Letter 132: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Pope Hormisdas to Avitus, bishop of Vienne. [Argument: He explains why the embassy sent to Constantinople has remained silent (sections 1 and 2); he warns them to beware of Eastern deceits (section 3). He informs them of the return of Thrace, Illyricum, Dardania, and Epirus to the communion of the Church (section 4). He advises that he is preparing to send a second embassy to the East, and he sends the proceedings, so that they may learn in what order the Nicopolitans and Dardanians have been received into communion.] Hormisdas to Avitus the bishop, and to all the bishops of the province of Vienne situated under your diocese. 1. Whoever desires especially to be instructed concerning those things which pertain to catholic discipline plainly shows what zeal he has for the divine commandments. For there cannot be care of this kind except where faith is unfeigned. And therefore we exult in the Lord over the sincerity of your spirit, most beloved brother, since we behold you, according to the letters directed through Alexius the presbyter and Viventius [al. Venantius] the deacon, both recalling the decrees of the apostolic see against those transgressors Eutyches and Nestorius, and inquiring whether our admonition has accomplished anything against them, through whom the Eastern churches are thrown into confusion. It is a worthy concern for the faithful, that they should groan over the lapses of the wretched, and provide that they themselves be not polluted by another's contagion. But do not believe that we ourselves have neglected this, namely that a fitting instruction should convey to your knowledge whatever had been done. But we briefly clear away the silence of which your love complains. 2. For as to the fact that our admonition does not more frequently visit you, we are confident of the steadfastness of your conscience and faith. Solicitude perhaps to be set in motion for the doubtful, it is enough to have indicated to the perfect what is to be avoided. But of our embassy, which we sent once and not a second time, as you write, if the desired outcome had befallen, we would at once have been eager together with you, ready to share the things desired: knowing that it agrees both with reason and with our purpose, that those whom we have made partners of our solicitude, with these we should join together the joys of restored unity. But as far as the Greeks are concerned, they present the vows of peace more with the mouth than with the heart, and they speak more just things than they do: they boast in words that they wish what they declare by their works that they do not wish; what they have professed they neglect, and what they have condemned, these things they follow. For whence is it, that, when through our brother and fellow-bishop Ennodius they had promised that they would send priestly men to confirm those things which the apostolic see had demanded, and many things also which had been sought from us for the correction of their own depravity, promising, they not only did not, according to their own enactments, send religious men, in whose hands full instruction of the case itself could lie, but even, as if a small matter were being transacted, sending laymen and persons foreign to the ecclesiastical body, took no pains to extricate themselves from the mire in which they are held immersed, but even believed that they could, which God forbid, befoul by their fellowship the shining brightness of the catholic faith? This was the cause of our silence, which you too saw by spiritual prudence revealing it. For what could I indicate concerning this case by directed letters, when I saw that the perfidy was stubbornly preserving its hardness in its own state? New outcomes require the diligence of a careful report. He who indicates nothing of things known declares abundantly that the former things remain in their own state. 3. Wherefore, most beloved brother, both we exhort you by these present addresses, and through you also, because the occasion is given, we admonish others throughout Gaul, whom the same faith embraces with us, to preserve the promised and lovely-to-God constancy of faith, and [to keep] your constancy [free] from the fellowship of transgressors, to present to Christ a chaste virgin to one man, as you have promised. And beware, lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, so the minds of certain ones be corrupted from the simplicity and chastity which is in Christ Jesus. The blandishments of the harmful are pernicious, and therefore it befits you to be vigilant, because the adversary of the human [race] goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; resist him, strong in faith: for they have this as a special trait of their father cast down from the height of heaven, those who follow and love his footsteps, that, deprived themselves of that light of truth, they rejoice that others too be darkened by their obscurity, and, although they know that they will pay the penalties of their own perversity, they exult if they join the wretched to them by their own damnation. For whence is it, that when for the greater part they are deserted by their own neighbors, the Thracians, Dardanians, and Illyrians, who have come to know their perversity, they strive to allure with deceits and various arts those placed far off, by hope of their ignorance: except that they may defile with impious contagion in others also the light which they themselves do not have? 4. But that you may be able to recognize what are the inclinations of those regions: most of the Thracians, although they are shaken by the incursions of their persecutors, nevertheless persist in our communion, knowing that faith is made [proven] through adversities. Dardania and Illyricum, neighboring to Pannonia, by us, when we judged where it was necessary that bishops be ordained for them, [...] rejoicing to separate themselves so far from the company of the lost, that they sought [hardships], provided only they had nothing in common with the transgressors. The metropolitan of Epirus, that is, the bishop of Nicopolis, lately separated from the impious by his own synod, betook himself to apostolic communion, the profession which would accomplish [its purpose] having been brought forth. These things also we have judged should be inserted into the present writings, so that, as he sent us to grieve the lot of the perishing, so we may likewise rejoice over the salvation of those returning; and that the faithful, established farther off, may be instructed by these, with what solicitude the poison should be poured out [shunned], whom they see avoided by their own people too by so just a separation. 5. And we indeed, mindful of our dispensation, must needs comply with the duty of the requested embassy: but if they are not moved by affection for salvation, nor by regard for God, nor by the consideration of reason, let them at least acquiesce, beaten upon importunately and persistently, and either return to the right [way], having abandoned their errors, or, on account of their impenitent heart, be judged inexcusable by all, who, admonished so often, persist in their perverse obstinacy. Pray you also, and join your vows together with ours to God in prayer, that through the help of his mercy our action may advance with success for the stability of the catholic faith, you preserving yourselves unstained and whole from all fellowship of transgressors: so that either we may join minds and hearts with those returning, or be untouched and unharmed by their poisons. For we, since you too testify that you bear witness to your conscience, have known Eutyches and Nestorius to be damned by the authority of the apostolic, that is the catholic, sentence; in what way shall we be able to be saved, if we cling by any fellowship of communion to their followers and successors, since Belial can have no portion with our Christ? But we think it is to your instruction's interest, that those things which were done in our presence by the Nicopolitans and Dardanians, or by what order they have been received into communion, we should make known to you [...] by the reading of those very documents. Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of March, in the consulship of Agapitus [15 February 517]. Epistle 23. Pope Hormisdas to John of Nicopolis. [3 March 517] [Argument: He consoles him concerning the troubles which he suffers, and exhorts him both that he himself stand firm in the faith and that he confirm the bishops of his province in the same constancy. He signifies that he is considering sending prayers to the emperor for the peace of the whole community.] Hormisdas to John, bishop of Nicopolis. 1. On the return of Pullio our subdeacon we received the letter of your charity, rejoicing over the constancy of faith and over the intention which you maintain concerning communion with the apostolic see: but we were saddened that you report yourself to be enduring certain troubles. These however cannot have lasting substance, because where God is purely worshipped, even if adverse things have befallen, they are changed into prosperous ones, according to the apostle who says: Hope does not deceive. The prince of the apostles, doubting while walking through the sea, labored; yet soon, having invoked his Lord, he had him ready, who with hand stretched out would not suffer him to endure the peril. Therefore, following the examples of our authors and remaining in their faith, let us ask the help of him of whom it is written: Who does not let us be tempted beyond what we are able. Therefore, greeting your charity, we exhort you, that, as we have said before, you persevere in those things which have been well begun: because he who shall have endured unto the end, he shall be saved. 2. Cease not frequently to relieve our solicitude by your addresses. Confirm also your parochial priests by suitable exhortation, because by doing this you will be able daily to multiply the talent entrusted to you. Concerning that matter also which your love requests, we are considering, that our prayers may reach the most clement emperor for the peace of the whole community. Only let it be that you do not cease to aid our vow and zeal with fitting prayers, because we, by God's authorship, have been in no way able to be at leisure in bringing these things to accomplishment. Given on the fifth day before the Nones of March, in the consulship of Agapitus, most distinguished man [3 March 517].

Hormisdae papae ad Ayitnm eplscopom Yiennensem. ^'^^^^' legatiofds ConstantinopoUm destinatae exilum siluerit, exponit (n. 1 e/ 2), ut yrientaUbus fraudihus caveant, monet (n. 3). De Thraciae, Illyrici, Dardaniae ^piri ad communionem Eeclesiae reditu certiores facit (n. 4). Legationem mdam in Orientem pm^are se monet, ae gesta mittit, quibus quo ordine Nico- poHtani ac Dardani ad communionem recepti sint, discere valeani, Hormisda Avito episcopo vel universis episcopis provinciae Viennensis sub tua dioecesi con- sistentibus. 1. Qui de his; quae ad disciplinam catholicam pertinent, maxime s instrui cupit^ quid studii circa mandata divina habeat, evi- T ostendit. Non enim potest esse hujusmodi cura, nisi ubi fides infucata. Atque ideo exsultamus in Domino de sinceritate «iti tui, dilectissime frater, dum te secundum directas per Ale- presbyterum atque Viventium^) diaconum litteras intuemur et ipiis transgressoribus Eutychete atque Nestorio sedis apostolicae ituta recolere, et si quid adversus eos admonitio nostra promo- per quos Orientales ecclesiae confunduntur, inquirere. Digna sollicitudo fidelibusy ut de miserorum lapsibus ingemiscant; et ae aliena poUuantur contagione provideant. Sed ne nos qui- hoc supersedisse credatis, ut ad notitiam vestram, si quid actum t, competens perferret instructio. Verum breviter silentium um, quod dilectio mordet vestra, purgamus. }. Nam quod non saepius nostra admonitio vos frequentet', de ientiae vestrae et fidei stabilitate confidimus. Sollicitudo im- 3nda fortasse sit dubiis, satis est vitanda indicasse perfectis. bionis vero nostrae, quam semel non secundo, sicut scribitis, lus, si votivus contigisset eventus, alacres illico vobiscum fuera- desiderata partituri: scientes, hoc rationi; hoc nostro proposito mire, ut quos participes sollicitudinis fecimus, cum his redinte- .e unitatis gaudia jungeremus. Sed quantum ad Graecos,*ore s praeferunt pacis vota quam pectore, et loquntur magis justa, i faciunt: verbis velle se jactant, quod operibus noUe declarant; fuerint professi, negligunt, et quae damnaverint^ haec sequun- Nam unde est, quod, quum per Ennodium fratrem et coepisco- nostrum sacerdotalcs viros ad confirmanda ea, quae sedes apo- ja poposcerat, directuros se esse promisissent, multa quoque, I G* Viventium, al. VenanHnm. Mox ed. dc conscientia vestra ... rfe integii- nitatis. a. 517. quae ad correctionem pravitatis suae a nobis quaesita fuerant^ pdli- centes, non solum non religiosos viros, penes quos causae ipsiiis plena esse posset instructio, secundum constituta propria non miae- ep. u runt, verum etiam, quasi res parva gereretur, laicos') et alienos ab ^** ^^* ecclesiastico corpore destinantes, non se studuerunt de coeno, qoo immersi tenentur, evolvere, venmi etiam catholicae fidei claritatem') fulgentem sua, quod absit, se posse crediderunt societate foscare? Haec fuit nostri causa silentii, quam vos quoque spiritali vobispn- dentia revelante vidistis. Quid enim de hac causa poteram directis litteris indicare, quam in statu suo videbam duram pertinaciter custodire perfidiam ? Novi exitus sollicitae diligentiam relationis in- quirunt. Qui de rebus cognitis nihil indicat, *abunde in statn suo manere priora declarat. 3. Quapropter, dilectissime frater, et vos praesentibus hortamiir' alloquiis, et per vos quoque, quia occasio data cst, alios per Galliaa,» quos fides eadem nobiscum amplectitur, admonemus, promissam rfc amabilem Deo fidei servare constantiam, et transgressorum societatiC^ \i2 ^ccl^^^? constantiam vestram uni viro virginem caslam, sicut sp<^— pondistis, exhibere Christo. Et cavete, ne sicut serpens Evam se— duxit astutia sua, ita sensus aliquorum corrumpantur a simplicitab^ et castitate, quae est in Christo Jesu. Pemiciosa sunt blandimenti^ ^ ^^^^- nocentium, atque ideo vigilare vos convenit, quia adversarius sM^ humanae sicut leo rugiens circuit, quaerens quem devoret, cui resisti^ fortes in fide: quia hoc speciale habent patris sui de coeli arce jecti^), qui vestigia ejus sequuntur et diligunt, ut illa veritatis k privati et alios gaudeant sua obscuritate fuscari, et quum perver^^ tatis suae poenas luituros esse se sciant, exsultent, si miseros sua damnatione conjungant. Nam unde est, quod quum pro parte a conterminis suis Thracibus, Dardanis, Illyricis, cognita eonzxi perversitate deserantur, procul positos ignorantiae spe, fraudibos e< variis artibus nituntur allicere : nisi ut lucem, quam ipsi non haben^ in aliis quoque impia contagione commaculent? 4. Ut autem quae sint partium earum studia possitis agnoseere^ plures Thracum, licet persequentium incursibus alterantur, in nostn tamen communione persistunt, scientes fieri fidem per adver» 'IXL. Dardania et Hljricus vicina Pannoniae a nobis, quoda. 517. eimus ubi necessarium fuit, ut sibi episcopi ordinarentur ex- in tantum se a consortio perditorum separare gaudentes, ut a quaererent, dummodo commune cimi transgressoribus nihil nt. Epiri metropolitanus, hoc est Nicopolitanus episcopus, ^nodo sua nuper segregatus ab impiis, ad apostolicam com- nem deprompta, quae efficeret^), professione se contulit. Quae et 16. criptis aestimavimus indenda praesentibus, ut sicut sortem nos ttit dolere pereuntium, ita laetemur pariter de salute remean- et ut fideles constituti ab eis longius instruantur, qua virus . sollicitudine debeat effuiri, quos et a suis^) videant tam iusta atione vitari. . Et nos quidem dispensationis nostrae memores, necesse est petitae legationis officio convenire: quod si affectu salvationis si respectu Dei, si rationis intuitu non moventur, saltem pul- us importune et pertinaciter acquiescant, et aut ad rectam declinatis erroribus revertantur, aut propter impoenitens cor mibus inexcusabiles judicentur, qui et moniti toties in per- obstinatione persistunt. Vos orate et nobisciim ad Deum pre- vota conjungite, ut per opem misericordiae ejus nostra actio ns pro catholicae fidei stabilitate promoveat, immaculatos vos egros ab omni trangressorum societate servantes: ut aut cum tis sensus et corda jungamus, aut ab eorum venenis intacti aereamur. Nam qui, sicut vos quoque conscientiam vestram itere testaraini, noviraus Eutychetem atque Nestorium aposto- id est catholicae sententiae auctoritate damnatos*, quemadmo- lalvi esse poterimus, si eorum sectatoribus ac posteris qualibet commuiiionis haereamus, quum Belial cum Christo nostro por- a habere non possit? Instructionis autem vestrae interesse aus, ut ea, quae apud^) nos a Nicopolitanis vel Dardanis acta vel quo in communionem ordine sunt recepti, vobis nota face- Primum conjectura erat legendum esse mfficerety quasi episcopi higus [dae Hormisdae epistola 18 n. 5 praemoniii, ut non arbitrarentur posse e 8ub tatitis praesertim insidiis callidorum, quos vititim et singulos consectari t atque datnnari, sub quadam cos generali damnatione cpncludere , postmodum naae dicantur, quod in prima ipsorum professdone non satis integrum bur. Sed quum hoc nominatim de metropolitano Johanne, cujus profes- ihil deerat, dicatur, hoc potius ita interpretamur , deprompta pro/esnone guae efficerety scilicet adversus haereticoB atque BchismaticoB ac pro ca- fide; vel ut c*' Bupplet, quae luculentam fidei et obedientiae declaraiionem l, Uoc est a vicinis seu conterminis, et qui in eadem regione Bunt. Male deinde G' a' videat. Mox editi quo a/fectu, Id est, quae x^encs nos sunt, a Pullionc, qui atmo superiori mense No- eam ob lausam in illas regiones destinatus fuerat, relata. •OLAE ROM AN. PONTIF. I. 50 a. 517. reinus ipsarum lectione chartarum. Data XV Calendas Martias Agapito consule. Epistola 23. , a. 517 d. Hormisdae papae ad Johaiinem Nicopolitanam. 3 Mart. De molestiis, quas Ule palilur, consoiaiur^ ulque et ipse in fide conslatu sU et p.lK episcopos provinciae suae in eadem constantia confirmet, kortatur. De precibus ad imperalorem pro yeneraiitaiis quiete mitiendUi se cogitare significat. Hormisda Johanni episcopo Nicopolitano. 1. Remeaute Pullione subdiacono nostro litteras caritatis Yestrae suscepimus, de constantia fidei vel de intentione, quam cirea com- munionem sedis apostolicae geritis, gratulantes: sed contnstati su- mus, quod vos aliquas sustinere molestias^) perhibetis. Ista tamen diuturnam non possunt habere substantiam, quia ubi Deus pure coK- tur, etsi adversa contigerint, in^) prosperis commutautur secimdum Rom. apostolum dicentem: Spes non decipit, Dubitans apostolorum prin- Mattii ^^P^ incedens per pelagus laboravit; mox tamen invocato Domino 14,30. suo paratum habuit, qui eum j)orrecta manu non pateretur sostin^pe discrimen. Ergo auctorum nostrorum sequentes exempla et in ipso- rum fide permanentes, illius poscaraus auxilium, de quo scriptum lCor. est: Qui nos non dimittit tentari supra quae possumus, Igitor saln- ' * * tantes caritatem tuam hortamur, ut quemadmodum praediximus, in Matth. his quae beue inchoata sunt perseveres: quia qui perstiieni usque m ' * fineni , hic salvus erit, 2. Frequenter alloquiis tuis nostram sollicitudinem relevare non desinas. Paroeciales quoque sacerdotes tuos competenti adhortatione conlirma, quia ista faciendo talentum tibi creditum poteris multi- plicare quotidie. De illa quoque parte, quam dilectio tua postulat, cogitamusM, ut ad imperatorem clementissimum pro generalitai» quiete preces nostrae perveniant. Tantum est, ut votum stadiumqiie nostrum congruis orationibus juvare non cesses, quia nos in his Deo auctore perticiendis vacare niinime potuerimus. Data V Nonas Blar- tias Agapito viro clarissimo consule. 23 ') Praesertim, ut»infra epist. 36 n. 1 pandetur, a Dorotheo ThesBalotiicenii episcopo affligebatur Johauues eo obtentu, quod littcras ordinationis soae in- dices ad ipsum pro more nou misisset. ') Paroeciaies sacerdotes episcopi, qui Nicopohtanac metropoli Bnberaiit et quos provincirtles vocare usu venit, intelligendi sunt, quo pacto peroeeime wmm loco provinciae usurpari epist. 16, 18 et 20 animadvertimus. — Mox b aiioei^Smi (loco adkortatione). EPISTOLAE 22 — 24. 787