Letter 4: The Emperor Anastasius Augustus to Pope Hormisdas.

Anastasius Augustus [emperor] to Pope Hormisdas. Divine matters must be set before all business; for we trust that, with almighty God favorable, the commonwealth is both to be preserved and to be improved. Since, therefore, certain doubts concerning the orthodox religion seem to have been stirred up in the parts of Scythia, it has especially pleased our clemency that a venerable synod be held in the city of Heraclea in the province of Europe, so that, with minds in concord and with all the truth thrashed out, our true faith may become more manifestly known to the whole world, in order that thereafter there can be no doubt or discord. Wherefore may your holiness deign to come, together with such most reverend bishops as shall please you, whom you shall have judged from the churches established under the care of your priesthood to be suitable and instructed in the orthodox religion, to the aforesaid city of Heraclea before the day of the Kalends of July. Given on the fifth day before the Kalends of January at Constantinople, in the consulship of Senator, vir clarissimus [most distinguished man]. Received on the day before the Ides of May, in the consulship of Florentius, vir clarissimus [most distinguished man].

ANASTASIUS <AUGUSTUS> HORMISDAE PAPAE. OmnibUS UCgOtiis diuinae res praeponendae sunt; deo etenim omnipotente propitio rem publicam et conseruandam et meliorandam esse 2 loh. 14, 27 502 Homiisda Anastasio; Anastasius Honnisdae 2 confidimus. quia igitur dubitationes quaedam de orthodoxa religione in Scythiae partibus uidentur esse commotae, id specialiter clementiae nostrae placuit, ut uenerabilis synodus in Heracleotana ciuitate prouinciae Europae celebretur, qua- tenus concordantibus animis et omni ueritate discussa uera fides nostra orbi terrarum omni manifestius innotescat, ut 3 deinceps nuUa possit esse dubitatio uel discordia. quapropter sanctitas tua cum quibus sibi placuerit reuerentissimis epi- scopis, quos de ecclesiis sub sui sacerdotii cura constitutis idoneos et instructos erga orthodoxam religionem esse proba- lo uerit, ad praedictam Heracleotanam ciuitatem intra diem Kalendarum luliarum uenire dignetur. Data V. KaL lan. Constantinopoli Senatore u. c. cons. Accepta prid. Idus Maias Florentio u. c. cons.