Letter 19: Hormisdas to John, bishop of Nicopolis.

Hormisdas to John, Bishop of Nicopolis. By Pullio the subdeacon. Through Pullio, our subdeacon, we have received the letters of your charity concerning the steadfastness of your faith and the resolve which you maintain toward communion with the Apostolic See, and we rejoice; but we have been saddened that you report you are enduring certain troubles. These, however, cannot have any lasting substance, because where God is purely worshipped, even if adversities should befall, they are turned into prosperity, according to the apostle who says: hope does not disappoint [Romans 5:5]. The prince of the apostles, doubting as he advanced across the sea, struggled; yet soon, when he had called upon his Lord, he found him ready, who with outstretched hand would not allow him to undergo peril [cf. Matthew 14:28-31]. Therefore, following the examples of our forefathers, and remaining in their faith, let us ask the aid of him of whom it is written: who does not let us be tempted beyond what we are able [1 Corinthians 10:13]. And so, greeting your charity, we exhort you, that, just as we have said before, you persevere in those things which have been well begun, because whoever shall have persisted unto the end, he shall be saved [cf. Matthew 10:22]. Do not cease frequently to relieve our solicitude by your discourses; strengthen also your parochial priests with fitting exhortation, because by doing these things you will be able daily to multiply the talent entrusted to you. Concerning that matter also, which your affection requests, we are taking thought, that our prayers may reach the most clement emperor for the peace of the whole community. It is your part not to cease to assist our wish and zeal with suitable prayers, because we shall by no means be free to devote ourselves to accomplishing these things unless God is their author. Given on the fifth day before the Nones of March, in the consulship of Agapitus.

HOBHISDA lOHANNI EPISCOPO NICOPOLITANO. PER PULLIONEM 8UBDIAC0NUM. Eemeaute PuUione subdiacono nostro litteraa caritatis uestrae suscepimus de constantia fidei uel de inten- tione, quam circa communionem sedis apostolicae geritis, lo gratulantes; sed contristati sumus, quod uos aliquas sustinere molestias perbibetis. ista tamen diutumam non possunt habere substantiam, quia ubi deus pure colitur, etsi aduersa con- tigerint, in prosperis commutantur secundum apostolum di- 2 centem: spes non decipit. dubitans apostolorum princeps 13 incedens per pelagus laborauit; mox tamen inuocato domino • 8U0 paratum habuit, qui eum poirecta manu non pateretur sustinere discrimen. ergo auctorum nostrorum sequentes exempla et in ipsorum fide permanentes illius poscamus auxilium, de quo scriptum est: qui non nos dimittit temptari super 20 3quod possumus. igitur salutantes caritatem tuam hor- taraur, ut quemadmodum praediximus, in his, quae bene in- 15 Rom. 5, 5 15 sqq. cf. Matth. 14, 28—31 20 Cor. I 10, 13 124« Bat. a. 517 die 3 Mart. per Pullionem; respondet epistulae lohannis deperditae per eundetn Pullionem initio eiusdem anni datae. Edd, Car. P 469; Bar. ad a. 516, 66; Collect Concil; BTA I 391; Thiel 786. 7 per Pullionem subdiaconum huc reieci a V perperam in fine praecedentis epistulae additum 9 caritates F, corr. o 12 mo- lestia V, eorr. 0 diutuma V man. rec. 13 substancia F, corr. o 14 prospera Bar. 16 pellagus V 20 nos non trsp. Car. 22 que ammodum V, corr. 0 Epist CXXIII 8 — CXXV 1. 537 choata sunt, perseueres, quia <qui> perstiterit usque in finem, hic saluus erit. frequenter alloquiis tuis nostram soUicitudinem releuare non desinas; paroeciales quoque sacer- dotes tuos competenti adhortatione confiiina, quia ista faciendo 5 talentum tibi creditum poteris multipKcare cottidie. de illa 4 quoque parte, qua dileetio tua postulat, cogitamus, ut ad imperatorem clementissimum pro generalitatis quiete preces nostrae perueniant. tuum est, ut uotum studiumque nostrum congruis orationibus iuuare non cesses, quia nos in his deo 10 auctore perficiendis uacare minime poterimus. Data V. Nonas Martias Agapito cons.