Letter 99: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to the bishops Germanus and John, the deacons Felix and Dioscorus, and the presbyter Blandus. While the joys of the Church's prosperity were lifting you up, and we were daily plucking nearly the full fruit of your labor, suddenly a report, hostile to all the things that had succeeded according to our prayers, threw us into confusion. Although, since you have not yet reported it to us, we suspect that the substance of this account is uncertain, nevertheless, on account of the very magnitude of the matter, we have judged that it ought not to be passed over in silence. And so it has been brought to us that our brother and fellow bishop John, while he was approaching Thessalonica only to receive the petitions that were being promised, was so shaken by an irrational sedition of the populace that, after the man who had provided lodging to him on his arrival was first killed, he himself too, struck down by a not dissimilar slaughter and scarcely vindicated by reverence for the most sacred font, barely escaped. The beginning of this sedition is related by the presbyter Aristides to have arisen under the pretext of a deceitful interrogation. But we, if these things are clearly established, do not on that account complain of the populace. It will lie within the power of the venerable prince to cut back, by whatever censure he may command, the injury done to a man of his own time and a catholic priest. But as for that which concerns us, we desire it to be fulfilled through you with vigilant care, God being favorable, because we wish no one either to be converted without a reason being rendered, or to profess the right way of the faith in such a manner that he may plead that something is being imposed upon him by the prince without the remedy of doctrine. Therefore accomplish this by the prompting of your supplication: that the bishop of Thessalonica, who under the pretext of interrogation strives to break up the peace of the Church by dragging out the affair at length, may be sent by the prince to the city, and may receive doctrine from the apostolic see, and, whatever he thinks doubtful for himself, may, coming here, learn it by present inquiry from us; for in this way he can prove that he is preserving the caution of catholic profession, and not vindicating maliciously conceived quarrels. Let him know that we are prepared both to instruct those who inquire rightly and to recall those who err to the straight path of the faith with knowledge as guide, because if, while doubting, he is unwilling to test the doctrine that is ready, nor again to admit in simplicity of heart the things that are commanded for the sake of peace and religion, it is in the open with what mind he either resists the precepts of our God or despises the examples of an orthodox prince. In this part, therefore, let the whole action of your supplication press, because they can be saved by no other means, and under this better governance the cause of the incited populace is calmed. With him let the most merciful prince also command the presbyter Aristides to come to us, because, as we have said before, we desire that all whose ecclesiastical peace is divided by ambiguity should, the sickness of evil error having been driven out, together feel the medicine of catholic knowledge unto our communion. Moreover, as soon as it befalls you to receive the present writings, you ought to dispatch to us one of your number with a report that may contain all things, whereby you ought to relieve our anxiety concerning the things that have been done or are being done. Add also a dating to your letters, lest the slowness of the carrier be able to be ascribed to you. Given on the third day before the Ides of October, in the consulship of Eutharicus.

HOKMISDA GERMANO ET lOHANNI EPISCOPIS FELICI ET DIOSCORO DiAcoNis BT BLANDO PRESBYTERo. Cum uos ecclesiasticae prosperitatis gaudia subleuarent et prope plenum laboris uestri fructum cottidie carperemus, repente nos inimica uni- 20 uersis, quae uotiue successerant, fama confandit. cuius opini- onis ordinem etsi uobis necdum referentibus suspicamur incertum, pro ipsius rei tamen magnitudine credidimus non 2 tacendum. itaque perlatum est fratrem et coepispopum nostram lohannem, dura ad Thessalonicam pro suscipiendis tantum a libellis, qui promittebantur, accederet, ita plebis inrationabili seditione concussum, ut extincto primum eo, qui hospitium uenienti praebuerat, ipse quoque non dissimili caede mactatus 3et uix sacrosancti fontis reuerentia uindicatus euaserit. cuius 1 loannem Bar. (cf. p. 692, 8 sq. lohannis catholici interitus quem . . perhibetis extinctum): hominem V 5 qui add. Car. 7 catholicus Car. Epist. CCXXV 9 — CCXXVI 8. 691 seditionis initium sub interrogationis dolosae comraento ab Aristide presbytero naiTatur exortum. uerum nos, si haec manifesta sunt, adeo de plebe non querimur. erit in potestate uenerandi principis temporis sui et catholici sacerdotis iniuriam, 5 qua iubeat, resecare censura. sed id, quod ad nos attinet, 4 cura peniigili per uos deo propitio desideramus impleri, quia • nuUum uolumus aut non reddita ratione conuerti aut sic rectam uiam fidei profiteri, ut sibi a principe aliquid sine doctrinae remedio causetur imponi. hoc igitur suggestione 5 uestrae supplicationis peragite, ut Thessalonicensis episcopus, qui sub interrogationis obtentu ecclesiasticam pacem protracto in longum nititur dissipare negotio, quam a uobis suscipere noluit, a principe ad urbem directus ab apostolica percipiat sede doctrinam et, quicquid sibi dubium putat, huc ueniens praesenti a .nobis inquisitione condiscat; sic enim probare potest se catholicae professionis seruare cautelara, non maliti- ose concepta uindicare certamina. sciat nos pai^atos esse et 6 bene inquirentes instruere et errantes ad fidei rectum tramitem scientia duce reuocare, quia si dubitans paratam non uult experiri doctrinam nec rursus in simplicitate cordis, quae pacis et religionis causa iubentur, admittere, in aperto est, qua mente uel dei nostri praeceptis obsistat uel orthodoxi principis exempla contemnat. in hac ergo pai*te totus 7 suggestionis uestrae actus immineat, quia nec illi alia possunt ratione saluari et incitatae plebis sub hoc melius moderamine causa sedatur. cum quo etiam Aristidem pr^sbyterum clemen- tissimus princeps ad nos uenire praecipiat, quia, sicut praefati sumus, omnes, quorum pax ecclesiastica ambiguitate diuiditur, simul ad communionem nostram depulsa mali erroris aegi'i- tudine catholicae scientiae cupiraus sentire medicinam. prae- g terea, mox praesentia uos contigerit scripta suscipere, debe- a 692 Honnisda legatis; Hormisda legatis bitis ad nos de uestris aliquem destinare cum relatione, quae uniuersa contineat, unde <de> his, quae gesta sunt uel geruntur, soUicitudinem nostram releuare debeatis. datarium quoque litteris uestris adiungite, ne uobis portitoris tarditas possit adscribi. Data III. Idus Octobr. Eutharico cons. s