Letter 217: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

The Emperor Justinian to Pope Hormisdas. 7 June. Concerning Elias, Thomas, and Nicostratus: what it has seemed best to decide. Justinian Augustus to Pope Hormisdas. 1. Since it is our intention, most religious father, that in every matter our counsels should agree with one another [...] then also in the case of Elias, that most reverend man and bishop, we believe that this must be determined, as your legates advise, which among the various considerations on both sides has been more readily perceived to be the more expedient course. For at present too the favor of all protects the bishop of the city of the Caesareans, whom, on account of his most excellent practices, not only do the inhabitants judge that he must most strongly be retained, but nearly the whole East undoubtedly venerates him; while he who held that priesthood before complains that he has been removed unjustly. It has therefore seemed fitting to arrange that we neither make an assault against the wishes of countless multitudes, nor that a man noble in his integrity be cast down from the see of which he shows himself worthy, nor yet that we allow the former incumbent's hope to be utterly taken away of seeking once more the place from which he affirms he was despoiled without cause; but rather that in a doubtful matter we proceed more temperately, in such a way that for the present this same Elias, the most reverend man and bishop, remains undisturbed, but that, after his successor has laid down his life, then at last he may return to the see from which he withdrew, all those things being first applied which the definitions of the most sacred canons require for obtaining permission to return, with the consent moreover being interposed both of your apostolic see and of this most flourishing city, as well as of the others whom this concerns. 2. Concerning Thomas also and Nicostratus, those most religious men and bishops, all things will be carried into effect, after the remaining venerable churches as well have been joined to you and have come into unity, which we judge to have crept in here through the preceding error. Since therefore we have judged that this too must be established by supernal protection in like manner according to the order of the most sacred canons: and since accordingly it was fitting that our deliberation be declared also to your holiness, so that from this too there may be made plain the desire on which we bend all our effort, namely to restrain and to moderate controversies and to extend the concord longed for among all, we have determined that the present letter also be sent, admonishing especially that for the unimpaired state of the commonwealth the supernal divinity be entreated by your prayers. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of June at Constantinople, in the consulship of Vitalianus and Rusticus.

a.52od. Justiniani Augusti ad Hormisdam papam. 7 Jun. De Eiia, Thoma et Nicosirato quid visum sit decemendum. Justinianus Augustusi) Hormisdae papae, 1. Quum jn animo nobis sit^ pater religiosissimC; ut in omni exigi mirum non est. Prudentiae autem eratregiae urbis praesulibus, qoismn- mam prope in Ecclesia potestatem affectabant, nihil ab hujusmodi officiis, qoae ipsis consuetudo imposuerat, remittere. Ejus vero mons, quem HormisdaTiD- dicat, exemplum videre est apud Palladium in vita Cbrjsostomi, abi AcadiB Berocensis episcopus Romam venisse memoratur ferens ordinatioms Jokamds epi- scopi decretum. Sed neque hunc solum tunc venisse, Theodoretus k e. U, 23 et Sozomenus h. e. YIII, 3 testes sunt. Anatolium episcopum Constantinopofi- tanum post ordinationem suam Castenum presbyterum nec non PatriciiuD et Asclepiadem diaconos cum litteris Romam legasse, Leonis epistola 80 n. 1 fiden facit. Gregorius epist. lib. VI ind. 14 epist. 66 quum animo ad scribendiiiB Cyriaco recens ordinato regiae urbis episcopo propenderet, sese cohibmt, quiit inquit, consuetudo non est, ut prius quam ad nos ejus synodica defenUur, dehett- mus scribere. Et vero synodicam illam Georgio presbytero et Theodoro diaeOBO deferentibus se non ita multo post accepisse lib. YII ind. 15 episl 4 tesiaiar. Mox verbum sustinemus id est, quod patienter exspectamus. 114 ^) Ita G* a*. In aliis autem omittitur Augusti titulus, quem re i^Ma, ^!^ EPISTOLAE 113. 114. 9X5 re nostra inter se concnrrant consilia, tum et in Elia viro reveren- a. 620. dissimo episcopo id constituendum credimus legatis admonentibus vestris, quod inter varias *utrasque rationes expeditius esse per- '^^^ spectum est. Nam et in praesenti pontificem Gaesariensium^) urbis favor tutatur omnium, quem ob instituta pulcherrima non solum incolae validissime retinendum arbitrantur, sed prope cunctus Oriens sine dubio veneratur, et qui prior in eodem fuit sacerdotio, injuria ^) se esse remotum queritur. Visum est itaque convenire*), ut nec faciamus impetum contra infinitarum vota multitudinum, aut homo integritate nobilis sede dejiciatur, qua se dignum exhibet, nec an- teriori spem prorsus adimi patiamur repetendi locum denuo, quo se spoliatum sine causa eonfirmat; sed in re dubia temperantius ver- semur, ita ut interim quidem hic idem Elias vir reverendissimus episcopus in quiete permaneat, verum postquam successor ejus vitam deposuerit, tum demum ad sedem revertatur qua^) destitit, adhiben- dis prius omnibus, quae ad impetrandam reditionis licentiam sacra- tissimarum regularum postulant definita, interponendo etiam con- sensu tam tuae sedis apostolicae quam florentissimae hujus urbis nec non aliarum quarum hoc interest. 2. De Thoma etiam et Nicostrato viris religiosissimis episcopis omnia mancipabimtur efiectui, postquam ceterae etiam vobis copu- latae fuerint et^) ad unitatem venerabiles eeclesiae, quae praecedente riorum errore huc irrepsisse arbitramur. Marcellino quippe in chronico et Evagrio h. e. IV, 9 testibus Justinianus tantum Calendis Aprilis anni 527 qua- tuor ante obitum Justini menses Augustus nuncupatus est. Unde Possessor in epistola sequenti, quam ex Hormisdae rescripto circa idem tempus scriptam esse liquet, Justinianum et Vitalianum aeque magistros militum cognominat. ') Baronius ad ann. 519 et 520 hoc de Caesareae Cappadociae civitate in- terpretatur, sed nullam interpretationis suae rationem affert. Probabilius tamen videtur de Caesareae Palaestinae urbe dictum esse, maxime quum adversariorum Calchedonensis sjnodi notae sint impiae in Syria secunda et Palaestina moli- tiones, ac de Cappadocia nihil simile memoriae proditum sit. Yide, quae in epistolas 39 et 106 obseryavimus. 68* i a. 520. supemo praesidio statuenda duxerimus pro sacratissimarum regola- rum itidem ordine. Quoniam itaque vestrae quoque sanctitudini de» liberationem nostram oportuerat declarari; ut ex hac etiam patefiat desiderium, in quo omnem operam intendimus ad compescendas atque temperandas controversias et optatam inter omnes concordiam prorogandam, praesentes quoque litteras duximus destinandasy mo- nentes") praecipue, ut pro incolumi statu reipublicae numen super- num vestris exoretur precibus. Data VII Idus Junias Constantino- poli, Vitaliano et Rustico consulibus.