptio ab eodem facta est libello conveuiens, similiter et datarium, cujiis ep. Gl. exemplaria et graece**) et latine apostolatui vestro direximus. Post factum libellum nomen Acacii de diptychis est deletum, similiter et Mavitae, Euphemii, Macedonii et Timothei ^^) : et non solum hoc in ipsa sola ecclesia, in qua episcopus manet, verum etiam peronmes ecclesias cura grandi diligentia Deo adjutore suggerimus foisse factum. Similiter deleta sunt de diptychis Zenonis et Anastasii no- mina. Episcopi diversarum civitatura, quanti inventi sunt, libellum similiter obtulerunt: et cum grandi cautela suggerimus custoditum, ne quis nobiscum communicaret episcopus, qui libellum primitais non dedisset. Pari modo et omnes archimandritae fecerunt. Apud quos archimandritas et certamina nos habuisse suggerimus, dicenti- bus illis: Sufficil, quia archiepiscopus nosier fecit; nos faclum ejus sequimur. Quid amplius ? Post multa certamina ipsi quoque ratione convicti libellos modis omnibus obtulerunt. 5. Post haec orania Deo juvante in^^) ecclesiam processimus: et qualia gaudia facta sint unitatis, et quemadmodum Deus bene- dictus sit, quae laudes quoque beato Petro apostolo et vobis relatae sunt, ipsius actionis consideratione perspicitis, quod mea hngua non valet explicare. Nihil est subsecutum secundum vota inimico- rum, non seditio, non effusio sanguinis, non tumultus, quod veluti terrentes iniuiici autea praedicebant. Ipsi quoque ecclesiastici Con- stantinopolitani aduiirantes et Deo gratias referentes dicunt, nmi- quam se meuiinisse nullis ^ *) temporibus tantam populi multitudinem coraraunicasse. 6. His adimpletis etiam elementissimus imperator ad beatitudi- cp. 06. nem vestram sua scripta subjunxit, ordinem rei gestae significans, ^'*) b cc snscepit. C cum snscepit, quae lectio expuncta deinde proxlm» particala e/, uon displiceret; nisi forte consuscepit legendum, quod correxirai». ^') Exstaut tantum latine, et ex alia quidem intcrpretatione ab ea, qoae a Dioscoro niisBa fuerat, ut in ipsam .fobannis epistolam 61 observavi. Christi corpus in commimionis indicium percepisse. **} Legendum cum b cc ullis, nisi forte Dioscorus Graecomm tostiinoiiiiim refcreus, graecam etiam rotinuerit plirasim, qua duplex negatio m^jorem af&r- mandi vim obtinet. EPISTOLAE 65. 66. . 861 similiter et vir reverendissimus Johaunes Constantinopolitanae civi- (a. 519.) tatis antistes. Noveris etiam et saera generalia esse dicta ^^), atque ^^* ^^' credimus Deo propitio et vestris sanctis orationibus per universas provincias quantocius destinari. Haec Constantinopoli gesta sunt. Et nunc de Antiochena ecclesia tractatur, et ideo adhuc laboratur, quia necdum persona congrua est electa. Oret ergo beatitudo vestra intentius, ut Deus, qui vestris precibus exoratus Constantinopolita- nam ecclesiam apostolicae sedi restituit, ipse et dignam personam donet in Antiochia ordinandam, et assiduas adunet ecclesias. Re- scribite episcopo Constantinopolitano. Si videtur beatitudini vestrae, facite mentionem damnationum Severi et illorum, quos nominastis in epistola illa, quam scripsistis ad secundam Syriam per Johannem ep. 40. et Sergium monachos, hoc ipsum *^) et ad imperatorem rescribentes. Si feceritis, videtur mihi necessarium esse.