Letter 96: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Likewise, the report of Germanus and John, bishops, of Felix and Dioscorus, deacons, and of Blandus, presbyter. We do not marvel that all things have turned out favorably for us through the prayers of your apostolate, knowing that your intercession on our behalf accomplishes more than our own ministry does. For the whole outcome of the ecclesiastical business has unfolded in such a way that there can be no doubt that the miracle of blessed Peter has come about at every point. First, because we found so great an ardor of religion in the very men who hold high office, that Vitalian, Pompeius, and Justinian came to meet us at the tenth milestone, and did not consider it beneath their dignity to glory in our arrival together with thanksgiving to you. Then, because there was such great devotion even among the common people, that the greatest part of the populace awaited our arrival with wax candles and with praises of you. And so, amid this festal celebration, we arrived safe and joyful at Constantinople on the second day [Monday] of Holy Week. And on the following day, being presented to the most pious prince [the emperor], we were so relieved by his affection that, even if no other things had gone before, the favor of the most pious prince alone would have sufficed us for consolation. But by your prayers greater things followed; for on that day, in the presence of the entire senate, there were also present four bishops whom John, the bishop of Constantinople, had sent over for the defense of his own party. To these we showed the document of the apostolic see, and we proved that everything in it was rightly canonical. Finally, on the fifth day [Thursday], that is, the Lord's Supper, the bishop came to the palace at the general assembly, and, the document having been read through, consenting to it he subscribed with the utmost devotion. Who could set forth how great was the joy there both of the prince and of the senate alike, what tears the rejoicings there brought forth, what voices the favor of the whole assembly and clergy sent up, whether in praise of the prince or of your see? These things cannot be set forth in a report, but we leave to your consideration and to the bearer that which we are not able to express in words. From the palace we came to the church with the utmost ceremony, so that it might strengthen the harmony of faith and of minds by communion as well. It can scarcely be believed what weeping there was of those rejoicing, what an immensity and overflowing there was of the peoples; the very crowd marveled at its own joy, nor could it be doubted that a heavenly hand had been present, which conferred such unity upon the world. The name of Acacius, the convicted prevaricator who had been anathematized, we signify to have been erased from the ecclesiastical diptychs under our own gaze, and also those of the other bishops who followed him in communion; the names of Anastasius and of Zeno likewise were removed from recitation at the altar. Peace has been restored to the minds of Christians by your prayers; the soul of the whole church is one, the joy is one; the enemy of the human race alone mourns, struck down by the storming-power of your prayer. Pray that a like good fortune may also illumine the church of Antioch, concerning whose bishop the deliberation is seen still to waver, since amid the divergent wishes of the peoples there is no agreement about the choice of a person. Yet we believe that by the prayers of your beatitude a worthy ordination may swiftly come about concerning that church too, so that the peace that has begun may in your times be directed alike throughout the whole world, and that, with all parts coming together into apostolic communion and faith, the church, made perfect, just as it formerly was, may be joined in all its members to its own head. Received [...]

5 ITEM SUG6E8TI0 GERXANI ET lOHANNIS EPI8C0P0RUM FELICIS ET DIOSCORI BIACONORUM ET BLANDI PRBSBYTBRI. Non miramur apostolatus uestri precibus cuncta nobis prospera successisse, scientes, quod amplius nostro ministerio uestra pro nobis elaboret oratio. ita enim totus se ecclesiastici 10 negotii tulit euentus, ut dubitari non possit beati Petri per singula prouenisse miraculum: primum, quod tautum in ipsis, qui dignitate funguntur, inuenimus religionis ardorem, ut Uitalianus, Pompeius et lustinianus nobis occuiTerent in decem milibus et de aduentu nostro cum uestra gratiarum 15 actione gloriari non arbitrarentur indignum; deinde, quod tanta fuit etiam in plebe deuotio, ut pars maxima populorum cum cereis simul et laudibus uestris nostrum praestolaretur aduentum. sub hac itaque celebritate secunda feria hebdomadae 2 maioris Constantinopolim sospites hilaresque peruenimus 80 posteroque die piissimo principi praesentati tanto eius releuati sumus affectu, ut, si alia minime praecederent, sola nobis ad solatium piissimi principis gratia suffecisset. sed orationibus 3- uestris maiora secuta sunt; nam eo die sub senatus cuncti praesentia episcopi quoque quattuor affuerunt, quos lohannes 25 Constantinopolitanus antistes pro partis suae defensione trans- miserat: quibus libellum apostolicae sedis ostendimus omniaque in eo recte canonica esse probauimus. postremo quinta feiia, 4 hoc <est> cena domini, ad palatium in generali conuentu 1 quatinus V 3 ida aprilifl V 223. Bata (simul cum epp. 159—165 et 167) a. 519 die 22 Apn per Pullionem; accepta die 19 lunii. Edd. Car. JP 492; Collect. Concil; Thiel 856. 5 bvi F, corr. a 6 diac V 18 cbdomade V 22 sufficisset F, eorr. a 26 omnia que V 27 recta canonica\que> Car. 28 est add. p, <e8t in> Car. <584 Suggestio Dioscori ad Hormisdam uenit episcopus et perlecto libello consentiens cum summa deuotione subscripsit. quis explicet, quanta illic principis pariter ac senatus laetitia fuerit, quas ibi lacrimas gaudia pepererint, quas uoces uel in laudem principis uel in sedis uestrae totius coetus et cleri fauor emisit? explicari haec 5 relatione non possunt sed considerationi uestrae portitorique o relinquimus, quod eloqui non ualemus. a palatio in ecclesia surama cum celebritate peruenimus, ut fidei animorumque concordiam communionis quoque roboraret, credi uix potest, quis fletus laetantium, quae inmensitas fuerit exundatioque 10 populorum: ipsa suam laetitiam turba mirabatur nec dubitari poterat manum aflfuisse caelestem, quae talem mundo contulit 6 nnitatem. Acacii praeuaricatoris anathematizati nomen de diptychis ecclesiasticis sed et ceterorum episcoporum, qui eum in communione secuti sunt, sub nostro conspectu signi- 15 ficamus erasa; Anastasii quoque ac Zenonis nomina similiter ab altaris recitatione summota. pax est orationibus uestris Christianorum mentibus reddita; una totius est ecclesiae anima, una laetitia; solus luget humani generis inimicus 7 uestrae precis expujrjnatione coUisus. orate, ut Antiochenam 20 quoque similis felicitas inlustret ecclesiam, de cuius antistite adhuc tractatus nutare conspicitur, quoniam inter diuersa uota populorum de personae electione non constat. credimus tamen, quod precibus beatitudinis uestrae de ipsa quoque uelociter ordinatio digna proueniat, ut coepta pax temporibus uestris 25 per omnem mundum pariter dirigatur et cunctis partibus in apostolicam communionem fidemque conuenientibus perfecta, sicut pridem fuerat, omnibus membris capiti suo connectatur ecclesia. Accepta * * 11 sua l^ticia F, corr. p 14 dyptiis V 16 erasa scrtpsi: erasos V tenonis V, corr. 18 est Thiel: et V 21 ecclesia F, corr. a 27 perfccte Car, 29 fort accepta \die quo supra" f. c. die 19 lun, <in7it 519 Epist. ccxxin 4 — ccxxmi 4. 685