Letter 115: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisda to Anastasius Augustus. 1. Thanks be to the heavenly Power, which through the addresses of your Piety has deigned to put an end to a long silence, granting such a beginning to our exchange of words that we both rejoice over the prosperity of your Clemency and trust that, by God's gift, the holy Church can return to unity. This was the work of the heavenly Clemency, and this was always likewise the prayer of our predecessors, whom the very course of events declares to have been ministers of the paternal tradition and guardians of the right faith. For peace is the beginning of all goodness, and, as regards the worship of the catholic faith, nothing ought to be reckoned more powerful, nothing more exalted: for this assuredly it is fitting to act and to endure all things, for one who desires to be a worthy disciple of the holy Scriptures. It is established that Christ our Lord proclaimed this mother and nurse of all good things to his disciples, saying: "My peace I give to you, my peace I leave to you." Providing for this peace by the care of your religious purpose, with the Lord inspiring you, you are taking thought for the concord of the orthodox Church in reverence for the blessed apostle Peter, keeping in a special manner the divine commands. This matter procures for your empire a greater defense of the heavenly favor. For rightly the veneration offered to God grants to devout minds an unconquerable wall of defense. Therefore with poured-out prayers we beseech almighty God, that he who granted to you the zeal of seeking the peace of the churches may himself also, under the consecration of the catholic faith, grant the effect to your desire in this matter. 2. Moreover, by the sacred addresses directed to us, your Piety has deigned to make mention of a holy council. Concerning this matter we shall be able then to furnish a fullest reply, when you have willed that we should clearly recognize the cause of the assembling. But now, since by our Lord's bestowal the opportunity for converse has been given, with fitting veneration we shall render the dutiful offices of the discourse owed. Given on the day before the Nones of April [April 4], in the consulship of Florentius, most illustrious man. Through Patricius.

seu Besponsoria*) Hormisdae papae ad Anastasium imperatorem. ^ '?^^.?- 4 Apnl. liiius pro pare ecclesiarum studium iaudat. Decessorum suorum constantiam upprobat (m. 1). De conciiio convocando respondere differt^ quoad causam ejus pienius perspectam habuerit («. -). Hormisda Anastasio Augusto. 1. Gratias supernae virtuti, quae per vestrae pietatis affatus op. 2: diuturnum dignata est terminare silentium, tale praestans collocutio- uis exordium, ut et de vestrae clementiae prosperitate laetemur, et ad unitatem Deo donante reverti posse sanctam confidamus Eccle- siam. Hoc opus supernae clementiae, haec et decessorum nostro- runi fuit semper oratio; quos etiam rermn actus paternae traditionis ininistros et rectae fidei (feclarant fuisse custodes. Pax est enim totius bonitatis initium, qua nihil, quantum ad catholicae fidei cul- tum, validius, nihil aestimari oportet excelsius: pro hac scilicet facere et cuncta sustinere convenit, qui sanctarum Scripturarum probabilis cupit esse discipulus. Hanc omnium bonorum matrem et nutricem Christum Dominum nostrum suis constat praedicasse disci- pulis^ dicentem : Pacem meam do voMs, pacem relinquo vohis, Quam ^^ .^? vos religiosi cura propositi Domino adspirante providentes, de ortho- doxae concordia eogitatis Ecclesiae in beati apostoli Petri reverentia. a. 515. divina specialiter praecepta servantes. Quae res majorem supenii favoris defensionem vestro procurat imperio. Recte enim oUita Deo veneratio inexpugnabilem devotis mentibus murum defensi^mis indulget. Proinde omnipotentem Deum fusis precibus exoramns, ut qui vobis studium quaerendae ecclesiarum pacis indulsit, ipse qaoqiie sub^) consecratione catholicae fidei desiderio vestro super hac parte praestet effectum. 2. Praeterea directis ad nos sacris affatibus commemorationem sancti coucilii facere pietas vestra dignata est. De qua re tonc plenissimum poterimus praebere responsum^ quum causam CQngre- gationis nos voluerit evidenter agnoscere. Nunc vero quia prae- stante Domino nostro data est facultas alloquio^ congrua veneratione debiti praebebimus sermonis officia. Data pridie Nonas Apiili&, Florentio viro clarissimo consule. Per^) Patrioium.