Letter 26: Felix, bishop of Rome, to the most clement Emperor Zeno.

[Around the year 490. From Pope Felix to the Emperor Zeno. Having praised his zeal in the ordination of the new bishop, he exhorts him at last to bring about, in concert with the Roman Church, agreement concerning the condemnation of the names in the diptych of Peter [Mongus], about which the episcopal legates declared that nothing had been enjoined upon them.] Felix to the Emperor Zeno. 1. I confess that the human mind is not sufficient to render worthy thanks to our God, because the divine compassion has established so great a care for religion in the breast of your Piety, so that you should judge -- as you truly censure with Christian and august judgment -- that it [religion] must be set before all affairs and be contained in the soundness of the commonwealth, since in truth the whole world subsists by heavenly propitiation. From this wonderful devotion of your clemency I recognize that there has proceeded whatever the discourse of your tranquillity has set forth for the reverence of divine worship: namely, that you, desiring to confirm the unity of the catholic faith and earnestly to labor for the peace of the churches, should be eager to have such a prelate set over the Constantinopolitans as, with the supernal gift attending him and shining in uprightness of character, should be strong above all in love of orthodox truth. I take, O excellent prince, great gladness on both counts: since both, just as he was set on the summit of the age, so the Church, with God as its maker, has received him as a son set before it in the disposition of your serenity's mind; and that very man, of whose office you glory -- in that he has made the beginning of his dignity refer back to the see of the blessed Apostle Peter -- I rejoice has already given an indication of his own moderation. Wherein at once your magnanimity also shines forth, since the Church, just as has been divinely instituted, desires to be ordered and arranged by the choice of pontiffs, and he who is advanced to the office of priesthood [should] be supported from that source whence, by Christ's willing, the grace of all pontiffs flows. The intent of his letter also revives me, in which, as befits one striving to please Christ, he did not pass over in silence that Peter, the chief of the apostles, is the rock of the faith, and prudently set forth that the keys of the heavenly mysteries had been entrusted to him; and he sought that, in agreement with us, he might hold the assent that consents to the orthodox faith, whereby he might be rendered the more of one mind with all. 2. Therefore, when the most welcome professions and vows of this man had been laid open in abundant reading, as soon as I saw that my sons, the monks of holy purpose, had likewise come, I believed that all the difficulties which at first stood clamoring in the way had been removed by this arrangement; and so I believed that, contrary to custom, there had been joined to the arriving clerics those persons who were seen not to have communicated with Peter or Acacius, so that, when the names of those through whom the scandal had befallen the churches were sequestered, a sincere charity might thereafter come forth. When these things had been duly weighed, nothing else remained for me, rejoicing, except that apostolic communion should be handed over to those who had been sent. But when, more cautiously on behalf of the catholic faith, I admonished that those receiving it should withdraw themselves from the fellowship of the condemned, they said that this had by no means been enjoined upon them. I profess that my mind, moved by this diversity of affairs, was at a loss, since the letters and the very nature of the matter showed one thing, and the assertion of the aforesaid men contained another. And, wishing to enter into pure concord with him who is asserted to have been created pontiff, I hastened to suggest to your Glory that you should suffer nothing to remain whereby anything of dissension might again be able to arise. For while it is agreed that, through the Synod of Chalcedon -- which your clemency long ago by its letters deigned to venerate -- Eutyches and Dioscorus were condemned, and Timotheus and Petrus are shown by very many documents of those parts to have stood forth as their followers, and Acacius, following their communion although forbidden, [communicated] with those whom he himself in his letters had declared to be condemned heretics: the sentence of that council is confirmed to bind them and to have deservedly fallen back upon their punishment, men whose fellowship they chose -- just as, in the case of other heresies, a synod once held consequently involves all the followers of any rejected error. 3. I beseech, therefore, O most glorious one, that we not be judged to cherish in the successors what is manifestly known to have been condemned in the originators, nor let it be supposed that a lawful purgation has come about for Peter, whom the apostolic see, which bound him, has not absolved according to the custom of our elders. For your Christian mind, venerable Emperor, knows that the supernal dispensation has granted to the pontiffs alone, with fitting power, the faculty of remitting mortal sins according to conscience. And as for Peter, even if he had been truly received, he ought to merit pardon, not honor -- he who, having received the false name of priesthood from the condemned and from heretics, could not preside over the catholic church. These things I, reverend prince, the vicar -- such as I am -- of the blessed Peter, do not extort by the authority of apostolic power, but, as a solicitous father, desiring the well-being and lasting prosperity of a most clement son, confidently implore. Behold, we desire, we wish, we strive that the church of Constantinople, as always, be held joined to us. Strip yourselves, I beseech you, from those who are not ours, and we too wish them [to be] with us. Surely, venerable Emperor, you publicly and benignly hear the petitions of the barbarian nations for the peace of the worldly kingdom: how much more excellently, I ask you, do you, appeased, admit the prayers of the apostolic see for the tranquillity of sacred things! For this, this is expedient: that, since both you and Rome are named for a mutual pledge, there may be one and the same faith of both, the faith of the Romans, which the blessed Apostle Paul testifies is preached throughout the whole world, just as among our elders it flourished undivided -- so that what agrees in race and name be not divided in religion, through which even discrepancies are joined together. Do you think, venerable Emperor, that I do not pour out these things with tears, and as if present at the footsteps of your Piety? For it is no source of shame, especially in such a cause, to bow before the imperial offices, since the Apostle says he was made all things to all men. 4. These things I have kept silent for a long while, lest, with others suggesting contrary things, I should rather stir up irreverence by my own letters. But now, the opportunity having been received, I declare how strongly the affection of your Piety flourishes in my heart, since I desire that the success of the power divinely handed to you should stand firm by [God's] propitiation. Do not, O venerable son, spurn one who supplicates, nor wish to disregard my person. For in me, vicar such as I am, the blessed Apostle Peter, and in him He who does not allow His Church to be torn apart, Christ Himself, makes this demand. Far be it that your Christian mind either could or ought to prefer anyone to Him for whom you desire to be entreated with all vows -- especially since you have performed and do perform such great and such [noble] things for the catholic faith, the tyranny having been destroyed, that you hold full proofs of your conscience from God. Of which things, even if perhaps something has been omitted, it does not concern [anyone] except through the venom of Acacius, who, while he strives to grow by unlawful increases, ceased to make known to you, occupied as you were amid public cares, those things that would accord with right religion. For how could your Piety not judge that what it saw a priest had done was to be followed? Whence by divine judgment he could in no way be absolved, even when we would have preferred it. Wherefore I do not cease more and more to supplicate that, with his own names and persons, that deadly cause may pass away: so that, with our Lord granting it, we may be able to be bound with sure and perfect joy to the prelate now created, by the voice of the blessed Apostle saying: If anyone therefore be in Christ a new creature, the old things have passed away, behold all things are made new. 5. Your letters certainly proclaim the unity of the catholic faith, and announce with royal piety the peace of the churches. And when these were read with due honor, [you should know] in what manner the whole order of the Roman presbytery together with me, ready and entreating, with repeated voices acclaimed assiduously life and continual prosperity for you -- and those who were dispatched heard it, and everywhere the swift embassy of so illustrious a message was thought to come to meet [them]. Concerning the need of the people of the city of Alexandria, foresight must rather be taken in that part, so that it may be drawn back from the snares of its pestiferous ruler. Let all things concur, we all ask, that, as the Apostle teaches, he who troubles us may be taken away from our midst; and that the peace of the churches, which Leo of august memory, your father and instructor, perpetually guarded, and which you also magnanimously determine to preserve, may be faithful, and the unity true -- since to any person whatsoever the paternal faith and the communion of the blessed Peter ought to be preferred. And let it be taught that to your glory, just as the felicity of your empire, so, after God, the integrity of the heavenly kingdom pertains: so that, Christ taking up the benevolence of your tranquillity from the laws of His Church being preserved, He may both multiply for you temporal gifts and grant eternal ones.

(a. 490c. Felicis papae ad Zenonem imperatorem. Laudato ejus studio in ordinqlione novi episcopi hortatwr, ut in Petri Ae&a nominum damnatione^ de qua legati episcopales nihil sibi mandaium esse rts^ derantj consensum cum ecclesia Romana tandem effidai, Felix Zenoni imperatori. ^ 1. Dignas referre Deo nostro gratias fateor mens humani sufficit, quod tantam religionis curam in vestrae pietatis sei miseratio divina constituit, ut eam et universis negotiis ant et soliditate reipublicae contineri, quam veraciter Chiistiano augusto judicio censeretis, quia revera propitiatione coelesti i subsistit universitas. Ex qua mirabili devotione vestrae clem< processisse cognosco, quidquid pro divini cultus reverentia celel tranquillitatis vestrae sermo deprompsit: ut scilicet firmare < licae fidei cupientes unitatem ecclesiarumque pacem magnope borari, talem studeretis praefici Constantinopolitanis antistil qui supemo munere prosequente et morum probitate folgei prae omnibus orthodoxae veritatis polleret afiectu. Magnam i egregie princeps, capio de utroque laetitiam: quum et in tuae nitatis animo sicut in saeculi fastigio constitutum ita praee Ecclesia filium Deo factore suscepit, et eum ipsum, de eujns ficio gloriamini, dum ad beati Petri apostoli sedem suae refi gnitatis exordium^), jam suae dedisse gaudeo moderationis ind Ubi simul et magnanimitas vestra resplendet, quando Ecclesia sam, sicut divinitus institutum est, pontificum desiderat ordin componi^), et qui in sacerdotii perhibetur provectus officium, inde fulciri, unde Christo cupiente profluit cunctorum gratia pontificum. Cujus etiam litterarum me refovet intentio, qua deeet Christo placere nitentem, et sumtnum aposialorum l ^^^}}^^^^*Petrum et peiram fidei esse non tacuit, et eidem mysteriarum creditas fuisse coeiesiiutn prudenter struxit, utque nobiscum [a^l ^) ^^ ^*° ® regione hujus verbi ad marg. Euphemius is fuit. At Flaiil designari) non Euphcmium, manifeste demonstrant verba hic repetita, qr yitas in superiore epistola memoratur scripsisse. Rursum hinc nonmhil matur, quod Nicephorus Callisti XYI, 18 narrat a Zenone factum, ut pn a Deo electum impetraret. Eidem historiae favet, quod mox subditor, F ab Ecclesia Deo factore susceptum fuisse. ') Ex Zcnouis ipsius verbis ansam arripit Felix, onde ipsum a tuez notico deterreat, prudentcr laudans, quod Ecclesiae causam non regali sa Hed poutificum ordinatioue componi vellet, lul quod servandum eum ja» buH iu epist. 8 n. 6 cohortoitus fucrat. EPISTOLA 15. 271 ortbodoxam fidem consentientem haberet assensum , quo amplius (a. 490.) imanimis redderetur, expetiit. 2. Gratissimis igitur professionibus hujus et votis copiosa lectione patefactis^ mox ut etiam filios meos sancti propositi mona- cIk» pariter venisse conspexi^ difficultates onmes, quae primitus ob- strepebant, hac credidi dispositione submotas^), atque ideo venien- tibiis clericis eas praeter consuetudinem sociatas esse personas, quae Petro yel Acacio non comniunicasse viderentur, ut illorum nomini- fco» sequestratis, per quos scandalum contigisset ecciesiis, sincera deinceps caritas proveniret. Quibus rite perpensis, niliil aliud mihi npererat gratulanti, nisi ut his, qui fuerant destinati, apostolicae «iig communio traderetur. Sed quum pro catholiea fide cautius tdmonerem^ ut suscipientes eam se a consortio retraherent damna- tofum, non sibi hoc mandatum omnino dixerunt. Qua rerum diver- Btrfe permotum anlium me haesisse profiteor, quuni aliud litterae «^ipea rerum ratio demonstraret, et aliud menioratonnn contineret Msertio. Puramque volens cmn eo, qui pontifex creatus asseritur, iDire ooncordiam, gloriae vestrae suggerere properavi, ut nihil resi- fee patiamini, quo denuo quidquam valeat dissensionis oboriri. (Wa dum per syno<lum Calchedonensem, quam se dudimi litteris*) doignavit tua clementia venerari, Eutychem atque Dioscoruni con- ifet esse damnatos, et eorum sectatores plurimis illanun partimn doeomentis Timotheus et Petrus exstitisse monstrentiu*, atque eorum eommmiionem etiamsi prohibitam secutus Acjicius, quos ipse ei^istolis 8018 haereticos dixerat esse danmatos: sententia illius concilii oon- Fmciiiitar adstringi et in ipsorum poenam merito recidisse, quorum el^ere consortiiuu, sicut in ceteris haeresibus facta semel synodus abjecti cujuslibet erroris cunctos sequaces consequenter involvit. 3. Quaeso igitur, gloriosissime, nec in successoribus refovere jndieemiir, quod manifestum est in auctoribus fuisse damnatiun, nec Petri putetur legitima provenisse purgatio, quem non secunduni mo- rcm Teterum apostolica sedes, quae ligavit, absolvit. Scit enim Christiana mens tua, venerabilis imperator, quoniam delicta morta- uno eodemque animo accessisse opinatus, tam diversi studii personas, quae aniea non poterant, jam praeter consuetudiuem sociata» credidi, adeo- qae mnrmn quo separabantur sublatum, i. e. a sacris diptychis remota esso nomina eomm, per qoos schismatiB scaudalum contigisset. Mox tamen mona- chofl Don a Flavita aut pro Flavita sed adversiis ipsum ot ad proxlendam ojus fiillaciam miasOB esse comperit, quod tamen hic, ut in supcriore epistola, tacen- dmii dizit. (a. 490.) lium secimdtiin conscieiitiam relaxandi non nisi pontificibus soii (line competenti superna dederit dispensatio facultatem. Qui Pe tameU; si vere receptus esset, veniam mereri debuit non honor qui a danmatis atque haereticis falsum sacerdotii nomen accipi catholicae non poterat ecclesiae praesidere. Haec ego, reverentiss princeps, beati Petri qualiscunque vicarius, non auptoritate ji apostolicae potestatis extorqueo, sed tamquam sollicitus pater, sf tem prosperitatemque clementissimi filii manere cupiens diutunu fidenter imploro. Ecce desideramus, optamus, ambimus ecclesi Constantinopolitanam , sicut semper, habere connexam. Exuan obsecro ab his, qui nostri non sunt, et nos quoque volumus e nobiscum. Postulationes certe gentium barbararum, venerabilis i perator, pro quiete mundani regni publice benignus exaudis: quai praestantius, quaeso te, preces apostolicae sedis pro sacrarum tr quillitate rerum plaeatus admittis ! Hoc enim hoc expedit^ ut si nt que Roma pro mutuo pignore nuncupatur, fia^ utraque una fides Rom. i,8.Rqmanorum, quam per uniyersum mundum praedicari beatus Pai testatur apostolus, sicut apud nostros fioruit indiscreta majores; quae genere concordat ac nomine, non sit religione divisa^ per qn etiam discrepantia copulantur. Putasne me, venerabilis impera non cum lacrymis ista profundere et velut praesentem ad tuae ] tatis vestigia? Nec enim piget, in tali maxime causa, imperiali ^P?o' officiis inclinari, quum se apostolus omnium factum dicat esse p psema. 4. Haec diutius tacui, ne aliis contraria suggerentibus irri rentiam meis potius litteris commoverem. Verum nunc facul percepta, qualiter vigeat in meo corde vestrae pietatis affectus, sinuo, quia successus traditae vobis divinitus potestatis cupio pitiatione constare. Neque, venerande fili, respuas supplicant neve meam velis dissimulare personam. In me enim qualicui vicario beatus Petrus apostolus,' et haec in illo, qui Ecclesiam s discerpi non patitur, ipse etiam Christus exposcit. Absit, ut '. quemquam Chidstiana mens tua vel possit vel debeat anteferre, q pro se votis omnibus desideras exorari: praesertim quum tania illa vel talia, quae tyraimide deleta pro fide catholica gessisi geris, ut plena a Deo vestrae conscientiae experimenta teneai De quibus etsi quid fortassis omissum est, non respicit nisi pe virus Acacii, qui dum illicitis crescere tendit augmentis®), ea i rectae religioni congruerent', vobis inter curas publicas occuj destitit intimare. Nam pietas tua quomodo non sequendum pc EPISTOLAE 16. 16. 273 «xistiraaret, quod fecisse conspiceret sacerdotemV Unde divino') ju-(a. 490.) Acio nuUatenus potuit, etiam quum id mallemus, absolvi. Quapropter ^nagis magisque supplicare non desino, ut cum suis nominibus atque personis feralis illa causa transierit: quo nos annuente Domino nostro certa perfectaque laetitia necti valeamus cum praesule nunc creato >eati apostoli voce dicentis: Si qm igitur in Chrisio nova creaiura, Y^ri etera iransienmt, omnia facia suni nova, 5. Litterae certe vestrae catholicae fidei praedicant unitatem, •acemque ecclesiarum regia pietate pronuntiant. Quae quum debito onore legerentur, qualiter mecum totus ordo Romani^) presbyterii itam vobis prosperitatemque continuam promptus exorans repetitis .ssidue Tocibus aeclamarit, et hi qui directi sunt audierunt, et ubi- ^ue velox tam praeclari nuntii legatio putabatur obviare. Necessi- ^ti populi Alexandrinae civitatis magis in ea parte j^rospiciendum est, ut a pestiferi rectoris retrahatur insidiis. Concurrant omnia, rogamus omnes, ut, quemadmodum docet apostolus, auferatur de me-Gal.5,l2. dio qui nos conturbat; et ea, quam augustae memoriae Leo, pater eToditorque vester, jugiter custodivit vel vos magnanimiter servare decemitis, ecclesiarum fida pax, vera sit unitas, quoniam cuicUnque personae patema fides et beati Petri communio debet praeferri. At- que ad vestram gloriam sicut imperii vestri felicitas ita post Deum pertinere doceatur regni coelestis integritas : ut de conservatis Eccle- aae suae legibus tranquillitatis tuae benevolentiam Christus assumens, et temporalia tibi dona multiplicet et praestet aeterna.