Letter 239: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[26 March. Hormisdas the pope to the Synod of Constantinople. He signifies that he has gratefully received the synod's testimony concerning Epiphanius. He approves his ordination and wishes that a perfect concord of the churches may follow upon it.] Hormisdas to the Synod of Constantinople. We rejoice that our brother and fellow-bishop Epiphanius, by God's favor taken up into the office of the priestly ministry at most fortunate Constantinople, has come to us, as your fraternity reports; for tidings are received somehow more gladly when a beloved person has signified them, and the greater the joy that is born on account of the authority of the messenger, the less there is anything in the testimony to be disputed. So was it fitting; thus, you who are most dear to us, it was proper to make plain your affection toward your neighbor, that through you it might become known to the apostolic see what shone forth in his character and holiness, that long ago he so steeped himself in good practices, just as you also assert, that there is no testimony stronger than that which is taken up to the honor of a priest [bishop]. For what is there that should be held doubtful concerning him, in whom, under the proof of the concord that has been achieved, the divine [gifts] have been received beforehand on the ground of good morals? Wherefore you act in holy fashion, you act religiously, you act devoutly, in that you willingly render your testimony to the truth, in that you do not deny a reward to the well-deserving; because it is the same error to be silent about the truth as to lend support to falsehoods, and it is the same injustice if honor be denied to pleasing morals, as it is if it be granted to the unworthy. It is certain, most loving ones, that you share in the priest's [bishop's] praises which you communicate, because that is credited to the whole order of brotherhood which is praised as residing in the one whom you have chosen from among yourselves. May Almighty God, preserving in perpetuity the peace of His own faith, so strengthen with great firmness your election and ordination, which you have devoutly believed should be made known to the apostolic see through our brother and fellow-bishop John, and likewise through Heraclianus the presbyter and Constantinus the deacon, our sons, and so scatter the struggles of all who are at discord, so restrain the hearts of the dissenting, that, just as under our brother and fellow-bishop Epiphanius a token of pacification has been given, we may give thanks for its accomplishment! Given on the seventh day before the Kalends of April [26 March], in the consulship of Valerius, most illustrious man [521 AD]. [The proceedings in the case of Abundantius, bishop of Trajanopolis, we have in the archive.] [Editorial note: The edition reads "of all good things ... by merits." Hence, since Hormisdas in Epistle 131, section 8, where we read: "Epiphanius flourishing in virtues and in corrections and in the meditation of the divine scriptures," it is clear that he read not "by corrections" but "by practices." Whence it also remains uncertain whether the translation of the aforesaid Epistle 131, which has come down to us, was the very one that Hormisdas used. Editorial note: G a' read "are credited." Shortly after, the edition reads thus: "and of all."]

26 Mart Hormisdae papae ad synodam Constantinopolitanara. Synodi de Epiphanio tesHmonium se graianter accepisse signifieat. IlHus ordi- p. l^. nationem probat atque ut Mne ecclesiarum perfeeta concordia sequatur optat. Hormisda synodo^) Gonstantinopolitanae. Fratrcm et coepiscopum nostrum Epiphanium apud felicissimam Deo favente Gonstantinopolim in officium muneris sacerdotalis as- ep. 131. sumptum pervenisse ad nos fraternitate vestra referente, gaudemus; quia gratius quodammodo suscipiuntur indicia, quae significayerit amata persona, et tanto m^jus pro auctoritate nuntii nascitur gau- dium, quanto non est quod de testimonio disputetur. Sic erat con- gruum; carissimi nobis^ sio^) se circa proximum patefacere decebat affectum^ ut per yos sedi apostolicae innotescat^ quod moribus et sanctitate fulgeret^ quod usque adeo se olim^) bonis^ sicnt et yos asseritis^ imbuit institutis, ut non sit fortius meritd testimonium, (|uam^) in honorem sacerdotis adscitum. Quid est enim, quod de eo habeatur ambiguum^ in quo de bonis moribus sub probatione factae concordiae praesuscepta sunt diyina? Quapropter facitis sancte^ facitis religiosC; facitis pie^ quod veritati testimonium libenter impenditis^ quod praemium bene meritis non negatis; quia idem error est tacere yeritatem^ qui est falsis assistere^ et eadem injustitia est^ si negetur honor moribus placitis^ quae est^ si concedaiur in- dignis. Certum est^ amantissimi^ participari vos cum sacerdotis laudibus intimatis^ quia omni fratemitatis ordini transcribiiur^), quod in uno, quem ex yobis elegistis^ esse laudatur. Deus omni- potens^ fidei suae pacem sub perpetuitate conservans, electionem ordinationemque yestram^ quam insinuandam sedi apostolicae per Johannem fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum nec non et Heraclianum presbyterum atque Gonstantinum diaconum filios nostros religiose ') Ed. se omnium honis . . . meritis. Hinc Hormisdam epist. 131 n. 8, abi habe- mua : Epiphanium viriutihus et correctionihus et meditoHone dimnarum /torentem seri- pturarum, non correetionibus sed institutis legiBse liquet. Unde et incertQm en- dit, utrum interpretatio praedictae epistolae 131, qnae ad nos peryenit, ea ipsa fuerit, qua Hormisda usus est. •') G* a' transcribuntur. Mox ed. ila et omnium. EPISTOLAE 138 — UO. 967 credidistis; tanta firmitate eonfortet, et ita omnium discordantium a. 521. luctamina disjiciat^ ita dissidentium corda compescat; ut quemadmo- dum sub fratre et coepiscopo nostro Epiphanio pacificationis datum est indicium^ gratulemur effectum ! Data VII Calendas Aprilis, Va- lerio yiro clarissimo consule. Gesta in causa Abundantii episcopi Trajanopolitani in scrinio habemus.