Letter 12: Antiocheni exordium sacerdotis qua ratione may have been serius indicatum, quamuis minime we latere potuerit,...

Bishop Simplicius to Acacius, Bishop of Constantinople. By what reason the beginning of the bishop of Antioch was reported to us somewhat late, although it could by no means have escaped our notice, nevertheless both he himself and his own synod made it known. And just as we did not wish this to happen, so we have shown ourselves ready to accept the excuse which necessity made, since what is not voluntary cannot be called into account as a charge. And therefore, through our brother and fellow-bishop Anastasius, who was sent from the aforesaid region, and having also received the letters of your beloved self, we render back to your charity the reciprocal exchange of discourse: [necessarily] having embraced into the bosom of the Apostolic See the priesthood of our brother and fellow-bishop Calendio, we number him, through the grace of Christ our God, into our fellowship as the bishop of so great a city, by the union of the college. But we marvel that we have learned nothing from your instruction concerning the state of the Alexandrian church, which we never found to be in such a condition as it is now held to be, namely that wicked men, taking the occasion of the death of Timothy of holy memory, are trying to hold that same church captive. Whence it must be dealt with by your beloved self together with the most merciful prince, lest under his rule that be torn away which could be obtained in the times of a tyrant. Given on the Ides of July, in the consulship of Severinus, vir clarissimus [most illustrious man].