Letter 186: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Copy of the letter of Justinian to Hormisdas. (Given on the 29th of June.) He asks that Hormisdas not receive the restless Scythian monks, and that he deign to bestow relics of the holy apostles upon him and upon the church built by him in their name. To the holy lord, most blessed in his merits and apostolic lord, the father Pope Hormisdas, Justinian. 1. By the favorable Divinity, which has ever established the catholic Church through increases of faith, the gentleness [or: mildness] of the holy churches has come about through the teaching and the authority of your apostolate. But since we have learned that certain men, monks by name, in whom there is more zeal for discord than charity and the peace of God, desiring to throw certain matters into confusion, have departed from here and set out on a journey to your angel [i.e. messenger/representative]: may your beatitude, learning the cause of their malice from the present writings, deign to receive them as they deserve and to drive them far from yourself; since the empty talk of these men, who hasten to introduce novelties into the Church, which neither the four venerable synods nor the letters of holy Pope Leo are known to contain, seems to stir up disturbances in every place. Wherefore also, from the most reverend men, the bishops and deacons directed by your apostolate to us, may your angel deign to send [the reply] [...]. And to drive out those men too, struck with fitting correction, as was said above, may he order. Therefore we ask this, that, as has been said above, he greatly command that letters of this kind be directed to us by the same bearer. Now their names are Achilles, Johannes [John], Leontius, and Mauritius. This is our greatest cause of solicitude, lest the unity which your labor and prayer accomplished be scattered by restless men, hoping in the Lord God that, if there is anything which still dissents from the peace of the whole world, this too, by your prayers, may be joined to the communion of the apostolic see. 2. Presuming, moreover, upon the benevolence of your beatitude, we ask exceedingly for your fatherly affection, that with relics of the holy apostles you may deign generously to make illustrious and to illuminate both us and their basilica, built here in our house under the name of the aforesaid venerable ones, knowing that you can bestow upon us no greater gift nor benefit, most blessed lord father, than if you fulfill this our petition. And since the aforesaid agent in affairs is suddenly setting out on his journey, we have also directed two cloths of pure silk for the adornment of the altar of the holy apostles; receiving which, command that perpetual remembrance be made of us in your most efficacious prayers. Letter 79. Of Pope Hormisdas to the emperor Justin. In the year 519, on the 9th of July. He gives thanks for how glorious is the triumph which the peace restored to the royal city has brought back (sections 1-3). He prays that he take the same good measure for Antioch and Alexandria, and kindly assist the legates sent for that purpose (sections 4-5). Hormisdas the bishop to Justin Augustus. 1. Upon reading the pages of your clemency, which announced the concord of the faith restored, the mind of the whole Church joyfully burst forth into a song of divine praise, in which is sung: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will! Therefore, by the assurance of this hymn, take to yourself the glory and felicity worthy of the merits of the faithful. For not by human consent alone has the prince so pleasing to God been raised to the summit of empire: divine favor had formed you for itself beforehand. For it handed over to you the empire of the East, that you might become the instrument of its works; and therefore, so that this prophetic saying may rightly apply to you, you bring it to pass: You shall set them as princes over all the earth; they shall be mindful of your name, O Lord, in every progeny and generation. For since it is your purpose to preserve the Christian peace, who would doubt that you have been chosen by Christ? 2. These are the first foundations of your principate: to have appeased God by justice, and to have won for yourselves the aids of the most excellent Majesty, while you suppress His adversaries as your own enemies. These indeed are the greatest foundations of the commonwealth, this its solid and unconquered strength. For that cannot be passable to human blows which is fortified by the firmness of divine grace. Scripture is witness to this prince; for it says: I have chosen David my servant, with my holy oil I have anointed him; for my hand shall help him, and my arm shall strengthen him. But on the contrary, in vain does he seek arms, in vain does he seek forces for himself, whom the grace from above abandons. For it is truly written: Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain do they watch who guard it. 3. You indeed will wage war, safe by divine aid, most excellent prince, and you will subject to the yoke of your commonwealth the necks of the fiercest nations; but no victory can be more excellent than that you overthrow the enemy of the human race after foundations sought through so long a time. For indeed the nature of the other battles is distinguished by nations, bounded by regions, defiled by gore; this victory embraces the whole human race in its palm, this triumph you will impute to all regions; and what is nearest to divine piety, those who a little before raged under the leading of the devil are now, to the effecting of their own salvation, conquered without the shedding of blood. Therefore the triumph of this Christian victory will endure through the age. For those things cannot be abolished by the corruption of time which are founded upon the everlasting stability of the faith. The fame of your deeds will remain far and wide, and, as is signified by the divine words: Their sound went out into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the earth. And in other wars you indeed defend the fields, cities, towns, and, what is supreme, the liberty of the subjects, things which, procured for the uses of mortals, must be dissolved by a like mortality: in this contest life itself is defended, and in a certain manner one fights for the citadel of everlasting beatitude. 4. Wherefore the continual attention of your clemency to the apparatus of so great a work is required. Bring it about that he find no refuge at all from which the most monstrous enemy may emerge again: strip him of all defenses, and if anywhere there is any remnant of his traces, purge it all away with a merciful remedy. Let every seed of wickedness be rooted out from the foundation, let the stock hostile to God be cut back to the quick, lest, being less suppressed (which God forbid), the venomous root of iniquity again spread its shoots more widely. To what end is this? Because there still remains for you the by-no-means-to-be-neglected correction of the Alexandrian and Antiochene and other churches, in which, if the care of your clemency does not lower itself, there is hope that, with the same author by whom we believe all good things to be begun, they may swiftly with the same helper be completed. 5. We commend, moreover, the legates directed from the apostolic see, and we deposit them with your faith and religion; whom, all things being thus accomplished, let your piety dismiss in such a way that, by your divine and personal benefits, they may bring back to the apostolic see full joy concerning the peace of all the churches. Which writings we have transmitted to be conveyed by Paulinus, defender of the Roman church, the servant of your piety. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of July, Eutharicus the most illustrious man being consul. Letter 80. Of Pope Hormisdas to John, bishop of Constantinople. In the year 519, on the 9th of July. He rejoices that he has been made one with him, and now acknowledges him as bishop and exhorts him to pastoral care (sections 1-3). Let him press upon the emperor for the other churches, namely Alexandria and Antioch, to be freed from schism, and in that business let him assist the legates of the apostolic see (sections 4 and 5). Hormisdas to John, bishop of Constantinople. 1. As I consider the writings of your charity, in which you have professed that you have one faith with the see of the blessed apostle Peter, it is permitted to me to exclaim with prophetic license: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! For it makes no difference by how distant spaces of places we are divided, when now, with God as author, we are joined together in one cohabitation of faith. For now, with divine mercy providing, the members of Christ once scattered come together into the countenance of one body, and the inheritance of our Lord, snatched from the most wicked robbers and announced by the prophetic voices, is restored to wholeness, and truly in the faith of this rock, that is, in the firmness of the prince of the apostles, the foundations of the Eastern church are made solid. And since these things are shown to have been done by your letters, it must be said with timely exultation: How beautiful are the feet of those who evangelize peace, of those who evangelize good things! 2. Thanks therefore to the most excellent Trinity, which has granted that those agreeing in Christ be rulers of the Church and of the commonwealth! For indeed there is great salvation of affairs whenever one mind binds together priests and princes in the truth of the catholic faith. This is the firm bond of peace, this the society sent down from heaven; for it is not lawful that, in a matter in which it is fitting that those set over should be in concord, the subjects should think otherwise. Or is there doubt that divine providence has disposed all these things: first, that he was chosen as prince who, when he saw that he had taken up the empire of men, did not forget that he himself is subject to God; and next, that it gave such a one as your fraternity as prelate to His Church, of whom it could not be doubtful that he would enter into a sure and abiding concord of faith with our see, that is, the apostolic? For indeed, the document of faith having been gladly accepted by us, since you have been eager for reintegration in Christ, you are found never to have been a stranger to us in the divine predestination. 3. Therefore, most beloved brother, press on with the benefits of our God which run of their own accord; gather more fully the members of the flock once scattered, and guard what has been gathered. Remember that you are now mercifully assigned by Christ the steersman of the ship: see that you take thought of the spirits of diabolical contumacy, disturbing the rest of the voyage and the care of it; and let not the waves of the uncertain tempest escape you, which you should foresee with a watchful mind, and restrain with reason set erect toward God. Let no negligence of the business committed to you wrest the rudder of the Lord's vessel from you. That one sign of the right course gaze upon ever with fixed eyes, so that the more surely you may despise the disturbances of the blowing devil, and may come through calm to the promised harbor. For this is the wrestling-ground of the Christian contest; for such a soldiery of Christ the palm of everlasting life is set forth. 4. To you, thinking these things most rightly, the protection of light will not be lacking to His soldier; and the more the snares of the enemy are multiplied, the more the grace of the supreme ruler makes the poisons of the adversary to be matter of His mercy, as the discourse of apostolic truth asserted, saying: Where iniquity abounded, grace did more abound. Do you only cleave to the divine and most right institutions, fostering ecclesiastical concord, so that, as if marked by a certain token of peaceful will, you may be proved to be the disciple of Him who said: My peace I give to you, my peace I leave to you. Exhort also our most clement son the prince Justin, though of his own accord tending to right things, divinely provided for the Christian age, to accomplish those things which he deigned to promise by royal letters: that, edicts having been sent to those whom wandering error even now leads away from the breasts of mother Church, he may suppress the diabolical fraud both by the authority of religion and by the moderate power of the empire, and may reckon this to be for himself the greatest victory against the common enemy of all humanity, if by the aid of the Divinity above he shall have suppressed the poisons of the old serpent. 5. Concerning the state of the Antiochene and Alexandrian churches also do not cease to be solicitous, and from time to time make supplication to the most clement prince; that in these too he may restore peace by religious ordering, so that to good beginnings he may join the heap of full perfection. For in vain is a good work begun, if perfection does not follow it to the full. We commend, moreover, the legates destined from the apostolic see, whom let your affection cause to return to us in such a way that they may be able to bring back to us full joy concerning the peace restored to all the churches. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of July, Eutharicus the most illustrious man being consul. Letter 81. Of Pope Hormisdas to Justinian the count. In the year 519, on the 9th of July. He exhorts him, who was a helper to Justin in restoring the peace of the Church, to finish the work that he has begun. Hormisdas to the illustrious Justinian. 1. We bless the ineffable aid of the Divinity, because we have learned that the desire of all for the peace of the churches has been fulfilled under tranquillity. Which indeed has come to pass not contrary to our expectation: because, from the presumed [noble] character of the most religious Augustus, we have always borne hope of quiet, and what we believed would be done under a Christian prince concerning unification was in our vow. Wherefore the glorious emperor will have from this cause titles of triumphs, not such as the forgetfulness of mortality would insert into them, but such as the grace of the Divinity confirms under perpetuity: and to you also there will not be lacking the reward of the heavenly recompense, you who have aided the institution of the good prince, and by fitting compliance with his desire have caused the horror of separation to be excluded. Blessed be the Lord our God, who has visited and made the redemption of His people! 2. It remains now, that, since an office of this kind has surely been enjoined upon you by the providence of the Divinity, you gird, as it says, your loins, and pursue with the strength of peaceful exhortation those by whom you do not see peace acknowledged, especially because something is detracted from the grace of your glory if anything in this cause shall have been less fulfilled. Survey all things with the faith by which you live, and with the diligence by which you flourish meet all the assaults by which you see the reverence of the Christian religion to be vexed, so that we may be able well to say with exultation at your insistence: All the ends of the earth shall remember and shall be converted to the Lord. Since these things are so, you who have made a beginning for the tranquillity of the catholic Church, it is fitting that you procure its effect: the favor of our Savior will not be lacking in the perfecting, He who inspired you to begin this work. Given in the consulate written above.

6CU Exemplum epistolae Justiniani ad Hormisdam. (^- ^i^ d. 29 Juu.) Ne inquietos Scythas monachos Hormisda suscipiat, utque reliquias ss. aposlolo- rum ipsi ecclesiaeque eorum nomine ab ipso constructae largiri dif/netur, petit, Doraino sancto, meritis beatissimo et apostolico domiuO; patri papae Hormisdae Justinianus^). 1. Propitia Divinitate, quae semper Ecclesiam catholicam per incrementa fidei instituit, miitas sanctarum ecclesiarum per doctri- nam et auctoritatem apostohitus vestri provenit. Sed quoniam com- perimus quosdam nomine monachos, quibus magis discordia in studio est quam caritas et pax Dei, cupientes quaedam perturbare, ad angelum^) vestrum hinc disccdentes iter arripuisse: quos beatitudo vestra, praesentibus scriptis causam livoris eorum cognoscens, ita ut merentur suscipere et a se louge pellere dignetur; quoniam vani- loquia ipsorum festinantiiun novitates introducere in Ecclesia, quod neque quatuor synodi venerabiles neque sancti Leonis papae epistolae continere noscimtur, in omni loco turbas excitare videntur. Quamol)- rem etiam et a viris reverendissimis episcopis et diaconibus directis ab apostohitu ve^ro ^) ad nos angehis vester destinare dignetur, 78 *) Ex duabus illis litteris iuajuseuliB F. C, quas Bar. hic addit et quaruin neutra in G* exstat, sola C, qua comes intelligatur , videtur retinenda, hancque conjecturam firmat ista epistolae 44 inBcriptio: Justinianus comes Hormisdae papae. Ad perfectam autem notitiuin vcslri sancti angeli anathematizamus etc, (a. 519.) et ipsos digua correctioiie perculsos , ut superius dictum est, peliere jubeat. Ergo lioc petimus, ut, sicut supradictum est, ipsas hujus- modi litteras per eumdem portitorem ad nos dirigere magnopere praecipiat^). Suut autem nomina eonun Achilles*), Johannes, Leon- tius et Mauritius^). Haec nostra est maxima soIUcitudinis causa, ne unitas, quam vester labor oratioque perfecit, per inquietos homi- nes dissipetur, sperantes in Domino Deo, quia si quid est quod adhuc a totius orbis pace dissentiat, hoc quoque orationibus vestris apostolicae sedis commmiioni societur. , firniant. Integra erit, si tantimi addatur: Scripta de iisdem missa sunt. Quae autcm rescripserit beatitudo vestra, haec per euindem portitorem, tum recte seque- tiir, ad nos angelus vester destinare dignttur. Africae episcopos scribunt: Petrus diaconust Johannes, Leontius, alius Johannes el ceten fratres in causa fidei Romam directi; ac subscribunt: Petrus diaconus, Johanncs monachus, Leontius monachus, Johannes lector. Tum epist. 17 rescribunt Fulgentius et alii quindecim episcopi Petro dincono, Johanni, Leoniio, ei aHi Johanniy ceterisque fratrihus, quos una vohiscum in causa fidei Romam directos inii- mastis. Sane si iuter eos exstitisset Maxeutius, nomen ejus, ut qui notior easet ac celebrior, in illis scriptis taceri nou debuisset. Nec videri potest alterutrius Johannis nomine exprimi, quum primus Johannes monachusy alter lector nuncQ- petur, Maxentius vero, ut Bellarminus auctor est, presbyter vulgo credatur atque ipse sibi teste Dioscoro (Horm. ejnst. 98 n. 4) abbatis titulum arrogaret- Sod et in responsione ad Hormisdae epistolam sic ubique loquitur, qnasi ex iis non csset. Cum iisdem monachis expostulat Baronius, quod in praedicta apud Fulgentium epistola 16 seso mendacitor iotius Orientalis ecclesiae prae sc ferumt csse legatos. Respicit haud dubie cardinalis ejuditus ad titulum epistolae prae- fixum, ubi lcgitur: Petri diaconi et aliorum, qui in causa fidei a Graecis ex Oriente Romam missi fuerunt. fpsi vero in inscriptione non se toiius Orientalis ecclesiae iegatosy sod simphciter in causa fidei Romam dircctos dicunt. Maxentius autem in rosponsione ad Hormisdae epistolam constare af&rmat, pro sola hac sententia (scil. Christum Filium Dei vivi unum confitendum esse ex sancia et individua Trini^ tatc) Scgtharum monachos ad Romnnum fuisse profectos episcopiim. Qua in re de Orientis secum consensioue gloriari potuissont. Certe infra epist. 129 n. 6 Je- rosolymitaui, Antiocheni et secundae Syriae clerici et abbates, iiec non possei' sores i>rovinciae Syriao procibus Justiuo oblatis, quia Dominus noster Jesus Ckri stus unus est ex sancta et unius essentiae Trinitnte , conceptis verbis profitentur. Ob id igitur unum culpandi orant, quod rera non* necessariam eo tempore, quo omni novitate absistondum orat, importuue ac tumultuose qaaerereut. EPISTOLAE 78. 79. 877 2. Praesmnentes autem de beatitudinis vestrae benevolentia, (a. 519.) patemam dilectionem nimium petimus, quatenus reliquiis sanctormn apostolorum tam nos quam basilicam^) eorum hic in domo nostra sub nomine praedictorum venerabilium constructam illustrare et illumi- nare large dignemini , cognoscentes, quod nuUum nobis majus nec ^) munus nec beneficium praestare potestis, domine beatissime pater, quam si hanc nostram petitionem adimpleveritis. Subito autem iter arripiente praedicto agente'^) in rebus, etiam duo pallia*^*) holoserica ad ornamentum altaris sanctorum apostolorum direximus, quae susci- pientes efficacissimis precibus vestris nostri jubete jugiter facerc memoriam. Epistola 79, Hormisdae papae ad Jastinam imperatorem. a. 5i9d. 9 Julii. Qnam gloriosns sii trinmphus, qncm reddita regiae urbi pace retnlit, gratnlatur («. 1 — 3). Ut idem bonum Anliochine atque Alexandriae curety legatosqne ad id rnissos benigne adjuvet, precaiur {n. 4 — 5). Hormisda episcopus Justino Augusto. 1. Lectis clementiae vestrae paginis, quae restitutam fidei con- cordiam nmitiabant, in divinae laudis canticum mens totius Eccle- siae laeta prorupit, quo canitur : Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra ^ ^^* pax hominibus honae voluntatis! Hujus igitur fiducia hymni dignam fidelibus meritis gloriam felicitatemque praesumite. Neque enim te ita Deo placitum principem ad imperii verticem humanus tantum consensus evexit: te sibi divinus favor ante formaverat. Tradidit ') De hac baeilica Procopius de aedificiis I, 4 haec habet: Principio Byzantii (Justiiiianiis) Petro et Panlo novum iempfnm exiruxit juxta regiam aulam Hormisdae olim nomine diciam: qnam ipse, suam antea domwn, quum adeo magnifice ornasseiy ut speciem haberet dignitalemqne palalii, postea Romanus factns imperator eam alteri regiae acccssionem adjnnxit. Exinde etiam Ilormisdae cognomen imperatoris pala- tium servavit. Quocirca initio coUationis catholicorum cum Severiania anno 533 habitae (Hard. III, 1160) legitur: Evocavit sanctissimum archiepiscopum (scil. Con- stantinopolitanum) tranquiHissimus imperator in venerabili palatio suo qnod dicitnr /lormisdac. Sed non ab Hormisda nostro hoc ei cognoraen inditum est. Sed promiscuum esse utrumque nomen, argumento est illud, quod concil. Cal- chedon. act. 3 (Hard. II, 334) legimus, eumdem Sevemm magistrianum ab uuo interprete veteri quondam subadjutorem magistrianorum scholae, et ab altoro quon- dtttn subadjnvam agcntium in rebus scholac nuncupari. *") Ed. pallia sericia vel serica: corriguntur ope G' C, in quibus lcgitur qui- dem palHo solo sericost sed legendum est pallios oio sericos, quae barbara lectio, si cui magis placet ut eam praeferat, per nos licet. a. 519. enim tibi^) Orientis imperium, ut ejus operum fieres instramentum; atque ideo ut hoc in te propheticum dictum jure conyeniat efBcitis: 44 17W1 ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ principes super omnem terram; memores erunt namim tui, jDomine, in omni progenie et generatione. Etenim quum tibi sit Christianam pacem servare propositum^ quis te dubitet a Chiisto esse delectum^)? 2. Haec prima sunt vestri fundamina principatus, Deum pla- casse justitia et adscivisse vobis excellentissimae majestatis aaxilia^ dum adversarios ejus velut proprios comprimitis inimicos. Haec nimirum maxima reipublicae fundamenta sunt^ hoc solidum in- victumque robur. Neque enim humanis ictibus potest esse pervimn, quod est divinae gratiae firmitate vallatum. Testis est huic pro- 88 ^isq pJ^^^^c^ Scriptura; ait enim: Elegi David servum meum, oleo sancto meo unxi eum; manus enim mea auxiliabitur ei, et brachium meum confortabit eum. Contra autem frustra arma, frustra sibi copias quaerit, quem gratia superna destituit. Etenim veraciter scriptmn Psahn. est: Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, in vanum vigilant qui custo- 126,1. dmnt eam. 3. Bellabis tu quidem divino tutus «auxilio, excellentissime prin- ceps, et tuae reipublicae jugo ferocissimarum gentium colla submit- tes; sed nulla victoria potest esse praestantior ^ quam quod humani generis hostem post quaesita tam longi temporis firmamenta snb- vertis. Enimvero ceterorum natura proeliorum distincta gentibus, regionibus terminata, cruore poUuta; haec omne genus humanmn pahna complectitur , hunc omnibus regionibus imputabis^) trium- phum; et quod divinae proximum pietati est, qui paulo ante ductu diaboli grassabantur, nunc ad propriae salutis eiBFectum sine sanguinis etfusione vincuntur. Durabit igitur hujus Christiauae victoriae per aevum triumphus. Neque enim poterunt labe temporis aboleri, quae in sempiterna fidei stabilitate fundata sunt. Permanebit longe late- que vestrorum fama factorum, et sicut divinis designatur eloquiis, T^m. jf^ omnem terram exivit sonus eorwn, et in fines terrae verba eonm. Et ceteris quideni bellis agros, urbes, oppida et, quod supre- 79 ^) G* enim quae tibi ad orienivi, inoxquc efficitis (ed. efficiatU). EPISTOLAE 79. 80. 879 mum^) est; subjectormn libertatem tueris, quae mortalium usibusa. 519. comparata simili quadam mortalitate solveuda sunt: in hoc certa- mine vita ipsa defenditur^ et quodammodo pro sempiternae beatitu- dinis arce pugnatur. 4. Quocirca continuam tanti operis apparatus clementiae vestrae int«ntionem requirit. Facite, ut nullum prorsus receptaculum, ex quo rursus immanissimus hostis emergat, inveniat: cunctis eum nu- date praesidiis, et si quid usquam vestigiorum ejus reliquum est, id omne clementi remedio repurgate. Omne nequitiae germen fun- ditus eruatur, adversa Deo stirps ad vivum usque resecetur, ne minus compressa, quod absit, iniquitatis radix venenata latius iterum virgulta diffundat. Quorsum haec? Quia superest adhuc vobis Ale- xandrinae atque Antiochenae et aliarum ecclesiarum nullo modo negligenda correctio, in qua si se^) cura clementiae vestrae non demiserit, spes est, quo auctore bona cuncta credimus incipi, eodem celeriter auxiliatore compleri. 5. Commendamus praeterea legatos ab apostolica sede directos, et apud vestram fidem religionemque deponimus; quos ita perfectis omnibus pietas vestra dimittat, ut divinis vestrisque beneticiis ad apostolicam sedem plenam referant de ecelesiarum omnium pace laetitiam. Quae scripta per Paulinum^) Romanae ecclesiae defenso- rem famulum vestrae pietatis ingerenda transmisimus. Data VII ") Idns Julii, Eutharico viro clarissimo consule. Epistola 80, Uormisdae papae a<l Johanneni episeopnni Constantinopolitanuni. a. 519 d. 9.Tul. Unum se cum eo factum essc graiulatur, jamque episcopum eum aqnoscit et ad pastoral^m curam fiortatur (w. 1 — 3). Instet apud imperatorem pro ceteris eccle- siis nominatimque Alcivandrina et Antiorhcna a schuimatc liberandis^ et in eo negotio fcgatos sedis apostolicae adjuvet {n. 4 et 5). Hormisda Johanni episcopo Constantinopolitano. I. Consideranti milii tuao scripta caritatis, in quibus cum sede '*) G' /'// Idus FeOruarii. a.5i9. beati apostoli Petri unam tibi esse fidem professus es, prophetica 13^ 1 ^^^^ exclamare lieentia: Ecce quam honum ei guam jucundum hdbi- tare fratres in unuml Neque enim refert, quam longiuqm's locorum spatiis dividamur, quando jam Deo auctore una fidei cohabitatione conjungimur. Nunc enim misericordia procurante divina in miius corporis vultum dissipata olim Christi membra conveniunt, et ab iniquissimis direpta latronibus annuntiata propheticis vocibus Domini nostri redintegratur haereditas, et vere in hujus petrae fide, id est apostolorum principis firmitate, Orientalis ecclesiae fundamenta soli- dantur. Quae quum facta tuis litteris indicentur, tempestiva exsul- ^^^* tatione dicendum est: Quam speciosi pedes evangelizantium pacemf evangelizantium hona! 2. Gratias igitur excellentissimae Trinitati, quae consentientes^) in Christo Ecclesiae ac reipublicae dedit esse rectore^! EnimYero magna rerum salus est, quoties in fidei catholicae veritate sacer- dotes ac principes mens una connectit. Hoc firmum pacis vinculmn est, haec coelitus dimissa societas ; neque enim fas est, in quo rident concordari praepositos, aliud sentire subjectos. An dubiuin est, cuncta haec providentiam disposuisse divinam: primum eum prin- cipem esse delectimi, qui quum se hominum susc^pisse videret impe- rium, non se oblitus est Deo esse subjectum; dehinc quod talem fratemitatem tuam Ecclesiae suae praesulem dedit, quem non esset ambiguum cum sede nostra, id est apostolica, certam mansuramque fidei subiturum esse concordiam? Eteiiim libello a nobis fidei libenter accepto, quum redintegrationis in Christo fueris avidus, nunquam in praedestinatione dtvina fuisse a nobis cognosceris alienus. 3. Itaque, dilectissime frater, Dei nostri sponte currentibus in- state beneficiis, sparsi olim gregis plenius membra colligite, et custodite coUecta. Memento nunc clementer assignatae a Christo navis esse te rectorem: fac cogites diabolicae contumaciae spiritus, quietem^) itineris et curam turbantes; nec te lateant fluctus tem- pestatis incertae, quos evigili mente prospicias, et erecta in Denni ratione compescas '^). NuUa tibi commissi negotii negligentia clavum dominicae ratis extorqueat. lUud unicum recti itineris signum fixis semper obtutibus intuere, quo certius perflantis diaboli turbata contemnas, et ad promissi portus tranquilla pervenias. Haec enim cst Christiani palaestra certaminis, tali Christi militiae sempitemae vitae palma proponitur. 4. Haec tibi rectissime cogitanti non deerit suo militi praesidiom 80 •) G' a* cc consentientis in Cristum Ecclesiae, hanc (c c ac) reipubUeae: meiidose. EPISTOLAE 80. 81. 881 lncis; et quauto hostium multiplicautur iusidiae^ tauto summi gratia a. 519. rectoris adversautis veueua misericordiae suae facit esse materiam, sicut sermo apostolicae veritatis asseruit, diceus: Ubi dbundavit ^^^' iniquitasy superabmdavit et gratia, Tu tautum diviuis rectissimisque iuhaereas^) iustitutis, ecclesiasticam foveudo coucordiam, ut velnti quodam pacificae voluutatis siguatus iudicio^ illius esse discipulus approberis, qui ait: Pacem meam do vobis, pacem meam retinquo vobis. '^oh. Hortare etiam, quamquam spoute ad recta teudeutem, filium uostrum * clementissimum priucipem Justiuum, Christiauo saeculo divinitus comparatum^ ea perficere, quae regalibus litteris diguatus est pol- liceri: ut missis ad eos edictis, quos ab Ecclesiae matris uberibus etiamnuuc devius error abducit, diabolicam fraudem et auctoritate religionis et moderata potestate compescat imperii, eamque sibi contra commimem totius humauitatis hostem maximam ducat esse victoriam, si supemae auxilio Diviuitatis vetusti serpeutis veueua compresserit.* 5. De Autiocheuae quoque atque Alexaudriuae ecclesiarum statu non supersedeas esse sollicitus, et clemeutissimo subiude priucipi^) supplicato; ut in his quoque pacem religiosa ordiuatioue restituat, quateuus bouis coeptis pleuae cumulum perfectionis adjuugat. Frustra enim bonum opus incipitur, si uon in totum perfectio subsequatur. Commeudamus praeterea legatos a sede apostolica destinatos, quos ita faciat ad nos tua dilectio remeare, ut nobis plenam referre queaut de restituta uuiversis ecclesiis pace laetitiam. Data VII Idus Julii, Eutharico viro clarissimo consule. Epistola 81, Hormisdae papae ad Jastinianam comitcm. a.5i9d. 9 Jul. l/t qiti Jitstino in pace Ecclesiae reddenda adjutor fuit, opus quod incepit per- ficiat, hoTtatur. Hormisda illustri Justiniano^). 1. Beuedicimus ineflfabile Diviuitatis auxilium, quia de eccle- siarum pace uuiversitatis desiderium sub trauquillitate aguovimus fuisse completum. Quod quidem nou praeter opiuiouem uostram contigit fieri: quia religiosissimi Augusti praesumpti genere spem seinper gessiraus de quiete, et quod credidimus facieudum sub principe Christiano de adunatioue, erat in votum. Quare habebit gloriosus imperator de hac causa triumphorum titulos, non quibus BiibflcriptioniB aiitocotlentia eiiistolao oomprobatur. 81 *) Ita G'. Ed. viro Justiniavo. KPISTOLAR ROMA-N. PONTIP. I. 56 a. 510. se oblivio mortalitatis interserat, sed quos Divinitatis gratia sub^ perpetuitate confirmet : et vobis quoque eoelestis remunerationiB non deerit praemium, qui adjuvistis boni principis*institutum, atque ob- sequio convenienti desiderio horrorem segregationis fecistis excludi. ^"g^ Bptedictus Dominm Deus noster, qui visitavit et fecU redempiicnm . ' plebis suae! 2. Superest nunc, ut quia vobis hujusmodi officium certum est providentia Divinitatis injunctum, accingatis^ ut ait, lumbos, et pacificae adhortationis viribus persequamini ^ a quibus pacem non videtis agnosci, maxime quia gratiae gloriae vestrae detrahitur, si quid in hac causa fuerit minus impletum. Gircumspicite omuia fide, qua vivitis, et diligentia qua vigetis occurrite omnibus incursibus, quibus religionis Christianae veverentiam videtis esse vexatam, ut 21^28. instantiae vestrae bene possimus cum exsultatione dicere: Remini' scentur et convertentur ad Dominum omnes fines terrae. Quae qnum ita sint, vos qui Ecclesiae catholicae tranquillitati fecistis initiam, procurare decet eiBFectum: non deerit Salvatoris nostri favor in per- fectione, qui vobis hoc opus inspiravit incipere. Data oonsole suprascripto.