Letter 52: The unspeakable mercy of almighty God and His kindness, which He mercifully pours out upon the human race, cannot be...

The ineffable mercy of almighty God and his loving-kindness, which he pours out clemently upon the human race, cannot be measured by human powers nor expounded in words; but it is enough only to marvel at his wonders with devout minds and to know that all good things depend solely upon the remedies of his grace. This is a daily proof; nevertheless I boldly presume to say, my lord most blessed pope, that the present cause surpasses all those that have gone before, the cause which God has reserved for your times and your merits. What was done at Aulona, what at Scampae, what followed at Lychnidus, I reported in my earlier communication. We have arrived at Thessalonica. What aims we had with the bishop of Thessalonica, and what was said and even agreed upon, you will learn from the living account of the bearer of this letter; yet what ought not to be passed over in silence I do not delay to set forth: After many disputes the aforesaid bishop, convinced by reason, was willing to subscribe the document [the libellus, the formula of Pope Hormisdas]; but because the bishops who are established under his ordination were not all present, in the meantime this was agreed, this he promised: that after the holy days, when one of us had been sent from the see of the city of Constantinople and the bishops who are established in his diocese had been assembled, they would subscribe the document. And this we believe is to be fulfilled with God's help. These are the things settled at Thessalonica. Commended by your prayers, we arrived at the city of Constantinople on the second day of Holy Week [the authentic week]. At the tenth milestone from the aforesaid city, exalted and magnificent men came out to meet us, among whom are the master of soldiers Vitalian, Pompeius, and Justinian; and there followed also other senators and many men who were burning with zeal for the catholic faith and with desire for the restoration of peace. What more? With the rejoicing of almost all at its height, we enter the city. On another day, which is the third day [of the week], we are presented to the gaze of the most pious prince. The whole senate was present there, and in that assembly there were also four bishops whom the bishop of Constantinople had sent in his own person. We presented the letters of your beatitude, which the most clement prince received with great reverence. Those things were said which it was fitting to make known before the examination of the cause; soon the cause was begun. The most clement emperor exhorted us, saying this: 'See the bishop of this city, and render an account to one another in peaceful order.' We on the contrary replied: 'Why should we go to the bishop to make disputes? Our lord the most blessed pope Hormisdas, who sent us, did not command us to contend. But we have at hand the document which all the bishops wishing to be reconciled to the apostolic see have made: if your piety so orders, let it be read, and if there is in it anything that is not understood or is not believed to be true, let them say so, and then we shall show that nothing has been written in that same document outside ecclesiastical judgment; or if they are able to teach that it does not accord with the catholic religion, then it is incumbent upon us to prove [it does].' The document was read out before the sight of the prince and the senate. We at once added: 'Let the four bishops who are present on behalf of the person of the bishop of Constantinople say whether these things which are read in the document are by no means contained in the ecclesiastical records.' They answered that all things were true. After which we added: 'Most just emperor, the bishops have both relieved us of a great labor and have done a thing befitting themselves in speaking the truth.' Soon the most clement emperor said to the bishops who were present: 'And if they are true, why do you not do them?' Likewise also several of the senatorial order said: 'We are laymen. You say these things are true: do them, and we follow.' The fourth day having been allowed to pass, the bishop of Constantinople in the palace received the document from us, and at first he tried, as it were, to make a letter rather than a document [a libellus]. But not after many disputes this was agreed: to make a brief preamble and then to append the document immediately, just as your beatitude dictated. A subscription befitting the document was made by the same man, and likewise a dating clause, copies of which, both in Greek and in Latin, we have sent to your apostolate. After the document was completed, the name of Acacius was deleted from the diptychs, likewise also those of Flavitas, Euphemius, Macedonius, and Timothy; and we report that this was done not only in that one church alone in which the bishop resides, but also throughout all the churches with great diligence, God helping. Likewise the names of Zeno and Anastasius were deleted from the diptychs. The bishops of the various cities, as many as were found, likewise presented the document; and we report that with great caution it was guarded that no bishop should communicate with us who had not first given the document. In like manner all the archimandrites also did. Among which archimandrites we report that we even had disputes, they saying: 'It is enough, because our archbishop has done it; we follow his act.' What more? After many disputes they too, convinced by reason, presented their documents in every way. After all these things we proceeded into the church, God helping; but what joys of unity were made, how God was blessed, and what praises also were rendered to blessed Peter the apostle and to you, you perceive by consideration of the action itself, which my tongue is not able to expound. Nothing followed according to the wishes of the enemies, no sedition, no shedding of blood, no tumult, which the enemies, as if terrifying us, had previously proclaimed. The ecclesiastics of Constantinople themselves also, marveling and giving thanks to God, say that they remember at no time so great a multitude of the people having communicated. These things being accomplished, the most clement emperor too has appended his own writings to your beatitude, indicating the order of the matter that was done, and likewise also the most reverend man John, prelate of the city of Constantinople. Know also that sacred general edicts have been issued, and we believe, God being favorable and by your holy prayers, that they will be dispatched as quickly as possible throughout all the provinces. These things have been done at Constantinople. There is now discussion concerning the church of Antioch, and therefore it is still being labored over, because a suitable person has not yet been elected. Let your beatitude therefore pray the more intently that God, who, entreated by your prayers, restored the church of Constantinople to the apostolic see, may himself both grant a worthy person to be ordained in Antioch and unite the churches without ceasing. If it seems good to your beatitude to write back to the bishop of Constantinople, make mention of the condemnations of Severus and of those whom you named in that letter which you wrote to Second Syria through John and Sergius, the monks. If you do this same thing also in writing back to the emperor, it seems to me to be necessary [...]

Ineffabilis dei omnipotentis misericordia et pietas eius, quam super huraanum genus clementer effundit, humanis uiribus aestimari non potest nec sermonibus explicari, sed sufficit eius tantum mirabilia deuotis sensibus admirari et scire omnia bona de eius tantum gratiae pendere remediis. 2 est ista cottidiana probatio; audacter tamen praesumo dicere, domine meus beatissime papa, quia praesens causa praeterita cuncta transcendit, quam deus uestris temporibus et meritis 3 reseruaait. quid in Aulona sit actum, quid Scampis, quid Lignido . fuerit secutum, anteriore significatione suggessi. ad Thessalonicam peruenimus. quas intentiones habuerimus cum episcopo Thessalonicensi et quae dicta fuerint uel etiam constituta, harum portitoris uiua insinuatione discetis; quod tamen non oportet praeterire silentio, insinuare non differo: 4 post multa certamina praefatus episcopus ratione conuictus libellum subscribere uoluit; sed quia episcopi, qui sub eius sunt ordinatione constituti, omnes non aderant, in praesenti hoc conuenit, hoc promisit, ut post dies sanctos uno ex nobis a sede Constantinopolitanae urbis directo congi^egatis episcopis, qui in eius sunt dioecesi constituti, libellum subscriberent. 1 repletam 7, corr, o 4 K lui' F per V: domiDO Car.; ego PiiUionem inserui 1C7. Dat. ut ep. 160, Edd. Car. P 493; Bar. ad a. 519, 42; CollecL Concil.; Thiel 658. 7 pvllionkmssvbdiac V 8 deo F, corr. 0 11 deuoti F, corr. o 16 aula nasi tactum V, correxii aulone sit actum Car. 17 Lignidi Bar. 18 ad o: a F thesalonicam V 20 portitotoris V 25 unum F, corr. 26 constantinopolitana nrbe F, eorr. o 27 dioeccesi V Epist. CLXVI 4 — CLXVn 8. 619 quod cum dei adiutorio credimus esse complendum. haec sunt Thessalonicae constituta. uestris orationibus commen- »5 dati ad Constantinopolitanam peruenimus ciuitatem secunda feria hebdomadis authenticae. decimo ab urbe praedicta 0 miliario sublimes et magnifici uiri nobis occurrerunt, inter quos sunt magister militum Uitalianus, Pompeius et lustini- anus; secuti sunt et alii senatores multique, <qui> catholicae fidei calore ac desiderio redintegrandae pacis ardebant. quid plura? cum summis paeneomnium gaudiis ingredimur ciuitatem. 10 alia die, quod est tertia feria, piissimi principis praesentamur 6 aspectibus. cunctus illic aderat senatus, in quo conuentu erant et episcopi quattuor, quos episcopus Constantinopolitanus pro sua persona direxerat. obtulimus beatitudinis uestrae litteras, quas clementissimus princeps cum grandi reuerentia 15 suscepit. dicta sunt, quae ante examinationem causae oportuit intimare; mox causa coepta est. hortabatur nos clementissimus 7 imperator hoc dicens: *uidete ciuitatis huius episcopum et inuicem uobis pacifico ordine reddite rationem*. nos e contra respondimus: *quid imus ad episcopum certamina facere? 20 domnus noster beatissimus papa Hormisda, qui nos direxit, non nobis praecepit certare. sed prae manibus habemus libellum, quem omnes episcopi uolentes sedi apostolicae reconciliari fecerunt: si praecipit pietas uestra, legatur, et si est in ipso, quod ignoretur aut uerum esse non creditur, 25 dicant et tunc ostendimus nihil extra iudicium ecclesiasticum in eodem libello esse conscriptum, aut si illi possunt docere, quia non conuenit religioni catholicae, tunc nobis incumbit probare*. relectus est libellus sub conspectu principis et 8 senatus. nos statim subiunximus: 'dicant praesentes quattuor 4 fP ebflis V, pro feria etiam infra compendium ff- adhibens 7 mul- ti({ue <qui> scripst: inultique F, multi qui 8 ac Bar.: in F 9 pura V, OT corr. a summis o^: sumus V 10 quod V: quae o 12 iiii V episcopos F, corr. 13 beatitudini F, corr. cod. Angelic. 16 caepta V 18 racione F, corr. o e Car.: et F 20 hormida F 24 credatur p or 25 ostendemas p' 29 iiii F 620 Saggestio Dioscori ad HormiBdam episcopi, qui adsunt pro persona Constantinopolitani episcopi, si haec, quae in libello leguntur, gestis ecclesiasticis 9minime continenturP responderunt omnia uera esse. post quae nos subiunximus: Momne imperator, et nobis grandem laborem episcopi abstulerunt et sibi conuenientem rem fecerunt & dicere ueritatem'. mox clementissimus imperator his, qui aderant, dixit episcopis: *et si uera sunt, quare non facitis?* similiter et aliquanti de ordine senatorio dixerunt: ^nos laici sumus. dicitis haec uera esse: facite, et nos sequimur*. lOintermissa quarta feria episcopus Gonstantinopolitanus in palatio consuscepit a nobis libellum et inprimis quasi temp- tauit epistolam potius facere quam libellum. sed non post multa certamina hoc conuenit, prooemium modicum facere et subiungere mox libellum, quemadmodum uestra beatitudo dictauit. subscriptio ab eodem facta est libello conueniens, i.s similiter et datarium, cuius exemplaria et graece et latine 11 apostolatui uestro direximus. post factum libellum nomen Acacii de diptychis est deletum, similiter et Flauitae, Eufimi, Macedonii et Timothei, et non solum hoc in ipsa sola ecclesia, in qua episcopus manet, uerum etiam per omnes ecclesias 20 cum grandi diligentia deo adiutore suggerimus fuisse factum. similiter deleta sunt de diptychis Zenonis et Anastasii nomina. 12episcopi diuersarum ciuitatum, quanti inuenti sunt, libellum similiter obtulerunt et cum grandi cautela suggerimus custoditum, ne quis nobiscum communicaret episcopus, qui 25 libellum primitus non dedisset. pari modo et omnes archi- mandritae fecerunt. apud quos archimandritas et certamina nos habuisse suggerimus dicentibus illis: ^sufficit, quia archi- episcopus noster fecit; nos factum eius sequimur'. quid amplius? post multa certamina ipsi quoque ratione conuicti ao ISlibellos modis omnibus obtulerunt. post haec omnia in Epist. CLXVII 9-17. 621 eeclesia deo iuuante processimus, sed qualia gaudia facta 8int unitatis, quemadmodum deus benedictus sit, quae laudes quoque beato Petro apostolo et uobis relatae sint, ipsius actionis consideratione perspicitis, quod mea lingua non ualet explicare. nihil est subsecutum secundum uota inimicorum, 14 non seditio, non effusib sanguinis, non tumultus, quod ueluti terrentes inimici antea praedicabant. ipsi quoque ecclesiastici Constantinopolitani admirantes et deo gratias referentes dicunt numquam se meminisse nullis temporibus tantam populi multitudinem communicasse. his adimpletis etiam clementis- 15 simus imperator ad beatitudinem uestram sua scripta subiunxit ordinem rei gestae significans, similiter et uir reuerentissimus lohannes Constantinopolitanae ciuitatis antistes. noueris etiam et sacra generalia esse <6>dicta atque credimus deo propitio et iiestris sanctis orationibus per uniuersas prouincias quantocius destinari. haec Constantinopoli gesta sunt. est nunc del6 Antiochena ecclesia tractatus et ideo adhuc laboratur, quia necdum persona congrua est electa. oret ergo beatitudo uestra intentius, ut deus, qui uestris precibus exoratus Constantino- politanam ecclesiam apostolicae sedi restituit, ipse et dignam personam donet in Antiochia ordinandam et assiduas adunet ecclesias. rescribe<re> episcopo Constantinopolitano si uideturlT beatitudini uestrae, facite mentionem damnationum Seueri et illonmi, quos nominastis in epistola illa, quam scripsistis ad secundam Syriam per lohannem et Sergium monachos. hoc ipsum et ad imperatorem rescribentes si feceritis, uidetur mihi necessarium esse * * 1 ecclesiam Car. processimiss. & F, correxi: processimus et uulgo 7 praedicebant edit. regia 9 ullis 14 edicta Thiel: dicta F, edita Bar. 16 constantinopoll V corr, o est scripsi: et V Car. 17 tractatnr Car. 22 rescribere scripsi: rescribe F, rescribite Car. 24 scripsiati F, corr. p 26 ipsnm {uel ipsud) et Thiel: ipsum det F uerba hoc ipsum et ad imp. rescribentes seiunxi ab eis quae antecedunt, aed post necessarium esse aliqua excidisse uidentur 622 Hormisda lustino Aagusto