Letter 204: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Heading: A copy of the letter of Justinian to Pope Hormisdas.] [Section] 4. Whether it ought to be said that one of the Trinity was crucified. That he should send back the Scythian monks. That the fullest perfection of the faith may come to us through the teaching of your Beatitude, we have once again dispatched Eulogius, a vigorous man conducting affairs alongside other matters, also for this purpose; through him we very earnestly ask that, by a circumspect and most cautious reply from your apostolic office, he may be confirmed in every respect in the confession of the catholic faith. For after the unity granted to the catholic Church by divine mercy was at last given, certain persons assert that Christ the Son of God, our Lord, who for our salvation was crucified in the flesh, ought to be proclaimed as one of the Trinity; and if this is to be accepted, may your reverence, with paternal foresight, by your most cautious rescript, deign to make us more certain what we ought to follow and what we ought to avoid concerning this matter; since the words seem to produce dissension, whereas the meaning is shown to be one and the same among all catholics. Take upon yourselves, therefore, the labor once undertaken, holy and venerable father, following your predecessors in this also, whose memory you both embrace and adorn by your fellowship in the pontificate, and hasten to render us free and secure concerning this concern. For we believe this to be catholic, namely whatever shall have been made known to us by your religious reply. But since it has been said that the Scythian monks have approached your see for this reason, after a reply has been furnished to them in accordance with the tradition of the fathers and the order of the rules, command them, fearing nothing, to be sent back to us with your letters. Order also that copies of these letters, duly attested, be given to the aforesaid vigorous man Eulogius. For we ask all these things that you arrange them more cautiously, so that no room be given to falsehood or to snares: since, embracing the catholic faith with the utmost desire, we ask that unity be granted to the whole world by your teaching. [Editorial note 99, *) Perhaps on account of certain affairs to be transacted with King Theodoric: of which matter the emperor Justin, below in letter 126, indicates that for that reason Eulogius, a tribune and notary, was sent by him into Italy in the year 520. Soon, the edition reads 'hanc propter' [for this reason].] [ROMAN PONTIFICAL LETTERS, I. 57] [898 (page) ST. POPE HORMISDAS]

seu Exemplum epistolae Justiniani ad Hormisdam papam. lArlct) 4. Num dicendum sit, unum de Trinitate fuisse crucifixum. Vt Scythas monachos remiiiat. Ut plenissima fidei perfectio doctrina beatitudinis vestrae nobis proveniat, iterum Eulogium vinim strenuum agentem inrebusjuxta alias^) causas etiaiji hacpropter direximus, per quem valde peti- mus, ut per omnia responso apostolatus vestri circumspecto et cau- tissimo in confessione catholicae fidei confirmetur. Post semel enim divina misericordia donatam Ecclesiae catholicae unitatem quidam asserunt Christum Filium Dei Dominum nostrum pro nostra salute carne crucifixmn unum de Trinitate debere praedicari : quod si susci- piendum sit, paterna provisione reverentia vestra cautissimo suo rescripto, quid sequi quidve super hoc evitare debeamus, nos certio- rare dignetur; quoniam verba videntur facere dissensionem , nam sensus^) inter catholicos omnes imus esse probatur. Imponite igitur vobis semel susceptum laborem, sancte ac venerabilis pater, etiam in hoc praedecessores vestros sequentes, quorum memoriam et am- plectimini et consortio pontificatus ornatis, et de hac intentione liberos nos properate reddere et securos. Hoc enim credimus esse catholiciun, quod vestro religioso responso nobis fuerit intimatum. Quia vero dictum est Sc}i;hicos monachos hac ratione ad sedem vestram accessisse, pro traditione patrum et ordine regularum prae- bito eis responso, nihil formidantes^) ad nos cum vestris litteris jubete remittere. Quarum etiam exemplaria consignata praedicto viro stre- nuo Eulogio dari praecipite. Haec enim omnia ideo petimus vos disponere cautius, ut ne locus mendacio vel insidiis detur: quoniam summo.cum desiderio fidem catholicam amplectentes, vestra doctrina unitatem universo orbi petimus condonari^). 99 *) Forte pro quibusdam negotiis apud Theodoricum regem tractandis: cujua rei cauaa Eulogium tribunum ac notarium anno 520 a sc in Italiam transmissum esse Justinus imperator infra epist. 126 significat. — Mox ed. hanc propter, SPI8T0LAE ROMAN. PONTIF. I. 57 898 8. HORMISDAE PAPAE