Letter 221: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Juliana Anicia to Pope Hormisdas. [Summary heading:] Greeting the pontiff, she praises his diligence concerning the faith, and sets forth how she herself has responded to his zeal. To the most blessed lord and most approved pontiff of the Apostolic See, Pope Hormisdas, the father, Juliana Anicia. First of all, we render the dutiful service of greeting to your Beatitude, hoping that the Divinity may cause this page to be reviewed before your venerable eyes, and that, for the vigor of His Church, He may deign to grant wholesome increases in support of your life, so that, with you ever watchful, the condition of the Church may be vindicated against its hostile and rabid dogs. For indeed, venerable father, that you take care for the integrity of our faith is fitting for the vicars of the glorious apostle Peter, upon whom the Lord laid the office of feeding His sheep. Let your holy solicitude on our behalf therefore know that we hold all the more firmly to the immovable steadfastness of the right faith: for the sake of which, lest its sanctity be violated, we have hitherto resisted. But as for what your apostolate has enjoined, that care be taken for the cause of so great a piety, in so far as we have been able, according to our strength, we have not ceased to admonish our adversaries in the spirit of gentleness, and, with the grace of God cooperating with us .... [the remainder is missing.]

^^9 Jid.^' Julianae Aniciae ad Hormisdam papam. «^^* X \ Pontificem salutans, ejus sedulitatem circa fidem laudat, et quomodo ipta studHs 17 oept.) . j .^ '^ ' ejus respondertt exponU. Domino beatissimo atque apostolicae sedisproba- tissimo pontifici Hormisdae papae patri Ju- liana Anicia. Quae prima sunt, tuae beatitudinis salutationis obsequia persol- vimus, optantes, ut hanc paginam tuis venerandis obtutibus Divinitas faciat recenseri, et pro suae Ecclesiae vigore augmenta salutaria vestRie vitae suffragari dignetur, quatenus te pervigili possit contra adversos et rabidos canes status Ecclesiae vindicari. Etenim, venerabilis pater, quod de nostrae fidei integritate curam geris, vicariis gloriosi Petri apostoli ista conveniunt, cui Dominus pascendarum ovium injuniit officium. Cognoscat ergo tua pro nobis sancta soUicitudo, nos fir- mius tenere rectae fidei firmitatem immobilem: pro qua ne ejusvio- laretur sanctimonia, hactenus repugnavimus. Quod vero tuus apo- cp. 85. stolatus pro tantae pietatis causa curam ferre praecepit, in quantum potuimus, pro uostris viribus non desivimus spiritu lenitatis adversos admonere, et Dei nobis gratia cooperante .... (deest reiiquwn.J