Letter 225: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

In the year 620 [i.e., 519 AD], from Pope Hormisdas to the same legates. The 15th of July. He desires to learn as soon as possible why so great a delay in their return is occurring, and whatever is being done concerning them. Hormisdas to Germanus the bishop, to Felix and Dioscorus the deacons, and to Blandus the presbyter. The silence of your affection, so prolonged, saddens our hearts, as does your absence over so great a span of time, especially since the magnificent man Symmachus the patrician and the illustrious man Romanus, master of the soldiers, our son, promised us the return of your charity without delay, and we do not know whether the nature of the proceedings there, or indeed some fraud feigned under the pretext of necessity, detains you; for, while we bear our solicitude without ceasing and question nearly all men of those parts, diverse and dissimilar things are reported to us. And therefore, since you are better able to grasp and to understand and to ascertain the causes of so great a slowness, you ought to have made known to us these matters, over which our spirit is tormented; or, if there is a fitting cause for the delay, as has been established, it would have been proper for one of your number to be dispatched to us. Hence, lest perhaps through cunning devices or some contrivance delay and impediments be created for you, write to us with speed, so that under a reasonable arrangement we may, on behalf of your demand, direct word to our most clement son the emperor. Therefore, instruct us, both concerning the persons and concerning the cause of the faith, on account of which you are long delayed, as to what is being done, and write back to us most fully on all matters: so that, when all things are known, with our God favoring us, we may treat of how mercy may be able to come to the aid of your persons and of the cause itself whose business is being conducted. Given on the Ides of July, Rusticus, most distinguished man, being consul.

a 620 d. Hormisdae papae ad eosdem legatos. 15 Jul. Unde tanla fiat reditus illorum mora, et quaecunque circa ipsos agantur, quam primum rescire cupit. Hormisda Germano episcopo, Felici et Dioscoro diaconis et Blando presbytero. Animos nostros tam diutnmum dilectionis vestrae silentiiiin ut tantorum temporum contristat absentia, praecipue quum vir magni- ficus patricius Symmachus*) et vir illustris Romanus magister mib- tum filii nostri reditum apud nos caritatis vestrae sine dilatione pro- miserint, et ignoramus, utrum illic causarum qualitas an certe fraus aliqua simulata sub necessitate detineat; quia nobis sollicitudinem sine cessatione gerentibus et pene universos homines illamm partium percunctantibus diversa et dissimilia nuntiantur. Et ideo, quoniam vos causas tantae tarditatis melius deprehendere et intelligere potestis atque cognoscere, significare nobis ista, de quibus noster cruciatur animus, debuistis; vel si est causa dilationis idonea, sicut constitatum est, aliquem de vestris ad nos oportuerat destinari. Unde ne forsitan per versutias aut aliquam corfcinnationem vobis dilatio et impedimenta generentur, sub celeritate nobis scribite, ut sub rationabili ordina- tione pro vestra repetitione ad filium nostrum clementissimum impe- ratorem dirigamus. Ergo tam circa personas quam de causa fidei, pro qua diu moramini, quid geratur instruite, atque plenissime nobis universa rescribite: ut omnibus cognitis Deo nostro favente tracte- mus, quemadmodum personis vestris et causae ipsius ci\jus res agitur possit misericordia subvenire. Data Idibus Julii^ Rustico viro daris- simo consule.