Letter 235: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[From Justinian, the illustrious man, to Pope Hormisdas. (9 September.) He urges that, concerning the chapters recently transmitted through the legates, he set forth his own opinion as soon as possible.] Your Apostolate has diligently recognized with how great a warmth of faith your most serene son the Emperor and we ourselves have been from the beginning. We have never ceased to do those things which pertained to the strengthening of the divine religion. For which reason we recently also sent the most reverend bishops to Rome, so that the matter might be settled in full concerning the chapters about which there was a turning toward those doubts. But we do not know what difficulty has arisen, so that those things which appear to be very slight have by no means been laid to rest up to now. Saluting therefore your Reverence, we ask that no occasion be afforded by which anyone might be able to be in doubt about your will, but that, holding before your eyes the judgment of the Majesty on high, you may deign to make haste by every means. [Editorial note: Here the particle 'ut' (that) by no means has the force and purpose of a cause, but is referred back to 'tam' (so), and it is thereby made clear that so monstrous a crime is alleged against Dorotheus that those who believe him in very fact guilty of it suppose at the same time that he has also forsworn the Christian profession. Note the moderation and prudence of Hormisdas, by which he strives to win over Dorotheus, the prelate of a foremost see, and to lead him back to the unity of the Church: so disposed in mind that he deals with him as though with an innocent man, provided that this indulgence be repaid by the benefit of unity.] [Editorial note on the text: Thus we have corrected it with manuscripts b and cc. The readings G* and a* give 'peto' (I ask), and omit 'qua ac voluntate'.]

Justiniani viri illastris ad Hormisdam papam. (^- ^^^ 0. ^i de capUulis, quae per legatos nuper destinata, sententiam suam quantodus 9 Sept.) explicet, monet, Diligenter apostololatus vester cognovit; quanto fidei calore filius vester serenissimus imperator nosque fuimus ab initio. Nunquam cessavimus agere, quae pertinebant ad firmamentum religionis divi- nae. Pro qua re nuper etiam reverendissimos sacerdotes Romam direximuS; ut integrum componeretur de capitulis^ quibus ad ea dubieta« vertebatur. Sed ignoramus^ quae difficultas provenerit^ ut minime sopirentur hactenus ea quae videntur esse levissima. Salu- tantes ergo vestram reverentiara petimus^), ut nulla praebeatur oc- easio, qua de tua quisquam possit ambigere voluntate, sed habentes prae oculis judicium majestatis supernae, modis omnibus festinare dignemini. ') Hic particula ut causae vim ac finem minime habet , sed refertur ad tam, eaque declaratur, de Dorotheo immane adeo Bcelus jactari, ut qui eum illius re ipsa reum credunt, simul et Christianam professionem ejurasse putent. Notanda Hormisdae moderatio atque prudentia, qua Dorotheum praecipuae sedis anti- atitem devincire atque ad unitatem Ecclesiae reducere conatur: sic animo com- paratus, ut cum eo velut cum insonte agat, modo haec indulgentia unitatis benefido compensetur. 135 ') Ita cum b cc correximus. G* a* peto, et omittt. qua ac voluntate.