Letter 28: Hormisdas to Dorotheus, Bishop of Thessalonica.

Hormisdas to Dorotheus, Bishop of Thessalonica. John, my brother and fellow bishop, the prelate of the city of Nicopolis, together with his synod, gravely complains that he is afflicted by various harassments and losses, because, after he had separated himself from the fellowship of the transgressors and had earned communion with the Apostolic See, he did not direct to the church of Thessalonica the notifications of his ordination. (2) This neglect could have been blameworthy, if there were among all one single mystery of charity. But since many have divided themselves from the solidity of that rock which is Christ, who would not wish to be set apart from the company of the erring, so that he may deserve to be joined with those who stand firm in the truth? Therefore it is not custom that has been neglected, but contagion that has been shunned. Can anyone, then, charge error as a fault where he recognizes a precaution wholesomely devised? But we, as for that which you ought to have been the first to take up, were believing that you could at least follow after the example of others. (3) Is delay in falls not enough, unless to the heap of reproach there be added also resentment against those very persons who are returning to the way? What else do those do but [imitate] those who, of blessed Peter -- a thing that cannot be said without impiety -- hate the very name that was given by the Lord, who persecute those who take refuge at the altars of that very See? With what shame, I ask, do you desire the privileges concerning yourself to remain those of men whose commands you do not keep, and do you wish the reverence which you do not display toward the faith to be paid to you under ecclesiastical authority? (4) If you were standing in the same footsteps in which the catholics rest, you ought nevertheless to avoid the persecution of your neighbor, knowing that, according to the ordinances of our Lord and Savior which we revere, he who shall have scandalized one of the least is liable to great sins. Where is, my lord, the humility which, on the occasion of your disciples contending about rank of place, you taught? (5) You show that he is greatest who shall have striven to present himself as little. Look down from heaven and see, visit the vineyard planted by you the cultivator, attend to those who are least in regard to your commands and exalted in regard to the pursuit of honor! (6) Why do you desire recent things and abandon ancient ones, slack in regard to the highest matters and concerned with the small? Is this not to tithe the cheap things of the world and to despise the precepts of the law? Keep those things which befit God, and easily those things which are of men follow after. (7) Rather take up the care of your salvation, and, as to why another has anticipated you in the truth, sigh with affection, lest, if you persist in persecuting those who will return to the members of the church, you too be coupled with those whom the catholic judgment condemns by name. Given on the day before the Ides of April [12 April], in the consulship of Agapitus [517 AD].

HORHISDA DOROTHEO EPISGOPO THESSALONICENSI. lohauneS frater et coepiscopus meus Nicopolitanae urbis antistes cum synodo sua uariis se concussionibus atque dispendiis gi'auiter causatur affligi, quod a transgressorum societate diuisus, postquam communionem apostolicae sedis emeruit, ad Thes- salonicensium ecclesiam ordinationis suae indicia non direxit. 2 potuisset neglectus hic esse culpabilis, si unum esset inter omnes mysterium caritatis. at cum multi se a petrae illius, quae Christus est, soliditate diuiserint, quis non uelit ab 1 uulgo non ante sed post recolite plenitis interpunxerunt 2 impru- dens V, corr. praesumptio p^: sumpcio V 7 capud V 9 con- siliis Car. 11 sintillam V 12 estucia F, corr. o 14 aufficiat Car, 18 aprilis F 188« Dat. (simul cum epp. 127, 134, 135) a. 517 die 12 Apr. Edd. Bar. ad a. 517, 39; Collect. Concil; BTA I 405; Thiel 8ll. 21 artistes F, corr. o 24 tessalonicensiuni V 28 solliditate F diuiserit F, corr. p Epist. cxxxn 4 — cxxxni 7. 555 erraDtium coniunctione discerni, ut mereatur cum his, qui coDsistunt in ueritate, coniungi? non igitur consuetudo est ueglecta sed uitata contagia. ergo obicere quis possit errorem, ubi cogitatam salubriter iDtellegit cautiouem? at nos, quod 3 5 debueras primus adsumere, credebamus te sequi saltem post aliena exempla potuisse. dod sufiicit in lapsibus mora, uisi ad reprehensioDis cumulum circa eos quoque, qui ad uiam redeuDt, accedat iDuidia? quid aliud quam beati Fetri, quod siue impietate dici non potest, ipsum quod a domino datum 10 est Domen oderunt, qui eos, qui ad sedis ipsius altaria con- fugiunt, insequuntur? quo pudore, rogo, priuilegia circa te 4 illorum manere desideras, quorum mandata non seruas, et reuerentiam, quam non exhibes fidei, cupis tibi sub ecclesia- stica potestate deferri? si in isdem uestigiis, quibus catholici 15 nituntur, insisteres, insectationem tamen proximi uitare deberes sciens secundum domini nostri et saluatoris, quae colimus, instituta eum, qui scandalizauerit unum de minimis. obDoxium maguis esse peccatis. ubi est, domiue, humilitas, 5 quam sub occasioue discipulorum tuorum certautium de loci 20 qualitate docuisti? tu osteudis illum esse maximum, qui ex- hibere studuerit se pusillum. respice de caelo et uide, uisita uineam te cultore plautatam, inteDde circa maDdata tua minimos et circa ambitum hoDoris elatos! cur receDtia 6 cupitis et prisca deseritis, circa summa desides et parua 25curaDtes? doddc hoc est rerum uilia decimare et legis prae- cepta coDtemDere? seruate illa, quae deo coDgruunt, et facile ea, quae suut ab homiuibus, subsequuntur. quin potius curam 7 salutis adsume et, cur te alius praeuenerit in ueritate, alfec- tione suspira, ne si insectari eos, qui ad ecclesiae reuertentur 17 Matth. 18. 6 19 cf. Matth. 18, 1 20 cf. Matth. 18, 4 21 cf. Psalm. 79, 15 sq. 25 cf. Matth. 23, 23 hisdem V uestigiis ex uestigia V catholice F, corr. 16 quae V: quem o 18 pecatis V 20 exibere V 22 cultorem V, corr. o 556 Hormisda Ennodio et Peregrino membra, perstiteris, tu quoque cum his, quos nominatim condemnat catholica sententia, copuleris. Data pridie Id. April. Agapito cons.