Letter 37: Copy of the letter of Justinian.

COPY OF THE LETTER OF JUSTINIAN. The longed-for time, which we have desired with our highest prayers, the divine mercy, looking upon the sorrows of the human race, has deigned to grant, in which all Catholics and those perfectly faithful to God may be able to commend themselves to His majesty. For this reason I have directed these letters to your apostolic office with the free leave now granted to me by the heavenly favor. For our most invincible lord the emperor, ever embracing the orthodox religion with most ardent faith and desiring to recall the most holy churches to concord, as soon as by heavenly judgment he obtained the imperial insignia, gave notice to the priests stationed here that the churches should be united according to the apostolic rules. And indeed a great part of the faith has been settled, God being its author; concerning the name of Acacius alone it is fitting that the agreement of your beatitude begin. For which reason our most serene lord the prince has sent to your holiness Gratus, a most exalted man, a friend of one mind with me, with the august pages, that he may in every way deign to come to Constantinople for arranging what remains of the concord. But without any delay we await your coming, and if perhaps some slowness, which ought not to happen, should detain it, in the meantime let him hasten at least to send suitable priests, because the whole world of our regions, turned toward unity, does not endure delays. Hasten therefore, most holy lords, lest in your absence those things be ordained that ought to be ordained in your presence. For we know the letters of your beatitude and of your predecessors directed to the East, and what they contain concerning this same matter. But that nothing be omitted, on account of the cause often mentioned, the business of religion also has been enjoined upon your son, the exalted man Gratus, in his mission to the most invincible king, with the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

EXEMPLUM EPiSTOLAE lusTiNiANi. Desiderabilc tempus, quod summis uotis optauimus, diuina clementia dolores generis humani respiciens largiri dignata est, quo omnes catholici et deo perfecte fideles maiestati eius se ualeant commendare. idcirco has ad apostolatum uestrum libera licentia iam mihi 2 beneficio caelesti indulta direxi. domnus etenim noster inuictis- simus imperator orthodoxam religionem semper ample<cte>iis oi 9 diptychis o^: dypciis V 10 affligeretur F, corr. 11 diptychis o^: dypcicis V 13 pacifico F, corr. o 18 p c agapito F, carr. Car. 147« l)at (simul cum epp. 143 et 146) a, 518 die 7 Sept., accept. die 20 Dec, per Gratum. Edd. Car. P 480; Bar. ad a. 518, 74; Collect. Condl; Thiel 833. 20 poat lustiniani Car. inserit Tustiniaiius comes Honnisdae papae 25 domus V, correxi: dominus o 26 seper V amplens F, corr. o Epist. CXXXXVI 4 CXXXXVIII 1. 593 ardentissima lide cupiensque sacrosanctas ecclesias ad con- cordiam reuocare mox adeptus est caelesti iudicio infulas principales, sacerdotibus hic positis denuntiauit, ut pro regulis apostolicis unirentur ecclesiae. et magna quidem pars fidei 3 est composita deo auctore; de nomine tantummodo Acacii uestrae beatitudinis conuenit ordiri consensum. quam ob cansam domnus noster serenissimus princeps Gratum uirum snblimero, unanimum mihi amicum, cum paginis augustis ad sanctitatem tuam transmisit, ut modis omnibus dignetur Constantinopolim ad reliqua concordiae componenda uenire. sed absque quadam dilatione uestrum expectamus aduentum, quem si qua tarditas. quod fieri non debet, forsitan retinuerit, interim uel sacerdotes idoneos destinare festinet, quia totus mundus par<tium> nostrarum conuersus ad unitatem moras non patitur. accelerate ergo, domini sanctissimi, ne uobis ab- 4 sentibus, quae debent praesentibus ordinari. scimus etenim litteras uestrae beatitudinis et antecessorum uestrorum ad Orientem directas, quid super hac eadem causa contineant. ut autem nihil praetermittatur, propter causam saepius 5 memoratam ad inuictissimum regem religionis quoque negotium filio uestro uiro sublimi Grato est iniunctum fauente domino nostro lesu Christo.