Letter 159: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Editorial summary, 519 AD: Pope Hormisdas to Justin Augustus. January.] Reviewing that man's [Justin's] merits before his accession to empire (n. 1), he proclaims him chosen by God to restore peace to the Church (n. 2). He adds that those people vainly boast that the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon are approved by them, when they refuse to withdraw from the followers of those whom they know to have been condemned there (n. 3). Recalling how glorious it would be for him to recall the Church to unity, he indicates that for this reason he has appointed as legates the bishops Germanus and Johannes, the presbyter Blandus, and the deacon Felix (n. 4). Hormisdas to Justin Augustus. 1. So far, by the grace of the Divinity, is it agreed that the fame of your glory has been extended, and so it has fallen to you, by the support of the merit of your life, to become praiseworthily known to the world through the report of men of the highest standing, [editorial note: with respect to the people's zeal toward their own bishops, as we said just now, he foresaw this would be no slight obstacle to the establishing of unity. Therefore in this matter too he forewarns the legates what is to be done.] [editorial footnote: On account of the people's zeal toward their own bishops, as we said just now. Although in the subscribing of the document, which may be seen appended to letters 7 and 26, no special mention is made of Euphemius or Macedonius.] [editorial footnote: that is, among the presiding officials.] [EDITORIAL HEADING: LETTERS 49, 50, page 841] -- so that the summit of empire should rather be believed to have been conferred through you [519 AD], than that someone should say you are recognized through the empire. It is certain indeed that by this advancement of yours an accumulation of honor has been added to your former splendor; yet you held the principate of old by your character. Thus, when the greatness of you, impatient of concealment, has spread through the mouths of the nations, to us also -- as the Scriptures speak mystically -- the fragrance of your sweetness has come by the testimonies. And surely, when the practices of your religious life have been scattered far and wide by the judgment of prudent men, we could not hold unknown whatever about you had been published by the world's attestation: because, just as things worthy of moderate praise cannot claim boundless heraldings for themselves, so whatever has been adorned with the goodness of admiration is snatched up to be proclaimed among the people without end. For the magnitude of fame claims for itself by right of its own measure the testimonies; because wonders do not know how to lie hidden. Hence it is that public laws have entrusted to you the glories of the principate. Nay, since the votes of the whole body have been made the marks of merits, no judge of affairs will prove so unjust that he would everywhere reckon you to have received the titles of illustrious rule [arches], when it cannot be denied that you have worthily merited the empire -- you whose probity the world has acknowledged. But it is too little, although by the judgment of the whole world, to receive the rights of reigning in place of a reward. That is more admirable: that the empire receives you, confirmed thus by the praiseworthiness of men, in such a way that the judgments are divine. [editorial footnote 50: Ed. has "ut super vos," G has "super vos," G(2) "u p vos" (for "ut per vos"). Since Hormisdas clearly means this -- that the empire is made more known through Justin than Justin through the empire -- the sequence of the discourse demands "per vos," and does not permit "dilatum" to be substituted, with Baronius, in place of the word "delatum" (G dilatum). For that "per vos" refers not to "delatum" but to the word "agnosci."] [editorial footnote: Supply "titulos" (titles). Hence there is no need for "culmen" to be added with b cc against G. By the words "arches inclitae" is to be understood that dignity with which Justin had been adorned when he was taken up to the empire. Of this Procopius, in the Secret History, chapter 6, speaks thus: "This Justin, possessing great power -- for the emperor Anastasius had appointed him commander [Archonta] of the palace guards. And when the emperor departed from among men, he himself by the power of his office took over the kingship." Hormisdas has already used the word "arches" in letter 32. The aforesaid Procopius, in the Persian War I, 8, also calls the dignity or power of the master of offices "arche."] [519 AD] 2. There is no doubt that you have been chosen by the venerable predestination of the Divinity for the ornaments of so great a power -- you whom the proofs of sincere faith surround as a rampart. Truly we may say that the words of the prophetic spirit befit you: [Jeremiah 1:5] "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." To this glory the obedience of nature brought you forth to the world, while the incomprehensible disposition of the supernal majesty was providing; the probity of a life passed under the guardianship of faith established you; and the divine clemency advanced you to empire: for this reason, namely, that at last, the dividers of the Lord's body being at length crushed by the carrying-out of your faith, the concord of the churches might cut down the diabolical impediments, and the whole world might rejoice over the reunion. To your religion, to your faith, to your serenity in particular this office is enjoined from heaven, to whom we see has been granted both the power to do all things and to bring them to completion. Therefore, just as you have set about to do, discharge the duty of the work you have undertaken, which you see the supernal providence has laid upon you. And truly it was fitting thus, that through the prince there should be made the peace which the reverence of the Divinity demands. Give these offerings of the empire you have assumed to our God, that through you the fruit of peace may be fulfilled. Without doubt, whatever shall have been rendered to your soul by such a deed is judged by you to have been expended upon the world. Great and inestimable is it, venerable emperor, the thing for which you have been enlisted by the judgment of the Divinity: behold, the prayers of those who long for peace are stretched out; through the long passage of time the indivisible communion of the churches mourns its being torn apart; not without groaning does the brotherhood disagree, when concerning the doctrines of the Fathers there is divided will! 3. Gird therefore your loins with the powers of faith; see to which king the Divinity wishes you to render obedience, how great is that which it procures to be fulfilled through you. The body of the venerable Church, which our Christ founded by his own passion, it has resolved to unite to your glory by your deeds. There is nothing whereby the majesty of supernal grace may shine forth more around you than if the body of the Church, formed by the redemption of the Lord's blood, be restored through your office. There is indeed a most ancient calamity of this cause, but on account of its enormity a most recent grief, and a groaning the stronger for Christian souls the longer it has been deferred through the ages. You must see how greatly the madness of the ancient enemy seethes day by day: when, although the cause was long ago decided by the conclusion of a sentence, he makes a delaying of the peace, and although the synod of Chalcedon and the decree of blessed Pope Leo are pleasing -- by which we wish to return to charity -- he does not desist from the contest. There follow those who are ascribed to the aforesaid doctrines, and they do not withdraw from the followers of those whom they understand to have been condemned by the aforesaid authority. They still hold in their embraces the name of Acacius, whom they see to have deservedly undergone the penalty of the condemned by the judgment of the Apostolic See. Who would not understand that it is said with dissimulation: "We follow the doctrines of the holy Fathers, but we do not approve their deeds; the things which were established by the holy synod of Chalcedon, and which the letter of blessed Leo contains, we cherish, we venerate, we embrace; but to Acacius, who followed the communion of the condemned, we offer our prayers"? But what need is there to make words about matters already judged, when it befits us only to exhort, that, the dissimulation set forth above being removed, they ought in all purity to desire peace -- they by whom these things are said? 4. With you rests for me the whole cause of my entreaty, excellent emperor: resist these and such things of religious work with living charity; it presses upon you that you who in private life had the desire for ecclesiastical concord should give it effect under your principate. There was nothing whereby the heap of your grace might increase more than that it has been divinely granted to you, that what you always wished to be done might through you be brought to its conclusion. Nor was it a brief token of the grace of the Divinity that shone forth around you, to whom it is given to be able to do what you always desired. Wherefore, since you see that the title of so great a cause has been reserved for you, remove whatever is believed to have remained doubtful, for the fullness of joys. For we, with the affection that was fitting, on receiving the letters of your principate through the most illustrious man Gratus, to whom on account of his moderation we judged the office of legation suitably enjoined, have appointed men befitting the magnitude of the cause: the bishops Germanus and Johannes, and the presbyter Blandus, and also the deacon Felix; through whom, if -- as we presume -- the favor of your serenity shall have smiled upon it, according to what has been mandated, the prayers of the whole body may be confirmed by the reunion of the churches. [editorial footnote: This man Anastasius the librarian, or the Book of Pontiffs, calls bishop of Capua. Baronius and others commonly set this down as certain. But since the same cardinal nonetheless is of the opinion that this Germanus is no other than he who in the year 497 was sent by Pope Anastasius as legate to Anastasius Augustus, and there is no lack of a probable conjecture that the one sent by Hormisdas was the one whom the former legation had made more experienced in Eastern affairs: this opinion about Germanus of Capua is not altogether certain. For we have observed, in note 15 on letter 1 of Anastasius II, that this man had not yet been set over the church of Capua in the year 497.] [editorial footnote: To these is added, both in letter 52 n. 4 and at the head of letters 59, also Dioscorus the deacon, whose having had no mean part in the whole business of the legation the letters set down below will attest. Is he passed over in silence here because he was taken up not from the Roman but, as Hormisdas indicates in letter 105 n. 1, from the Alexandrian clergy?]

(a.5i9m. Hormisdae papa« ad Justinum Augustum. Jan.) llliufi ante imperium merita recensens (n^ 1), eum a Deo electum praedkai^ *i pacem reddat Ecclesiae (n. 2). Frustra eos addit jactitare, Calchedonensis t^no^ consiiiuta sihi prohari, qui ab eorum sequacibus nohint recedere, quos iUie dmnar tos sciunt (r. 3). Quam gloriosum ei fuerit^ Ecclesiam ad unitatem revocatse rememorans, se propterea Germanum et Johannem episcopos, Blandum presb^- terum et Felicem diaconum legatos destinasse indieat (ii. 4). Hormisda Justino Augusto. 1. In tantum pro gratia Divinitatis gloriae vestrae famam con- stat extensam^ et ita vos suifragante vitae merito laudabiliter mmido contigit innotescere probatissimorum hominum opinione vulgante, id unitati sanciendae non levi obstacolo fore prospexit. Qaapropter et hac in causa legatis quid agendum sit praecavet. ®) Propter populi, ut mox diximus, erga suos episcopos stodiom. Qnam- quam in libeUo subscribendo , quem videre licet epistotis 7 et 26 snbnenm, nulla sppcialis Eupliemii vel Macedonii fit mentio. •) b praesidentihus. EPISTOLAE 49. 60. 841 ut ^) per V08 potius credatur delatum culmen imperii; quam per im- (a. 519.) perium vos aliquis dicat agnosci. Certum est quidem^ hujusmodi provectione vestra pristino splendori accessisse decoris cumulum; sed^) tenuistis olim moribus principatum. Sic^) quum vos per ora gentium impatiens secreti magnitudo diifuderit, ad nos quoque, sicut mystice loquuntur Scripturae^ testimoniis suavitatis vestrae odor ad- venit. Et certe quum late prudentiimi hominum sententia religio- sae vitae vestrae fuerint instituta dispersa, habere non potuimus incognitum^ quidquid de vobis fuerat mundi attestatione vulgatum: quia sicut mediocri laude digna in immensum sibi nequeunt vindi- care praeconia^ ita sine fine praedicandum rapitur in populum; quid- quid bono fuerit admirationis omatum. Vindicat enim sibi quanti- tatis suae jure magnitudo famae testimonia; quia nesciunt latere miranda. Hinc est^ quod principatus vobis adoreas^) publica jura commiserunt. Nae quod meritorum insignia generalitatis facta sunt vota, nemo ita rerum arbiter iniquus exstabit*), qui passim vos aesti- met arches inclitae accepisse titulos, quum negari nequeat digne voB meruisse imperii®), quorum probitatem mundus agnovit. Sed parum est^ quamvis judicio universitatis; suscipere loco praemii jura regnandi. Ulud magis est admirabilC; quod ita vos hominum lauda- bilitate firmatos suscipiunt imperia^ ut judicia sint divina. 50 *) Ed. ut super vos, G^ super vos, G^ u p vos {ut per vos). Quum lioc mani- feste sibi yelit HormiBda, imperiom magia notom fieri per JastiDum, quam Jufltinimi per imperium, oratdonis series postulat per voBy nec permittit diiata- ium loco verbi delatum (6' dilatum) cum Baronio substitui. Nam istud per vos non ad delatum sed ad verbum agnosci refertur. •) Supple tituios. Quare nil necesse est, ut cum b cc contra G adjiciatur cuimen, Verbis autem arches inciitae ea intelligenda est dignitas, qua Justinus decoratus erat, quum ad imperium assumptus est. De hac Procopius hist. arc. cap. 6 ita loquitur: i^ fiiya dvvd(AS(og ovtog 'lovativog ix"^^^^^- "AQxovta yag avtov 'Avaatdaiog fiaaiXsvg 'Katsatijaato tmv iv naXatCm fpvXdiMov. *Ensidtj ts 6 §aaiXsvg i^ dvd^Qoanoav T^fpdviato, avtog tfi trjg dgx^g dvvdfisir ^aaiXslav naQsXa^sv. Yoce dqxTii bcu arches jam usus est Hormisda epist. 32. Procopius laadatus bello Pers. I, 8 etiam magistri officiorum dignitatem seu potestatem dffYijv vocat. (a. 519.) 2. Non est dubium, electos') vos venerabili praedestinatione Di- vinitatis ad tantae potestatis ornamenta, quos sincerae fidei docu- menta circumvallant^). Vere vobis prophetici spiritus conYenire Jer.1,5. verba dixerimus: Priusquam te formarem in utero, novi te. Ad hane vos gloriam, incomprehensibili supernae majestatis dispositione pro- curante, obsequium naturae mundo protulit, sub custodia fidei trans- actae vitae probitas instituit, atque ad imperia clementia diyina provexit: ob hoc scilicet, ut tandem aliquando divisoribus^) dominici corporis fidei vestrae exsecutione compressis, ecclesiarum concordia diabolica impedimenta succideret et universitas de adunatione gan- deret. Hoc religioni, hoc fidei, hoc serenitati vestrae specialiter coelitus mandatur officium, quibus et posse omnia et perficere Tide- mus indultum. Itaque sicut instituistis facere, navate suscepti ope- ris mimus, quod supema vobis providentia videtis injunctum. Et vere sic decuit, ut per principem pax debeat fieri, quam reverentia Divinitatis exposcit. Date has assumpti Deo nostro oblationes im- perii, ut per vos possit pacis fructus impleri. Sine dubio quidquid tali facto animae vestrae fuerit praestitum, a vobis mundo judicatur impensum. Magnum et inaestimabile est, venerabilis imperator, propter quod adsciti estis judicio Divinitatis : distenduntur ecce ?ota pacem disiderantium, diuturni temporis tractu moeret ecclesiarum indivisibilis discissa commimio, non sine *®) gemitu discrepat fratemi- tas, quum circa patrum dogmata varia sit voluntas ! 3. Accingite ergo lumbos viribus fidei; videte, cui vos regi Divinitas velit obsequi, quantimi sit quod per vos procurat impleri. Ecclesiae venerandae corpus, quod propria Ghristus noster passione fundavit, gloriae vestrae adunare factis instituit. Non est, quo magis circa vos gratiae supernae majestas eluceat, quam si Eccle- siae corpus per vestrum reparetur officium, sanguinis Domini ei redemptione formatum. Est quidem causae hujus vetustissima cala- initas, sed pro immanitate sui recentissimus dolor, et tanto Chri- stianis animis fortior gemitus, quanto temporibus est dilatus. Viden- dum vobis est, in quantum quotidie antiqui hostis fervescat insania: quum") olim causa sit decisa fine sententiae, pacis faciat tardita- ®) Ita b cc; G a* circwnvoJant , et moK direximuSy pro dixerimus, ®) G' G' a' divisnres ... compressis ... succederent; b cc ditfisores ... compresn ... sucdderet, Divisorcs dominici corporis nuncupautur scliisniatis &utoresY qoi Ecclesiam scindunt. — Mox ed. nostro vcstri ohlationes ... extenduntur ecce. ") c^ c^ et cum. Mallcm nt quum^ et infra non desisiat (scO. attiiqm kottis insania) pro non desistas restitui. tem, et quum Calchedouensis synodus et beati papae Leouis consti- (a. 519.) nita placeant, quo ad caritatem reverti volumus, a certamiue non lesistat. Sequuntur quae dogmatibus praedictis adscripta sunt, et ib eorum sequacibus, quos praedicta auctoritate damnatos intelli- ^unt, non recedunt. Tenent adhuc in complexibus nomen Acacii, juem vident judicio sedis apostolicae merito poenam subiisse da- [jmati. Quis non inteUigat simulate dici : sanctorum patrum sequimur dogmata^ sed non diligimxis facta; quae a sancta synodo Calchedonensi constituta sunt, et quae beati Leonis epistola continet, fovemus^ venera- mur, amplectimur; sed Acacio, qui damnatorum communionem secutus est, impendimus vota? Sed quid opus est de judicatis rebus verba facere, quum nos hortari tantummodo deceat, ut expressa superius simulatione submota sub omni puritate pacem debeant; a quibus haec dicuntur, optare? 4. Apud vos mihi est omnis deprecationis causa, imperator egregie: vos his ac talibus religiosi operis resistite viva caritate; vobis imminet, ut qui ecclesiasticae concordiae habuistis in privata vita desiderium, sub principatu detis effectum. Non fuit; quo magis gratiae vestrae cumulus accederet, quam quod vobis divinitus datum est, ut quod semper voluistis fieri, per vos ad terminum possit ad- duci. Nec breve specimen circa vos gratiae Divinitatis effulsit, quibus datur posse facere quod semper optastis. Quapropter quo- niam vobis tantae causae titulum videtis esse servatum, removete, quidquid ambiguum remansisse creditur ad plenitudinem gaudiorum. Nos enim qua decuit affectione per Gratum virum clarissimum, cui pro moderatione sui congrue sensimus officiimi legationis injunctum, litteris vestri principatus acceptis, causae magnitudini convenientes destinavimus viros Germanum^*) et Johannem episcopos et Blandum presbytermn nec non et Felicem diaconum^^): per quos si, quemad- modum praesumimus, serenitatis vestrae favor arriserit, secundum quae mandata sunt, ecclesiarum adunatione generalitatis possint vota firman. ") Hanc Anastasius bibliothecarius seu liber pontificum Capuanum episco- pum vocat. Id et Baronius aliique vulgo pro certo ponunt. Sed quum idem cardinalis nihilo minus opinetur non alium esse hunc Germanima ab eo, qui anno 497 ab Anastasio papa ad Anastasium Augustum legatus sit, nec pro- babilis desit conjectura, eum ab Hormisda missum esse, quem rerum Orienta- lium peritiorem pristina legatio fecerat: non admodum certa est haec de Ger- mano Capuano sententia. Hunc enim anno 497 G^puanae ecclesiae nondum praepositum fuisse, in Anastasii H epistolam I not. 15 observavimus. '•"^) His adjungitur tum in epist. 52 n. 4 tum in fronte epist. 59 et Dioscorus (liaconus, cujus in toto legationis negotio non infimas partes fuisse subjectae inferius litterae fidem facient. An hic taceatur, quod non e Romano, sed [juemadmodum Hormisda epist. 105 n. 1 indicat, ex Alexandrino clero assum^ ptus sit? •