Letter 220: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Celer, vir illustris [a man of illustrious rank], to Pope Hormisdas. [Summary heading: With the church of Constantinople happily brought back into unity, he suggests that there is need of singular clemency toward the other churches.] To the most blessed lord and apostolic father Hormisdas, Celer. The greatest cause of rejoicing is granted to us, as often as an occasion has arisen for writing to your apostolate. Now therefore, upon the return of the most blessed bishop Germanus and of the most reverend men who were sent by you for the joining together of the holy churches, we have deemed it necessary duly to venerate your holiness, making known that the aforesaid men did indeed have zeal that a full effect should follow your will; but because the whole body was infirm, in the meantime the head, which is judged necessary first, has by the application of your remedy been healed, and the dissension which existed between the venerable churches, the Roman and the Constantinopolitan, has, with unity intervening, been buried, and other not small members have by a like grace of the Divinity been purged and joined together. We all bear this hope also, that the grace of God, which has always remained and remains with your see, may afford to you an inspiration of goodness of such a kind, that by your gentleness and dispensation the remaining body still, which is held to be infirm, just as was said above by us, may, your remedy having received it into unity, be joined. And especially we beseech your pontificate, that for us you would bid prayer to be made with the kindly heart of a father. [Editorial apparatus embedded in the source, not part of the letter: a marginal note observes that "now Justinus appeals from Hormisdas to Hormisdas, from his own severity to his clemency, from the rigor of discipline to a certain more moderate relaxation of indulgence." Footnote 117: "the reading of our manuscripts; presently G* reads 'by our prayers.'" Footnote 118: "In G* the words 'vir illustris' are here lacking; but at the head of this document is read 'Letter of Celer, vir illustris.'" Date marker: (year 520).]

Celeris illustris ad Hormisdam papam. ^*9j^ui*^' Consiantinopolitana ecclesia feliciter ad unitatem reducta, circa alias ecclesias ^^' /v singulari clementia opus esse innuit. ^ '' Domino beatissimo et apostolico patri Hormisdae Celer»). Maxima nobis gratulationis causa praestatur, quotiens ad apo- stolatum vestrum scribendi tempus emerserit. Nunc igitur remeante beatissimo Germano episcopo vel reverendissimis viris, qui a vobis pro conjungendis sanctis ecclesiis fuerunt destinati, necessarium duximus sanctitatem vestram debite^) venerari, indicantes, ante- dictos habuisse quidem studium, ut voluntatem vestram plenus se- queretur eflFectus; sed quia totum corpus erat infirmum, interim caput, quod prius necessarium judicatur, adhibito medicamine vestro sanatum est, et dissensio, quae erat inter venerabiles ecclesias Ro- rant, quidpiam relaxare, nunc appellat Justinus ab Hormisda ad Hormisdam, ab ipsius severitate ad ejus clementiam, a rigorc disciplinae ad modcratiorem quamdam indulgentiae demissionem. 117 *) Ed. nostrorum. Mox G* precibus nostris. 118 *) In G* hic deest vir illustris: sed in hujus scripti fronte legitur Kpistola Celeris iiltistris. (a. 520.) manani et Constantinopolitanain , unitate interveniente sepulta est, et alia non parva membra simili Divinitatis gratda pnrgata atque conjuncta. Htmc etiam spem gerimus uniyersi, quod gratia Dei, quae semper sedi vestrae permansit et permanet, hujusmodi vobis inspirationem bonitatis praebeat, ut mansuetudine et dispensatione vestra reliquum adhuc corpus, quod habetur infirmum, sicut superins a nobis dictiun, vestro medicamine unitate recepta jungatur. Spe- cialiter autem deprecamur pontificium vestrum, ut pro nobis benigno patris animo orare jubeatis.