Letter 238: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Of Pope Hormisdas to Epiphanius, bishop of Constantinople. [Dated] the 26th of March. [Summary:] That the synodal report of his ordination was pleasing to him, that the legates were pleasing, and pleasing too the gifts sent by him for the ministry of Saint Peter. Hormisdas to Epiphanius of Constantinople. We bless the Lord with the affection of brotherly charity, because we have come to know, not only by the synodal report, that you have worthily attained to the priesthood, but we confirm it by your deeds and your character; and the rank of your merit has so disclosed itself to our affections, that we believed everything even before the testimony of our brothers and fellow bishops. For what they promise that you are able to do in your conduct, we see that you have fulfilled; and just as the grace of peace was preserved for your faith, so until now the desires of unity were deferred. By their divine predestination the name by which you are called came to your charity, under which, with the spirit appearing, harmony was brought about, so that we may say: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! Wherefore, rendering to you in Christ our Lord the offices of greeting, we exhort you to continue the praiseworthy resolve of a good work's beginning, according to the holy Gospel, by which we are admonished: He who shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. Exhort, therefore, the rest, invite them with admonitions, gather them with kindly persuasions: because the multiplied gains of the talent entrusted are divine sacrifices. Moreover, we received it most gratefully that we have learned of your charity's promotion through John our brother and fellow bishop, and also through Heraclianus the presbyter and Constantinus our sons, the intermediaries, than which we think nothing is sweeter. And since the aforesaid men praised you, even though they did it on account of the deference they had undertaken, not only by reason, we are the most blessed of all, because the bearer who reported a worthy matter stood forth as worthy, so that the proof of honor concerning the merits of the legates may be most absolutely yours. And in the hand of the pope: We received a golden cup set with gems, a silver paten and another silver cup, and two veils, sent by your charity for the ministry of the basilica of the blessed apostle Peter, to be of benefit. Given on the [...] Kalends of April [March], in the consulship of Valerius, most distinguished man.

Hormisdae papae ad Epiphanium episcopum Constantino- ^* ^^i d. i-x 26 Mart. politanum. 20.| Gratam sibi fuisse synodicam ordinationis illius relatio'nem , gratos legatos , grata quoque munera ab iUo in ministerium s, Petri destinata. Hormisda Epiphanio Oonstantinopolitano. Benedicimus Dominum fraternae caritatis affectu, quia non solum synodica relatione ad sacerdotium te digne pervenisse cognovimus, ep. 131. sed factis atque moribus comprobamus, et ita se meriti tui gradus patefecit affectibus, ut ante fratrum et. coepiscoporum nostrorum testimonium cuncta crederemus. Quod enim illi te promittunt posse *) moribus agere, nos videmus implesse; et tamquam fidei tuae servata pacis fuerit gratia, sic unitatis hactenus dilata sunt vota^). Divina eorum praedestinatione caritati tuae vocabulum quo nimcuparis ac- cessit, sub quo spiritu apparente concordia factum est, ut dicamus: Ecce quam honum et qmm Jucundum hdbitare fratres in unum! Q^^'\^^' propter in Christo Domino nostro reddentes officia salutationis, hor- tamur, ut boni operis initium laudabile continuet institutum secun- dum sanctum evangelium, quo monemur: Qui perseveraverit in fine, ^q^' hic salvus erit. Adhortamini igitur reliquos, invitate monitis, colligit^ blandimentis : quia talenti crediti multiplicata compendia sacrificia sunt divina. Praeterea gratissime tulimus, quod Johanni fratri et coepiscopo nostro necnon HeracKano presbytero atque Constantino filiis nostris internuntiis promotionem caritatis tuae cognovimus, qua esse aliquid dulcius non putamus. £t quum te praedicti viri, etsi pro obsequio suscepto facerent, non tantum ratione, laudarent, beati omnium sumus, quod dignae rei nuntius relator dignus exstabat, ut tibi absolutissime de legatorum meritis probatio sit honoris. Et mann papae: Suscepimus calicem aureum gemmatum, pateuam ar- genteam et aliiun calicem argenteiun et vela duo ministerio basilicae M) Sic G» H; a^ Boqu. ril Kalendas, h» IX Kal,, J 0 c« i« datum prorsus omittimt. 138 ') G> possessoribus agere, quod ad similitudinem ep. 139 (conf. ctiam cp. 111 et 131 n. 2) correximus. Ed. posse omnia, a. 521. beati Petri apostoli profutura; a caritate tua directa. Data YIP) Galendas Aprilis, Valerio viro clarissimo consule.