Letter 11: [Latin text — full translation pending]

A copy of the imperial letter sent by Honorius Augustus to Arcadius, prince of the East. Honorius grieves over the things that were done at Constantinople on the day of Easter. The burning of the august temple and of the senate-house was the first sign of divine wrath. Other dreadful things are to be feared unless God is appeased. Concerning this matter we cannot keep silent, lest our silence be taken for assent. 1. Although by other letters I have already given warning concerning that womanly image which, by an unheard-of precedent, was carried about and displayed throughout the provinces, and the report of detractors spread through the whole world, so that by penitence for such a deed and by the abandoning of the design the envious rumor might die away, and that public Mngna [text garbled] might find nothing to seize upon in the morals of the times; and although also concerning the destruction of perishing Illyricum I have declared to you, with dutiful affection, that it is a grief to us, asking why you have been unwilling to acknowledge those losses of the commonwealth, and why they were announced to us by other officials rather than by the letters of your Piety: nevertheless it is not lawful for us even to conceal from your Serenity that which, very recently, has befallen in divine matters, not without dread of public peril [...] the report, swift always to evil, did not keep silence; and so that from [...] of men, which is roused at ever new occasions to disparage, taking the opportunity offered for carping, might [...] its own malice. The priests, namely, that at the most fitting time, by princely indulgence the grievous prisons of the guilty should be unbarred, and that a watchful prison should shut up the ministers of the holy law and of peace; and all the mysteries being thrown into confusion in the manner of war, some being slain within the very sanctuaries of the church, and so great a violence raging about the altars, that venerable bishops were thrust into exile, and a bloodthirsty hand of men, which it is a horror to speak of, defiled the heavenly sacraments. When these things were suddenly discovered, I confess that we were aghast. For who, in so bloody a crime, would not fear the offense of almighty God? Or in what way could anyone think the peril to lie outside the limit of the Roman world and of all mortals? When the very author of our Empire and of the commonwealth, which almighty God who governs all things has entrusted to us, was believed to be angered at the most deadly and accursed deeds that had been committed, deeds against [the bishops], the venerable brother and nephew of the holy lord Augustus; when, if anything were transacted among the bishops concerning the cause of religion, the judgment ought to have been an episcopal one. For to them belongs the interpretation of divine things, while to us [...] of religion looks for obedience. But be it so, that princely care had presumed something more for itself concerning mystical and catholic questions [...] Ought indignation, once roused, to have proceeded even to the exile of priests, even to the slaughter of men? So that where chaste prayers, where sincere vows, where unblemished sacrifices are offered, there the sword, not easily to be drawn even against the throat of the guilty, should bare itself? 2. Finally, by the events themselves it is taught what the divine majesty has felt concerning these things. First indeed this was the judgment of the present commotion, and would that it were the only one! For human trepidation, conscious to itself of so great a deed perpetrated, makes us dread something graver still, which may almighty God avert, after the trials of that terrible fire. I hear that the most holy church, set forth [or, adorned] by the resources of so many emperors, noble in its precious adornments, made most august by the prayer of so many supplicant princes, was set ablaze, and that the one and only light of the city of Constantinople, fallen into ashes, smoked, God not forbidding it (for he seems to abhor the polluted mysteries, and to have turned his eyes away from that place which blood had already stained, lest anyone be able to entreat the heavenly compassion at the bloodstained altars); and that the buildings also, noble with no lesser splendor of divine work, consumed by the rage of the raging fire, the flame pouring itself forth more savagely, and the ornaments wrought by our forefathers which adorned the public faith, were burned together as if in a kind of funeral of the city. 3. These things, although, provoked by frequent injuries, I ought to have kept silent, nor to admonish so faithfully my most united brother and the partner of the realm, yet, setting before the closeness of blood the silent goad of grief, I exhort and urge that these matters, if it can be done, be corrected by amended conduct hereafter, and that the divine wrath, so far as the event shows it to have been stirred up, be appeased by the diligence of vows. Receive from me the highest proof of plainness. I therefore thought this should be conveyed to your Clemency, lest my very silence make me suspect to anyone, as if by hidden congratulation, and lest anyone believe that I, beforehand by such deeds, lent my consent, and that I, who had often warned that such things should not happen, did not grieve afterward when they had been committed. 4. For who could be without grief, who remembers that he is a Christian, when so great a disturbance of religion has suddenly been brought in, so that the whole state of the catholic faith must needs be tossed about? There was a cause among the bishops which ought to have been resolved by counsel taken and discussed together. Legates were sent on both sides to the priests of the eternal city and of Italy: a verdict was awaited from the authority of all, to shape the rule of discipline (for it ought indeed to have remained whole, nor should anything be changed, while the deliberated definition went forward), when meanwhile a certain headlong haste broke out, so that, without awaiting the letters of the priests, who had been consulted by the legation of both parties, and without the matters being examined, the bishops were thrust into exile, condemned to punishment before they had experienced the sentence of episcopal judgment. Finally, how premature that condemnation was, the outcome proved. For those whose authority was being awaited, having permitted peaceful communion to the bishop John, judged that concord should be ratified, and thought that no one ought to be repelled from fellowship before judgment. 5. What now else remains, but that schisms, sundered into diverse directions, should tear apart the catholic faith; but that heresies, ever hostile to communion, should be born from so great a variety of the deeds done, so that now it ought scarcely to be imputed to the people, if perchance it depart into dissonant parties by the diversity of sects; since from public authority the material of discords has been sent forth, and a certain fuel for nourishing sedition has been kindled? Lest this break out afresh into some great destruction of the human race, vows must be made, that God, patient toward human falls, may prosper and make favorable the matter that was ill done. For as much as lies in us, we can fear what has been done; as much as pertains to the piety of the ever-placable God, there will be no impunity granted to merit, but only pardon.

SEU EXEMPLUM a SACR/E HONORII AUGUSTI MISS/E AD PRINCIPEM ORIENTIS ARCADIU». Dolet Honorius de iis, qum in dic Paschte Constanli- nopoli perpetrala sunt. Templi augusti et senalus incenditim primum esse divinm iracunditc indicium. Mia metuenda esse nisi Deus placetur. Uac de re cerdotes, scilicel ut eo pplissimura icnipure, quoin- tacere senon posse, ne silentium pro assensn liabea- dulgentia principali e trislia noxiorum clauslra re- tur. Quam pnvpropcrc, dttin episcopale judicium serantur, piae legis et pacis miuislros sajvus carcer exspcctabtti.ur, in essilium pulsi sinlsacri antislites. includeret, omniaque bo.llicum in nioduni lurbata Ilinc religionis perlurbationcm inductam, cl latum mysleria, nonnullos in ipsis ecclesire sacrariis inler- hmresibus atque schismalibus campum apertum esse. cniptos, lanlamqtie circa allaria vim s;evisse, ut et venerabiles episcqpi in exsilinm trudercnliir, etsan- 1. Quamvis super b imagine mnliebri, novoexem- plo, per provincias circumlata c etdiffusa, per uni- versuni miindum oblrectantium fania, liueris aliis commonuerim, ut talisfacti pcenilentia et iniermis- sione propositi, rumor aemulus consenescat, et quod in moribus lemporiim earpat publica Mngna non ba- beat : quimvis eiiam supcr excidio pereuniis lllyrici pio apud vos prodiderimus alTeclu esse nobis dolori, cur ista d vos detrimenlareipttblicaenoluerilis agno- scere, et aliis politis iiidicibiis.quan pieiatis veslrae litieris, fuerint nuniiaia : tamen ne illud quidem apud serenitateni veslram dissiinulare n>s fas est, quod in rebus divinis, non sine publici discriminis nictu, nuperrime contigisse, cila semper mabiriini guis buinaniis, quod diciu nefas est, cceleslia sacra- menta perfuudcrel. His repenle compcrlis, imbalos esse nos fateor. Quis cnim in facinore tam cruenlo Dei oninipoieniis non linieiet offensam ? aut quo pacio exira sinniniim Romani orbis omuiuniqiie mnrtalium [Supple, qnis ] pularel esse discrimen ? cuin ipse sjuctor nostri Iinperii, et reipublicrjc, qnam nnbis credidil, guhiTiialoromnipoieus Deus, funeslis adinodum oxsccr biUbusque commissis crederetur irasci, dnmiiii sancii frater neposque augusti vene- rabiles ; ciun si quid de causa religionis inler antisli- les agereiur, episcopale f oporlue; il esse jiulieiiiin. Ad illos enim divinarum reriiin inlerprelatio, ad nos enunti;itri\ fama non tacnii ; el ut na|ui a fei 1 homi- „ religiqnis exspectat [Aniiquo more pro speclat] obse- niim, qnae ad oblreciandum novis semper casibus qiiium. Sed esto, sibi de myslicis ct catbolicis quae- exciiatur, oblata occasione carpendi, maliliam suam siionibusamplius aliquidprincipaliscura piresuinpse- » In cdit. Concil. posi epist. 31. E veiuslo bi- blioihecae Vatieanoe libroin cuilectione Itomana pon- tiliciarum episiolarnm primum prndiit. Nec ira- ineiilo inler epislolas liinocenlii eollinata est, nt pote cujus ille scribendae auctor prsccipuus ex- stitit, Ut enim Palladius pag. 28 testis esi , cuni uniliqiie Homam confluercnt sancti episoopi aliiqiie viri religinsi, variarum ecclesiarum synodnrumve de inbero eeclesirc Constaiilinopolitanx siatu litte- ras alferentes, non amplius sustinens pius pontifex, Hnnorium imperatorem de iis qure siri.gillaiim ill.e ferrent epistolre, certioretn fecit. Quibns ille mptus, seniel atque iierinn, immo el teriio Arcadium, quid facto opus esset, missis liueris commonuit. Ex tti- bus illis epistolis prinia e\cidil; h;cc secuudi tan- liim laiine liabelur, tertiam girece Palladius, ex quo eain huie siihjiciemus, nobis asservavii. A Baronio ad aniiiini -404 hacc referlur : sed ad aiiuiini illo, et quidein jam labentem pertinere, ordo renim, qu;e Palladio tcsie eam pr;ecesserunt, pnsiulai. Marcellinus coraes inChronico, Socrates lib. vi, c. 18, el Sozoiiieiius lib.vm, c. 20, meinoriiecoiiimen- daniiit; boc factuin Barouius ad aiinum 40-i, Pagius vero to. II, pag. 60,circa exilum ami 310 conligisse putal. scd per provincias qunque circuntlaia fnerit, non se- cus ac olim eibnici Cybeles circumferre simulacrum solereni, atque banc vcriorem esse causam, cur ad- versiss Eudoxiam Joa.nnes laniopcre commotus fue- ril. Sed bnic intellectui repugnat unn mmlo velerum Scriplorum de lam prolaici ritu silenliiiui, sed el quqd imaginein illam muliebreni ercclam, cnllocatam et dedicatam, non circumlalam prrjcdicant. Ethis qtii- dem nativus cst intellecUis, famam obircciantium super hac re per provincias circumlalam et per uni- versum mundiim dilTusam fuisse. * Orntionis series postulat nos, non vos. Expnslulat quippe i! nioiiiis cum Arradio, qnod reipublicae de- iiinienia ip-.i latere yoltierit, de qttibiis niliil ipsi scriberb sit dignalus. 609 EPISTOLyE rit:itme usquc :id cxsilia sacerdntum, usijue ad bominum c;edes debuil indignatio conciiata proce- dcre ; ut ulii castne prcces, ubi vola sincera, ubi sa- crificia illibala solvunlur, illic se gladius, baud facile ciiam ia jiigaluin iioxiorum disiringendiis, exsere- rct ? 2. Uebus denique ipsis docetur, quid super liis seiiscril divina iuajeslas. Priinum quidem Imc pra> senlis coinmoiionis ;l judiciuin fuit, ati|iie uiinam siilum ! facit enim huinana irepidatio, tanti sibi con- scia perpetrali, ut gravius aliquid, quod averlat om- nipulcns Deus, post leriibilis uliinnis cxpeiiinenta nuiiuainus. Audio (Pnllud. pag. 91 ct 95) ecclesiam sacrosanctani, tot iinperaloruin opibus expusitain [Vorie expolitam], preliosis culiibus noiileni, tanta supplieanliuin prineipum oralione augiisiissiniain, flagrasse, et illud Constanlinopolilan;e uivds \Baron. attlil. ecclesiie] unicum luinen in f.ixill.is dilapsum Deo non vctante fumasse ( exsecrari enim videlur inquinal i niysteria, el avertisse oculos ab eo loco, qucm jam sanguis infeceiat, ne obsecraie quis pieta- lcm covleslcm siibcruenlis possel altarihus ); aedifi- cia ipioque b divina non minorc splendore nobilia, cx conciiatione sscvicntis inccndii, flamma selatius efliindenle cnnsuinpia, et qusD publicam ficiein cla- Jmrala a majonbus imstris ornaincnla dccnrabanl, veliil quodam uibis fuucre concreni Ua. 5. H.ec cgo quauivis crebiis injiuiis laccssilus tace- rc debiierim, ncc coujiiiiclissiiiiiun IVaireiu regiique consortes [Baron. consorlem] tam fldeliteradmonere, laiiien nccessiliidinem sangiiinis siimulo tacili (hdo ris aniefercns, hortor atque suadeo, ut h;cc, si lieri polesl, eniciidatis in posteiuin iimribus corriganlur, ae divina iracundia, quaiituin re proditui' cxcilata, volornm scdnlitale placetur. Accipile a me siiiiiiiuiin sinplicitaiis r indiciiim. Idcirco lioc clcmeniix vp- sir;e insinuamlum putavi, ne mc vclul gralulaliono occulta facerel apud quemquam laciturniias ipsa >u- spectum, neve quis credcrci ine lalihus (aclis pr;e- » Baron. mallel indicium. Reiincndum lamen ju- riicium, hoce-l pcena et viudicia Dei jii.iicis. '' Baron., contracloque concilio. Antecedens ver- Iuim collato, suadet et recte consequi in edil. Rom., traclaloque consilio. '■ Et bic Baron. snbsiituit, missis,.... leguiis. .Missi sunl Honiain, teslc Palladio, pag. 9, 23, eic, ai> uiraque parte lcgaii : primurn a Theophili paite le= ctor Alexandriiiusliileras ipsius deferens. iiim rju- sdem Theophilj presbyter Peims iipniine cuni Mir- tyrio ecclesiae Ciiostauiinop. diacono , qui alias Ihcopliili lineras cum quibiisijam actis Innopenlio papc i vddiderunl ;$ac deuiuni Paternus, qui se Cou- staininop. ecclesiic presbyterum dicebat, litteras pcrforens episcoporum Acacii, Pauli, Anlioclii, Se- U DEClil.TA. »10 A lere consensum, el qni sape nc acciderent commo- niierim, posteai|uam commissa sunt non dolerem. i. Nam (|iiis esse pnsset expers doloris, qui se meminit Cbrisiianum, taniani subiio pcriurhaiioiiem rdigioois indnciani, m onuiem calholicac fidei sta- tum necesse sit fluciuare ? Erat interepiscopos causa quae collato ll tractaioque consilio dcberel absolvi. Missi c ad sacerdotes urbis asierna; alquellaliaeutra- que ex parte legaii : exspectabalnr ex omnium au- cloritate senlcniia , informatura regulam disciplinx ( iniegruin nempe esse debuerat, ncque quidquam novari, dum deliniiio dclibciata prorcderet ), cum interea iniiuin quoddam prnecipitium fesiinaiionis exarsit, ut non exspcciatis litieris saccrdotuni, qui fueranl nuit:;a partium legatione consulti, non exa- B niinaiis rebus, iu cxsilium triidereniur antistitcs, aoimadversioni prius addicli, qiiam senlentiam judi- cii episcopalis experti. Denique quani inimatura illa damnaiio fueril, res probavit. Namque hi f quorum exspectabatur auctorilas, paciliea Joanni episcopo coininuiiione permissa [Baron. pnemissa], sancicn- dam concordiani censuerunt, nec qiieniquam puia- riint anle jiidiciuin consortio repellendiini. 5. Quid nuiic aliud superest, quam ut catholicam fideni schismala in diversum dissnciala dilacerenl, quam ut hasreses communioni semper inimicac ex lania gestarum rerum vaiietatc nascaoiur, ut jam popolo pene noii debeat iioputari, si forte in disso- nas par!es seciarum diversilate discedat ; cum ex ar.eioritate publica discordiarum materies sit prai- C missa, et fomes quidam nuirienda: seditionis ani- inaliis. Quod ne in inagnain aliquam generis lniinaiii perniciem recrude-cat, vota facienda sunt, ut ad bnmanas prolapsioues paliens Deus reni male gcs- tam prosperet ac sccundet. Nam quanliun in nobis est, possuiniis tinierc quod gcslum est ; qnantum ad pieiatem seinper placabilis Dei, nou eril meriii im- puuitas indulta. sed veui.c. veriani el alioruni quorumdaiii, in qnihns calumnia- banlur Jiianneiii, quasi ecclesiam S. Sophi:e incen- dissel. A Joannis aiilem paple, ut alms niiitam qui poslea nia^ooniiiiiero venerunl, priiuum Roiuain se conliilerunt quaiuor episcopi, Pansophius, Pappus, D Dcuiietrius ei Eogcnius, Iresque reddidernnt epislo- las, iiuain Joaiuus, alleram 40 episcoporum de com- inuoinne ejus, iciiiain r.leri i|isius. Ac nouiiiiaiiin de epiitola Joamiis ad I.iim. cniiiiiu testilicaiur Falladius pig. 22, eaiu eiiun ad Vencriiini Mediolmii el ChrO- iiiaiiiim Aquileiic episcopos scripiain liii^se. Ilinc llonorio dicere lieuil, legalos illos ud sacerdoles llr- bis ivtemw ct Iluliw fnisse nussos. 512 5M S. INNOCENTII I PAP/E