Letter 194: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

A copy of the letter of Justinian, through brother Froemptor [the deacon], to Pope Hormisdas. [Summary: That, the affair of the Scythian monks having been settled, he should send John and Leontius back to him.] Whatever is more cautious, whatever is more firm, so that it may be carried out on behalf of the holy faith and the concord of the holy churches, we desire. Therefore both our most glorious brother Vitalian has written back to your Beatitude through Paulinus, the exalted man, defender of your church, and we through the same man have taken care to make known that your Beatitude ought to accomplish those things which would grant peace and concord to the holy churches. Nevertheless, soon afterward, we have dispatched, together with letters of our most pious emperor, one who may bring back a more certain response to your Holiness. For how great a controversy has arisen in our regions, the aforesaid religious man, the defender, is also able to inform your Holiness. Therefore we ask that, if it is possible, with a most speedy response given and the religious monks satisfied, you send John and Leontius back to us. For unless this controversy shall have been resolved by your prayers and diligence, we fear that the peace of the holy churches may not be able to come about. Therefore, recognizing that both the reward and the danger of this matter are reserved for you, deal with it diligently, and send back to us, through the aforesaid religious monks, a most firm response, if it is possible, before our envoy reaches your Beatitude; for upon this alone all our purpose depends.

sea Exemplum epistolae Justiniani per fratrem Froemptoris ad (a-^i^ m Hormisdam papam. » l/t expedito Scytharum monachorum negoticf Johannem et Leontium ad se remittat. Quidquid est cautius, quidquid firmius, ut pro sancta fide et concordia sanctarum ecclesiarum geratur, optamus. Unde ad beati- 87 *) 6* Data quo supra cons. Nullus autem in proximis epistolis nominatus est consul nisi Eutbaricus. Neque obscurum est, hanc epistolam cum superiori- bus fiiisse transmissam. 88 ') a' et cc ad marg. MilecopoHtano , et in textu ex „Vatic." Melicitano. Haud dubie ex titulo Ad Johannem EUcitanum librarius litteram M geminans cor- ruptionem hanc induxit, quae ope codicum laudatorum, quaravis in iis non sit haec salutatio, sauatur. Plura de inscriptione conf. supra mon. praev. pag. 113. (a.6l9.) tudinem vestram et frater*) noster gloriosissimus Yitalianus per Paulinimi virum sublimem defensorem vestrae ecclesiae rescripsit^, et nos per eumdem significare curavimus, illa debere beatitudinem vestram perficere, quae pacem et concordiam sanctis concedant ecclesiis. Subinde tamen, qui^) certius responsum ad sanctitatem vestram referat, cum litteris piissimi nostri imperatoris destinavimus. Nam quanta quaestio in partibus nostris orta est, potest etiam antefatus*) vir religiosus defensor sanctitatem vestram instruere. Unde petimus, ut, si est possibile, celerrimo dato responso et satisfactis religiosis monachis, Johannem et Leontium ad nos remittatis. Nisi enim precibus et diligentia vestra ista quaestio soluta fuerit, vere- mur, ne non possit ecclesiarum sanctarum pax^) provenire. Ergo cognoscentes, quia et merces et periculum liujus rei vobis servator, diligenter tractate, et firmissimum responsum per antefatos religiosoe monachoS; si est possibile, antequam legatus noster ad beatitudinem vestram perveniat, uobis remittite; in hoc enim solo omnis pendet intentio.