Letter 245: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Letter] of the emperor Justin to Pope Hormisdas. He reports that Paulinus of Antioch, accused by many, voluntarily abdicated from his episcopate. Justin Augustus to Pope Hormisdas. In order that what has befallen Paulus [Paul], a most reverend man, may be made known to your apostolic office: he, being invested with the priesthood of the city of Antioch, is said to have so conducted himself in many affairs which are foreign to religious bishops, that he is accused by the betrayal of his own clergy, and also by the inhabitants of the said city, and moreover by many others as well, not only before the legates of your holiness stationed in this royal city -- so that we judge that they too should be retained -- but indeed after their departure. Overcome by the testimony of his own evil conscience, and terrified besides, lest, once an inquiry was held, the outcome of the matter should demand a graver form, he presented documents of refusal, that it might be permitted to him to withdraw from the office of the episcopate which he had undertaken, as has been said. Since therefore it is and has been our heart's concern that the prelates of cities should always be in the common love of all those whose souls they are believed to be set to govern, but Paulus, a most reverend man, has of his own accord abdicated his priesthood, as we have recounted, we have thought this present letter ought to be directed [to you], so that it may be opened to you, and that by your own prayers you may deign to obtain for us heavenly protection. Given on the Kalends of May at Constantinople, in the consulship of Justinian and Valerius, most illustrious men. Epistle 146 A.D. 521. Report of Epiphanius, bishop of Constantinople. (1 May.) Concerning the abdication of Paul, bishop of Antioch. That he should send back the legates with good tidings as soon as possible. To the most holy and most blessed lord, brother and fellow-minister Hormisdas, Epiphanius. 1. We desire indeed to write more frequent letters to your blessedness and to enjoy the affection of brotherly charity; but now, wishing that your holiness should not be unaware of the things that have happened, we have made use of the present writings. For when, over many disturbances and no small span of time, troubles surrounded the greatest city of Antioch, which is first in the diocese of the East, on the occasion that Paulus, beloved of God, held the episcopate of the said city -- and many of the inhabitants of that very city, as some have said, separating themselves from the catholic Church, and pressing continual petitions upon our most tranquil and most faithful prince, and supplicating that an investigation be made manifest concerning the things which were being brought forward in accusation. These matters indeed took their beginning long ago, just as it did not escape the legates beloved of God, sent by your holiness, while they were dwelling in the royal city, learning all things concerning these affairs. The aforesaid Paulus, then, beloved of God, thinking this to be of advantage to himself, by his own documents chose the desertion of the designated city and of the episcopate, and showed that he set before himself universal quiet and a withdrawal from the causes [of dispute]. All of which things we know that he made manifest to our prince, beloved of Christ, [a.d. 521] [and] to your reverence. 2. But now, for all of us more precious -- and concerning which above all, by nights and days, [we await] good news of these matters: that the legates beloved of God, who were sent by the most loving prince and by us to your blessedness, joyful, announcing peace beloved of God, and proclaiming with all comeliness of beauty the unity of the holy churches -- that you may deign to dispatch them to us as quickly as possible, so that of the present cause, as we have often written, there may be heavenly gain to those who in their swiftness are the authors of good correction, most blessed and most holy brother. The whole brotherhood, which is in the care of your blessedness in Christ, both we and those who are with us salute for many years.

Jastiiii imperatoris ad Hormisdam papam. ^i^Ma**^ Paulitm Antiochenum a muUis accusatum ultro de episcopatu se ahdicasse nuntiat. Justinus Augustus Hormisdae papae. Ut quod in Paulo^) viro reverendissimo contigit apostolatui ve- stro patefiat, qui sacerdotio praeditns Antiochenae civitatis, ita ver- satus esse dicitur in multis causis, quae religiosis alienae sunt epi- scopis, ut clericorum suorum proditione, habitatorum etiam dictae civitatis, aliorum insuper frequentiimi incusetur, non tantum legatis ^) vestrae sanctitudinis in hac regia positis urbe, ut ipsos quoque retinere censemus, verum post eorum recessum: qui malae conscientiae suae victus ^) testimonio, territus insuper, ne quaestione habita graviorem formam exitus rei posceret, recusatorios libellos obtulit, ut liceret ei secedere a suscept^, sicut dictum est, episcopatus officio. Quoniam igitur cordi nobis et est et fuit, ut semper civitatum antistites in amore sint omnium communi, quorum regendas creduntur^) animas, Paulus aut<?m vir reverendissimus ultro s^ suo , prout memoravimus, libdicavit sacerdotio, praesentem epistolam duximus dirigendam, ut vobis aperiatur, et orationibus propriis coeleste nobis praesidium di- gneris acquirere. Data Calendis Majis Constantinopoli , Justiniano et Valerio viris clarissimis consulibus. '^) a' nos^ moxque G* qui vobiscum ... meinoramini; deindc ed. potius divul- tjala quam. 145 ^) Qui nimirum anno 519 mense Majo vel circiter, quum Consttintinopoli- tiiniie ecclesiae presbyter esset, Justini imperatoris testimonio et auctoritate Antiochenis praefectiis fuerat, uti epist. 75 n. l et 76 n. 2 docetur. '^) Germano scilicet ceterisque collegis, qui anno 520 e regia urbe disce- ilentes cpistolam 116 et sequentes d. 9 Julii consignatas retulerunt. — Ibidem ed. incusaretur. ') Ita G'. Ed. suae testimonio vcritus insuper ... recusatores, ') G a' creduntur (forte supplendum suscepissc) et add. vir. b cc substitiic- runt accepcrufU . . . dignetur. £pistola 146 sea a. 521 d. Belatio Epiphanii episoopi Constantinopolitani *). 1 Maj.) I)e ahdicatione PauK episcopi Antiocheni. Vt legatos cum bonis mtntiis quam primum remittat, Per omnia sanctissimo ac beatissimo domino fratri et comministratori Hormisdae Epiphauius-). 1 . Frequeutiores quidem litteras facere ad vestram beatitudinem et frui aflFectu fraternae caritatis optamus, nunc autem ea quae evene- runt cupientes vestram sanctimoniam non latere, praesentibus usi sumus scriptis. Multis enim et non parvo spatio temporis pertur- bationibus Antiochiae maximam civitatem, quae est in dioecesi Orien- tali prima, circumstantibus sub occasione, quia Paulus amabilis Deo episcopatum memoratae habuit civitatis, et multorum urbis ipsius habitatorum, sicut dixerunt aliqui, a catholica Ecclesia sese separau- tibus, et assiduas interpellationes tranquillissimo et fidelissimo prin- cipi nostro ingerentibus, et eorum quae in accusationem ducebantur inquisitionem supplicantibus fieri manif estam. Quae ^) quidem initium olim sumpserunt, sicut nec directos a vestra sanctitate Deo amabiles legatos latuit, quum in regia degerent civitate, agnoscentes super his omnia. Memoratus ergo amabilis Deo Paulus prodesse sibi boc existimans, per libellos proprios designatae civitatis desertionem et episcopatus elegit, et universalem *) quietem et causis alienationem 146 *) Eodem tempore eadcmque de re, de qua superior, conscripta est. Graeci sermonis simplex et litterae tenacior ideoque inelegans et obscura eet ejus in- terpretatio. ') Ed. add. episcopus. Deinde G' multoruni wbis ipsius habitaiorum sicut ...a catholica ccclesia ee (esse) separantibus (G'* sperntUibus). Quae sanare sine aliorum codlcum opc liaud confisi, aimpliciter reddidisse satius duximus. Quamquam id nobis fere persuasum est, mult^m habitatorum (loco muitis habitatorihus) ab inter- prete genitivi absoluti graeci tenaciore conversimi, et loco esse sane legendum sese (separantibus). Editi ita mutarunt: multis u. i. hahitatoribus .., a caiholica sese separantibus; vix niinus obscure. Suspicio est, hoc ita graece dictum esse, ut uon se ipsi separarent, sed se injusta episcopi Benteutia separari quereren- tur. Narrationem lianc exponerc sic liccret: Muftis ct non ex parvo temptfris spatio perturbationibus Antiochia civitas maxima, gnae in Orientali dioecesi est primat commnvctur ea occasione, quod Deo amuhilis Paulus memoratae civitatis episcopatum habuit, et muiti ipsius urhis cives, intcr quos aiiqui quod ipsos a catholica Ecclesia separassct conquesti sunt^ assiduis lihellis interpellarunt tranquiUissimum et fidetissimtm principem nosirum, ohtcstantes illumy ut ea de quihus accusahatur inquisitione fncta expinraret. '} Clarius: Quae quidcm non nunv primum sed jum pridem coeperunty adeo ut nec dirccios a vcslrn snnctitate Dco amnhiies leyatos, qwtm in regia essent civiiatr positi, Intcrcnt, sed omnin iis compcrta essent. EPISTOLAE 146. 147. 985 se praeferre monstravit. Quae omiiia et amabilem Christo principem (a. 521.) nostrura manifesta reverentiae vestrae fecisse novimus. 2. Sed nunc omnibus nobis pretiosius, et de quo maxime noctibus et diebus bonum nuntium de his, qui ab*) amantissimo principe et a nobis directi sunt ad vestram beatitudinem, Deo amabiles legatos laetos, amicam Deo pacem nuntiantes, et onmia pulchritudine decora unitatem sanctarum ecclesiarum annuntiantes, quam cito ad nos de- stinare dignemini, ut praesentis causae, sicut saepe scripsimus, sit coeleste lucrum his, qui in celeritate sunt bonae correctionis aucto- res, beatissime et sanctissime frater. Omnem, quae est cura tua bejititudine in Christo fraternitas, et nos et qui nobiseum sunt multis sahitamus annis.