Letter 196: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Of Pope Hormisdas, to Justinian the count. [He] considers that the Scythian monks are to be detained at Rome until the return of the legates. Let Justinian himself take care that Victor the deacon, who has been accused by them, and others who raise perverse questions, be directed to the City. Hormisdas to Justinian, the illustrious. When Eulogius, a most distinguished man, our son, delivered the letters of your Highness, we received them; and as he returns we discharge the due office of greeting, [and] we make known that the Scythian monks have alleged many things which we cannot leave unexamined; but, with God's help, we await the arrival of our legates. For which reason we believe that they [the monks] are to be retained in the City, from which not even they themselves dissented as to the [proper] procedure. We trust nevertheless that your Eminence retains [in mind] what you wrote concerning them to us in past time in the letters you sent. Concerning their allegations, when we shall have been suitably informed upon the return of our legates, if our examination should find anything worthy of reproof, it is necessary that we maintain ecclesiastical discipline with regard to them. Victor, moreover, who is reported to hold the office of deacon, whose faith these same monks vehemently accuse, or others who perhaps raise perverse questions, let them be directed to the City by the ordinance of our lord and son, the most merciful emperor, at your suggestion, so that we may be able to take cognizance of all the allegations about which they contend.

Hormisdae papae ad Jnstinianum comitem. ^^J^^^xf *^ ^ 2Sept.) Monachos Scythas usque ad legatorum reditum Romae detinendos existimat. i- Det ipse Justinianus operam, ut Victor diaconus ab illis accusatus et alii perver- sas quaestiones objicientes in Urbem dirigantur. Hormisda Justiniano illustri. Eulogio viro clarissimo filio nostro deferente litteras celsitudinis ep. 78. vestrae suscepimus, eoque remeante debitum persolventes salutationis officium, significainus ^) , Scythas monachos allegasse plurima, quae nos relinquere indiscussa non possumus: sed legatorum nostrorum 90 ^) Quae supra epist. 78, non proxiine antecedens epist. 89. ') Ed. volentes, Coucinnius G' nolentes. Hoc scribit Hormisda, quia Justi- nianuB epist. 78, ut monachoB illos a se depellere dignareiur, semel atquo itcruiu petierat. Mox ed. habuimus. 91 *) G* a' significantes. (a. 5l9.)Deo juvaute sustinemiis') adventum; pro qua re eos in Urbe credi- mus retinendos, a qua nec ipsi ordinatione dissentiiuit. Amplitudi- nem vestram tamen retinere confidimus^ quod de ipsis nobis praeterito tempore litteris') destiiiatis scripserit. In quorun; aUegationibos, quimi legatis remeantibus competenter fuerimus instructi, si quid reprebensione dignum cognitio nostra repererit, necesse est, ut circa eos teneamus ecclesiasticam disciplinam. Victorem^) praeterea, qui diaconis habere perhibetur officium, cujus fidem hi ipsi moiiachi vehement^r accusant, vel alios, qui perversas forsitan objiciunt quae- stiones, ordinatione domini filii nostri clementissimi imperatoris ad Urbem vobis suggerentibus dirigantur, ut miiversas allegatioues de quibus contendmit nos possimus agnoscere.