Letter 173: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Editorial heading, a. 519: A report of bishops Germanus and John, of the deacons Felix and Dioscorus, and of the presbyter Blandus. They set forth with how great honor they were received at Constantinople, and with how great joy peace was restored to this church on that very Thursday of Holy Week, in accordance with the wish of Hormisdas. Like blessings are to be prayed for on behalf of the church of Antioch.] 1. We are not astonished that all prosperous things have turned out for us through the prayers of your apostolate, knowing that your prayer labors for us more than our own ministry does. [...editorial footnote material concerning a bishop of Praevalitana, the bishops of Scampae and Lychnidus together with the bishop of Praevalitana, and the archbishop and the bishop of Aulon...] For the whole outcome of the ecclesiastical affair so bore itself out that it cannot be doubted that the miracle of blessed Peter came to pass in every particular: first, because we found so great an ardor of religion in those very men who are vested with high rank, that Vitalian, Pompeius, and Justinian came out to meet us amid ten thousand men, and did not judge it unworthy to glory, together with thanksgiving to you, in our arrival; then, because there was also so great a devotion among the common people, that the greatest part of the populace, with candles and with praises of you alike, awaited our coming. And so, amid this festivity, on the second weekday of Holy Week, we came together to Constantinople safe and joyful; and on the following day, presented to the most pious prince, we were so relieved by his affection that, even if other things had not gone before at all, the favor of the most pious prince alone would have sufficed us for consolation; but through your prayers greater things followed. For on that day, in the presence of the whole senate, there were also present four bishops whom John, the bishop of Constantinople, had sent for the defense of his side, to whom we showed the document of the apostolic see, and proved that everything in it was correct and canonical. 2. Finally, on the fifth weekday, that is, on the Lord's Supper [Maundy Thursday], the bishop came to the palace in a general assembly, and, the document having been read through, consenting, he subscribed to it with the utmost devotion. Who could explain how great was the joy there of the prince and of the senate alike, what tears the rejoicings there brought forth, what cries the favor of the whole assembly and clergy sent up, whether in praise of the prince or of your see? These things cannot be explained by a report, but we leave to your consideration and to the bearer what we are not able to put into words. From the palace we proceeded to the church with the greatest celebration, so that the celebration of solemn communion too might strengthen the concord of faith and of hearts. It can scarcely be believed what weeping of those rejoicing there was, what an immensity and overflowing of peoples: the crowd itself marveled at its own joy. Nor could it be doubted that a heavenly hand was present, which conferred such unity upon the world. We signify that the name of Acacius the prevaricator, anathematized, has been erased from the ecclesiastical diptychs in our sight, and also those of the other bishops who followed him in communion. The names of Anastasius and of Zeno likewise have been removed from the recitation at the altar. Peace has been restored, through your prayers, to the minds of Christians: one is the soul of the whole Church, one its joy; the enemy of the human race alone mourns, shattered by the storming of your prayer. 3. Pray that a like happiness may illuminate the church of Antioch also, concerning whose bishop the deliberation is still seen to waver; since, amid the differing wishes of the peoples, there is no agreement about the choice of a person. We trust, nevertheless, that by the prayers of your blessedness a worthy ordination may swiftly come about concerning that church too, so that the peace that has begun may, in your times, be directed throughout the whole world alike, and that, with all parts coming together perfectly into apostolic communion and faith, the Church may be joined to its head in all its members, just as it had been formerly.

seu (a. 519 d. Suggestio Germani et JohaHnis episcoponim, Feliois et Dioscori 22 ADril ) ^ ' diacononim et Blandi presbyteri. Quanio cum honore Constantinopoli suscepti, guanto cum gaudio ipsa feria V p. majoris hehdomadae secundum l/ormisdae votum huic ecclesiae pax reddiia sit, exponunt. Similia ecclesiae Antiochenae precanda. 1. Non miramur apostolatus vestri precibus cimcta nobis pro- spera successisse, scientes, quod amplius nostro ministerio vestra vationem Praevalitanus. Atqui ex liis papae yoluntati ac votis ex animo con- sonserunt episcopi Scampinus et Lignidensis cum IVaevalitano. Restat igitDr« ut si qua iictio fuerit, in rcliquos aut in eorum aliquem cadat. Nominatim vero archiepiscopus ipse mox notatur, cui, ut ex verbis opist. 59 n. 1 coigeciun est, morem gerebat episcopus Aulonitanua. • •'') b cc verteretur. EPISTOLAE G3. 64. 857 pro nobis elaboret oratio. Ita enim totus se ecclesiastici negotii (a 519.) tulit eventus, ut dubitari non possit beati Petri per singula prove- nisse miraculum: primum quod tantum in ipsis, qui dignitate fun- guntur, invenimus religionis ardorem, ut VitalianuS; Pompejus et Justinianus nobis occurrerent in decem millibus, et de adventu nostro cum vestra gratiarum actione gloriari non arbitrarentur indignum; deinde quod tanta fuit etiam in plebe devotio, ut pars maxima po- pulorum cum cereis simul et laudibus vestris nostrum praestolaretur adventum. Sub hac itaque celebritate secunda feria hebdomadae majoris Constantinopolim sospites hilaresque convenimus, posteroque die piissimo principi praesentati; tanto ejus relevati sumus aflfectu, ut si alia ijpnime praecederent , sola nobis ad solatium piissimi prin- cipis gratia suffecisset; sed orationibus vestris majora secuta sunt. Nam eo di6 sub senatus cuncti praesentia episcopi quoque quatuor adfuerunt, quos Johannes Constantinopolitanus antistes pro partis suae defensione transmiserat, quibus apostolicae sedis libellura osten- dimuS; omniaque in eo recta^) canonicaque esse probavimus. 2. Postremo quinta feria, hoc est in coena Domini, ad pala- tium in generali conventu venit episcopus, et perlecto libello con- sentiens cum summa devotione subscripsit. Quis explicet, quanta illic principis pariter ac senatus laetitia fuerit, quas ibi lacrymas gaudia pepererint, quas voces vel in laudem principis vel in sedis vestrae, totius coetus et cleri favor emisit? Explicari haec relatione uon possunt, sed considerationi vestrae portitorique relinquimus, quod eloqui non valemus. A palatio in ecclesiam summa cum cele- britate pervenimus, ut fidei animorumque concordiam sollemnis com- munionis ^) quoque celebritas roboraret. Vix credi potest, quis fletus laetantium, quae immensitas fuerit exuudatioque populorum: ipsa suam laetitiam turba mirabatur. Nec dubitari poterat, manum ad- fuisse coelestem, quae talem mundo contulit unitatem. Acacii prae- varicatoris anathematizati nomen de diptychis ecclesiasticis , sed et ceterorum episcoporum, qui eum iu communione secuti sunt, sub ' nostro conspectu significamus erasos. Anastasii quoque ac Zenonis nomina similiter ab altaris recitatione submota. Pax est orationibus vestris Christianoram mentibus reddita: una totius est Ecclesiae auima, una laetitia; solus luget humani generis inimicus, vestrae precis expugnatione collisus. 3. Orate, ut Antiochenam quoque similis felicitas illustret ecclesiam, de cujus antistite adhuc tractatus nutare conspicitur; quoniam inter diversa vota populorum de personae electione non constat. Credimus tamen, quod precibus bejititudinis vestrae de ipsa 64 *) G* a* recte canonica esse^ et inferius perlectum lihellum. (a.5l9.) quoque velociter ordinatio digna proveniat, ut eoepta pax tempori- bus vestris per omnem mundum pariter dirigatut, et cunctis m apostolicam partibus communionem fidemque convenientibus per- fecte, sicut pridem fuerat, omnibus membris capiti suo connectatur Ecclesia.