Letter 176: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Editorial heading, garbled in the source:] ... of the report of the bishop of Constantinople to Hormisdas. That by the gift of God a prince has been given who excels in many respects through his zeal for ... [apparatus: thus G* J* J* a* i*; b cc read "your," 0 c* c* "our"; the same men of our religion are to be admonished—we follow G' J i*; J 0 c' c* read ... but "in the Spirit of divine providence." That well-known chronological note, which was missing in a' b, is supplied from other editions and from all our manuscripts. By the benefit of this note we have learned both when Pullio set out for Constantinople and on what date so many letters were given to him to be carried to Rome.] [Letters 66 and 67, p. 863] ... the church being commended; whence the full concord of old and new Rome has been restored (year 519); a commendation of the legates of Hormisdas. To my lord, holy in all things and beloved of God, my brother and fellow-minister Hormisdas, John, greeting in the Lord. 1. When God works His own wonders in His own people, then it is fitting to cry out confidently the things which are contained in the divine writings, in the very words of Scripture: Who shall declare the powers of the Lord, or make all His praises to be heard at all times? For behold, He has raised up such a pious prince for the Roman commonwealth, such as the catholic churches had long before stood in need of, and such as every race of men longed to see. And therefore the horn of grace has so inclined upon him from heaven, that mercy was poured out abundantly upon his sacred head; and all, at the time of his proclamation, glorified with a great voice God the prince of all, because He has adorned such a head with such a crown by my hands. 2. And indeed this greatest emperor manifestly showed the first palm of his struggles by the conquering of the enemy; according to the desert of his virtue, he most wisely brought about the union of the most holy churches; the third good of his reign—he joined together what had been scattered, and most wisely procured the peace of the world. Therefore, rendering thanks in all things to the great God who governs all things most wisely, I have announced to you, the son of peace, that peace is to be proclaimed to you, in all things most beloved of God: that you may leap with that joy with which David, indeed, under the law, exulted figuratively at the recall of the ark of God, while the apostles truly rejoiced through grace. Rejoice therefore in the Lord with a joy befitting your holiness, and write those things which become your kind disposition, O man of God! For the things which had been divided are joined together, and the things scattered have been gathered; and the things which were far apart have been united to one another; and, as one ought to say and as I once wrote, clearly understanding that both churches, both of the elder and of the new Rome, are one, and rightly defining that of both of them there is one see, I acknowledge the indivisible union and the harmonious confirmation of both our [churches] together with integrity of judgment. [Letter 67, apparatus: thus G'; the printed editions read "the catholic church was in need"; the printed editions read "and to every," G* "and every." There is no doubt that "all" is to be preferred. Further, for "of his proclamation" I should prefer "of his anointing." Soon after, the editions read "reign."] (year 519) Wherefore I beg God always that it may remain inseparable, through the prayers of the holy apostles and through the petitions of your holiness; through which it is implored that there be granted to us and to the whole world the most clement and most Christian prince Justin and his most pious consort, our daughter Euphemia, in peace for many years, O most blessed and most dear brother in all things. 3. Rejoicing therefore at the presence of the most reverend bishops and also of your clergy, we give thanks, because according to our petition you have sent such peaceable men, worthy of your apostolic see, keeping the rule of the fathers without confusion and guarding the faith undivided. Embracing their mind in all things, we have done all things through them to the satisfaction of your holiness. All the brotherhood in Christ which is with your holiness, I also and my [people] greatly salute. Letter 68 [Editorial heading, garbled in the source:] ... of the letter of Justinian the count to Pope Hormisdas. That whatever Hormisdas commanded through his legates has been accomplished. He commends the emperor, the commonwealth, and himself to his prayers. To my most holy lord Hormisdas, chief high priest and pope of the city of Rome, Justinian the count, greeting. The venerable proclamation of your holiness concerning the rules, which continually supplicates Christ God for the peace of the churches and for the concord of the people—whatever it has now ordered to be carried out through its most blessed priests, all of it, with the Divinity favorable, has been joined together in effect, with no discord of certain persons prevailing at all. Therefore, fortified by your sacred prayers and injunctions and by the faith of the orthodox, we humbly ask that, for our most holy Augustus, the patron of the whole faith, and for his commonwealth, and for us also, the keepers of your mandates, you would deign to offer to the eternal King the customary prevailing prayers, and that you would visit us, faithfully supplicating you, with your salutary replies.

seu 22 A^^n ^^Gi^P^^^^ relationis episcopi Constantinopolitani ad Hormisdam. Dei munere datum esse principem muUis ex partibus, praeprimit studio vnUatii •') Ita G* J* J* a* i*. b cc vestra, 0 c* c* nostrae. ') lidem noslrae rcligionis admonendi sunt. Sequimur G' J i*. ®) J 0 ^ c' c* inlalay sed in divinae providentiae Spiritu. *") Nota illa chronica, quae in a' b dciiiderabatur, suppletor ex aliis edihs atque omnibuB nostris mss. IIujus beneticio quando et PuUio Constantinopoli pro- fectus sit et tot illi littonic Roinam perfereudae datac sint, comperimiifi. EPISTOLAE 66. 67. 863 ecclesianm commendaium; unde veteris et novae Romae plenam restitutam esse (a. 519.) concordiam; legatorum Hormisdae commendatio, Domiuo meo per omnia sancto et Deo amabili fra- tri et comministro Hormisdae Johannes in Domino salutem. 1. Quando Deus propria mirabilia in suis operatur, tunc opor- tet ea, quae divinis litteris continentur, ipsius Scripturae vocibus fidu- cialiter exclamare: Quis loquetur potentias Domini aut auditas faciet^^^- omnes laudes ejus in omni tempore? Ecce enim talem pium princi- * pem Romanae reipublicae suscitavit, quali multo ante et catholicae ') indigebant ecclesiae, et omne genus hominum videre cupiebat. Ideo- que ita etiam cornu^) gratiae super eum coelitus declinavit, ut affluenter in sacrum ejus caput misericordia funderetur: omnesque^) annuntiationis ejus tempore cum magna voce Deum omnium prin- cipem glorificaverunt, quoniam talem verticem meis manibus tali corona decoravit. • 2. Is vero maximus imperator primam suonun certaminum pal- mam devicto inimico evidenter ostendit; secundum virtutis ejus me- ritum, adunationem sanctissimis ecclesiis sapientissime comparavit; regni ejus tertium bonum, dissipata conjunxit et pacem mundi sa- pientissime procuravit. Idcirco in omnibus Deo magno gratias refe- rens cuncta sapientissime gubemanti, annuntiare tibi pacem pacis filio nuntiavi^), in omnibus Deo amantissime: ut illud gaudium salias, quo David quidem secundum legem in arcae Dei revocatione figu- raliter exsultabat, apostoli vero per gratiam veraciter laetabantur. Gaude itaque in Domino gaudium tuae conveniens sanctitati, et scribe ea, quae vestrum benignum animum decent, homo Dei ! Nam quae fuerant divisa, conjuncta sunt, et dispersa coUecta sunt; et quae longe erant, sibi invicem adunata sunt; et, sicut oportet dicere et olim scripsi, utrasque ecclesias tam senioris quam novae Romae unam esse evidenter intelligens, et utriusque earum unam^) sedem recte esse definiens, indivisibilem adunationem et utriusque nostnun 67 ^) Ita G'. Editi catholica indigebai ecclesia, ') Editi omnique, G* omnisque. Dubium non est, quin praeferendum sit omnesque. Deinde loco annunliationis mallem inunciionis. Mox ed.. regnum. (a. 519.) consonam confirmationem cum judicii integritate coguosco. Unde rogo Deum semper eam inseparabilem permaijLere orationibus sancto- rum apostolormn et tuae precibus sanctitatis; per quas donari nobia et universo mundo clementissimum et Christianissimum prindpeni Justinum et piissimam ejus conjugem nostram autem filiam Euphe- miam in pace multis temporibus comprecatur, per onmia beatissime et^) carissime frater. 3. Gavisi igitur de praesentia reverendissimorum episcoporum nec non et clericorum vestrorum, gratias agimus, quoniam secun- dum petitionem nostram tales pacificos viros et vestrae dignos sedis apostolicae destinastis, regulam patrum sine confusione servantes fidemque indivisam custodientes. Quorum amplectentes in omnibus mentem, cuncta per eos ad satisfactionem vestrae egimus sancti- tatis. Omnem in Christo fratemitatem, quae cum vestra est san- ctitate, ego quoque et mei plurimum salutamus. Epistola (58 seu l^ A ^^n ^^^P^^^^ epistolae Justiniani comitis ad Hormisdam papam. Pcrfcctum esse nuniiaij quidquid Hormisda per iegatos mandavit. Imperalorem, rempublicam seque ipsum illius precibus commendat. Domino meo sanctissimo Hormisdae primae archi- pontifici et papae urbis Romae Justinianus comes salutem. Veneranda^) sauctitatis vestrae praedicatio regularum, quae Christo Deo pro ecclesiarum pace et pro plebis concordia jugiter supplicat, quidquid nunc per beatissimos suos sacerdotes jumuit pcragendum, propitia Divinitate cuncta effectui sociata sunt, uulla prorsus quorumdam valente discordia. Igitur vestris sacris orationi- bus ac praeceptionibus orthodoxoi-um fide muniti, supplices petimus, uti pro sanctissimo Augusto iiostro, totius fidei fautore, proque ejus republica, pro nobis quoque mandatoruni vestrorum custodibus, aeterno Kegi consueti impetrabiles preces offerre dignemini, nosque vobis fideliter supplices vestris salutiferis rescriptionibus visit-are.