Papal Letters 1 part 40/50

The silence of your Excellency has saddened us, because amid whatever occupations you ought not to have been unmindful of us; and therefore, lest we should seem to fall into what we reprehend in you, it was necessary to take up the labour of the present pen, by which we salute your Nobility with honour, requesting that you not cease to make our solicitude more certain concerning the good of your prosperity, because we long, our God being propitious, to learn by whatever tokens the good news of your safety. (179.) HORMISDAS TO JULIANA ANICIA.

Having received the letters of your Excellency, we render thanks to our God for the restoration of the catholic faith, desiring that He Himself may deign, for His own religion's sake, to preserve for a long age in your minds that zeal which He has granted, so that, as the vein of imperial blood ennobles your person, so your conscience may shine forth with the light of good merits. Wherefore, saluting you with fitting reverence and honour, we ask that you continue in that purpose in which you have begun, and give heed that the endeavour of so great a cause may come to its effect, lest any seed of this evil remain for the future, whence hereafter, under any occasion, any enemy of the faith may grow green again. (180.) HORMISDAS TO ANASTASIA.

After our God had made firm the members of His church that were returning to their former peace, you testify that you had long desired it; rejoicing that it has come to pass, we too unceasingly implore the divine clemency that, as He has graciously accepted these first-fruits of the reign, so He may ever aid the faith of the good emperor with every effect of prosperity, and may keep both him and you all in the sacrosanct love of religion, so that those whose faith has cast off the error of a most wicked dissension may both flourish in life on earth and have the recompense of eternal salvation follow after.

Now therefore do you also join your vows with ours, and implore with all your strength from God, that all the churches may follow the example of this correction, so that the devil may have no cause to rejoice that anything has remained to him—he whom now our concord congratulates itself upon having almost wholly excluded. (181.) THE EMPEROR JUSTIN TO POPE HORMISDAS.

With how great zeal we burn for gathering the most sacred churches into concord, we are known to have made plain long since, we who, even from the very outset of our reign, judged that your Holiness should be admonished to send trustworthy men, so that by their intervention some remedy might be found for these matters; and, before those who were dispatched had arrived, we prepared everything, so that what had to be arranged in this most flourishing city might be more easily transacted.

But since petitions have been presented to our Majesty from the various Eastern provinces, setting forth certain fixed points on behalf of the catholic faith and declaring the secrets of their mind, attesting the things they have established with themselves concerning the undivided Trinity and showing that they will firmly hold to these—and when these had been read out, Dioscorus asserted that some things had been inserted not in a fitting order—we have rightly judged that those things which we have been taught should be disclosed to you. Not long, therefore, hereafter, someone will be sent from us to certify your Beatitude concerning all things and to make known to you the supplications that have been offered to us, and to bring back the answer of your Piety, whereby the unsuitable doubts may at length be cut away.

Secure therefore concerning our counsel, deign by solicitous prayers to appease for us the supreme Deity. Given on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of February at Constantinople, in the consulship of Vitalianus and Rusticius. (182.) A COPY OF THE REPORT OF JOHN, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE. TO THE LORD IN ALL THINGS BELOVED OF GOD, THE MOST HOLY BROTHER AND FELLOW-MINISTER HORMISDAS, JOHN, GREETING IN THE LORD. Even as we hold you within ourselves with a pure heart and spiritual charity, dearest brother, and even as we deem you in all things worthy of veneration, we judge from these works that satisfaction has been given to your Reverence, obeying the Lord's voice manifestly crying out:

'Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, so do you also to them'; and embracing the apostolic teaching which instructs us: 'in honour preferring one another.' These things we hasten to show by works, holding by spiritual charity the indissoluble bond of the union of the holy churches, whereby we may be able to totter neither by the blows of adverse spirits nor by the fluctuations of the prince of evils or the enemy of truth—the holy and consubstantial Trinity aiding us, by the intercession of the glorious and truly God-bearing Mary. Through these things especially, O lord to us and most holy, let us pray that the state of our churches and of yours may remain unmoved, and no less that the unity of the faith may be kept inseparable;

for God is able, without contest, to grant the palm of victory to those who hope in Him. Now as for the number of the Lord's approaching Passion which is contained in your letters, we signify from the paschal-day annals stored with us that you have it rightly—both knowing it beforehand and now inquiring more scrupulously: without doubt we hope that you, being in health, celebrate the festivity of the world on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of May, which is properly the nineteenth day of the coming month of April. Pray therefore, and let your mind, most holy one, deign to have no forgetfulness concerning our remembrance. All the brotherhood in Christ that is with your Holiness, I too and mine most heartily salute. AND IN ANOTHER HAND:

Being in health in the Lord, pray for us, brother beloved of God and most holy. Given at Constantinople, on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of February, in the consulship of Vitalianus and Rusticius, most distinguished men. (183.) A COPY OF THE REPORT OF JOHN, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE. TO MY LORD IN ALL THINGS BELOVED OF GOD, THE MOST HOLY BROTHER AND FELLOW-MINISTER HORMISDAS, JOHN, GREETING IN THE LORD.

How great an eagerness or what a desire the most pious and most Christian emperor has concerning the perfect union of all the churches, he showed not by will only but by the very works, to those dwelling in this royal city, even before he came to the kingdom given him by God; and to your Holiness he has made it most manifest by the labours accomplished from the beginning of his reign even until now, through which he strives with a ready mind to join all the members of the catholic church into the one body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And what need is there to use prolix words, since—although we are able to stand as true witnesses of the facts themselves—yet your Holiness too has proof, which it has come to know of itself?

Indeed what is now added confirms these things. For certain persons who are under his most powerful hand, of the most religious priests from the regions of the Eastern parts, have presented petitions, informing him concerning the things which they were unwilling to accept. And not wishing this to be hidden from your Holiness, he has deliberated well that, what has already been done he should announce for the present to your Holiness, a little later to signify concerning it to you more clearly, so that, with common counsel—our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ going before all—those things which are conducive to the common benefit and are on all sides irreproachable may shine forth in the corrections of the catholic faith.

Judging it opportune, therefore, we ask your Holiness by fraternal letters and most dear addresses that you deign, on behalf of our most pious emperor, to pray to the Lord God of all things the more and the more urgently. All the brotherhood in Christ that is with your Holiness, I too and mine most heartily salute. AND IN ANOTHER HAND: Being in health in the Lord, pray for us, brother beloved of God and most holy. (184.) A COPY OF THE REPORT OF JOHN, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE. TO MY LORD IN ALL THINGS BELOVED OF GOD, THE MOST HOLY BROTHER AND FELLOW-MINISTER HORMISDAS, JOHN, GREETING IN THE LORD.

Paulinus, an honourable man, the defender, who conveyed your letter and showed forth in himself the virtues of your Holiness, having sojourned among us with joy, contributed his solicitude to our common counsels and actions. But since it was not fitting that he, hastening to you, should be delayed for a longer time, therefore, addressing your Holiness in turn, we commend the aforesaid man—who is protected and a faithful servant worthy of your love—as he continues on. He will moreover be, concerning those things which have been done by us according to your mind, and the solicitude which we vigilantly bear regarding the holy churches, a worthy and faithful narrator to you.

For we, regarding the prayers of your Holiness and the natural goodness of this matter, hold a most vigilant zeal; and, God cooperating, in many places the word of grace, coursing along without any obstruction, leads our purpose to its effect. But since certain difficulties have arisen, those things which are here set in motion must, by governance indeed and gentle disposition, be fittingly expounded—as your Holiness above all knows—and, as it behoves those who have obtained by lot to feed the flocks of God, to do and to strive after all things unto the glory of God, having in Him the hope of salvation, and as it is written: 'To them that love God all things work together for good.'

For those things which please you, as has been said, we strive both to feel and to do, most holy one. All the brotherhood in Christ that is with your Holiness, I too and mine most heartily salute. (185.) A REPORT OF GERMANUS THE BISHOP, OF THE DEACONS FELIX AND DIOSCORUS, AND OF BLANDUS THE PRESBYTER. The revered addresses of your Apostolate, through your sons Leo and Eulogius, we received with desirable cheerfulness. The former of these, by its injunction, reproved us for not having informed you of the things that happened at Thessalonica.

But long before his arrival, seizing the opportunity presented, we took care to signify whatever we learned—whether by the rumour of those coming, or by the writings of those who brought it (copies of which we have appended below), or by the account of the most pious emperor. There followed the promise of vengeance, to such a degree that Dorotheus, bishop of Thessalonica, was conducted to the city of Heraclea, until the case should find its conclusion. Meanwhile, according to what you commanded, we took care to make known to the emperor the authority of your Apostolate, that for receiving the doctrine of catholic purity the aforesaid Dorotheus should be sent to Rome together with Aristides.

He replied that there was no cause for which they should be directed to Rome to be heard, where without the contention of accusers they could more freely excuse themselves. But suddenly, while these things were being transacted, he was released, as far as we have learned, from the city of Heraclea in which he was being held; for what cause, or by what reason or condition, or through whose agency, we do not know. Concerning the paschal day, let your Beatitude know that the opinion of the Easterns agrees with the Apostolic See, so that the festivity is hoped to be celebrated on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of May, as will also be clear from the report of John, the prelate of Constantinople. It remains that, by the support of your Beatitude's prayer, we may quickly, as we desire, be counted worthy to be presented at your feet.

(186.) A MEMORANDUM WHICH WAS SENT BY JOHN THE BISHOP OR BY EPIPHANIUS THE PRESBYTER, CONCERNING THESSALONICA. If, for our sins, these bishops who have been brought hither should have entered Constantinople—not to say that they are going to see the emperor and by every means will be restored to their own places (for they have carried off with them such great sums of money that they could blind not men but even angels)—if therefore, which God forbid, they should have entered, they will speak as many falsehoods, through our absence, as the devil can devise. For if here, in our sight, they attempted many things and, with the Lord standing with us, were confounded, how much will they do through our absence?

Therefore, that their malice may be able to be scattered, command that, if it should come to a hearing on account of our sins, it may be established before all that we have died undeservedly and that they labour under the patronage of money; for we can convict them in all things, in the sight of the senate, that they are perfect heretics. Then at last their deceit can be shown. Likewise it is to be said: If they are not heretics, how is it that two weeks before we had come, all the bishops decreed in one accord that no one should hold Masses outside the city, but all here, so that both a multitude might be gathered for the sedition to come and could be taught according to their errors?

And after they perceived that we were coming, they publicly preached that there must be haste with the little ones, lest, when persecution came, the pagan infants should die; and then, as if for a second Passover, they baptized so many that they surpassed the customary festival. Likewise it is to be said: If they are not heretics, how is it that they consecrated such great sacraments that they distributed baskets full to all, lest, with persecution imminent (as they said), they should not be able to communicate? Likewise: If they are not heretics, after they had been accused by the acts before Candidus, the most noble man,

—the vicar of the master of the praetorian soldiers, in the court of the prefects—and recognized that grave peril was at hand for them, why did they, as though about to be condemned anew, as if again desiring to succour the little ones, once more perform, even when confuted, so many baptisms that they truly showed themselves heretics to all? At which matter also the great and magnificent power of the prefects was most gravely indignant. Likewise: If they are not heretics, how is it that, when we were hidden in the baptistery, having held counsel among themselves through the night, as though wishing to free us from peril, they wanted to put us on a ship, so that on this occasion they might cast us headlong into the sea; and when we had replied through Demetrius and Andreas the deacons, 'All know that we are with you:

how can we sail by night? But if you truly take counsel for our safety, tomorrow let five or six senators, who fear peril to their property or to their safety, be summoned secretly together with Candidus the count, vicar of the master of the soldiers; let these too learn whither we are being transferred, and we will do what they command; but if you act alone and in secret, this we will not do'—then they, finding no result, held their peace for the hour, and on another day again stirred up a sedition of the people, whence, God willing, we barely escaped? (187.) A COPY OF THE LETTER OF JUSTINIAN. TO THE HOLY LORD, MOST BLESSED IN MERITS AND APOSTOLIC LORD FATHER POPE HORMISDAS, JUSTINIAN.

By the propitious Deity, which has always established the catholic church through increases of faith, the unity of the holy churches has come to pass on account of the doctrine and authority of your Apostolate. But since we have learned that certain persons, monks by name—to whom discord is more a study than the charity and peace of God—desiring to disturb certain things, have set out on a journey, descending hence to your Angel:

—may your Beatitude, recognizing from the present writings the cause of their spite, deign to receive them as they deserve and to drive them far from you, since their vain babblings—of men hastening to introduce novelties into the church, such as neither the four venerable synods nor the letters of the holy Pope Leo are known to contain—seem in every place to stir up disturbances. For which reason also, both to the most reverend men, the bishops and deacons sent by your Apostolate * * *, may your Angel deign to send to us, and may he order these men, smitten by worthy correction (as has been said above), to be driven out. This therefore we petition, that, as has been said above, he may most earnestly enjoin that these very letters of this kind be directed to us by the same bearer.

Now their names are Achilles, John, Leontius, and Mauritius. This is the greatest cause of our solicitude, lest the unity which your labour and prayer has perfected be scattered through restless men; hoping in God that, if there is anything which still dissents from the peace of the whole world, this too may by your prayers be joined to the communion of the Apostolic See.

Presuming, moreover, upon the benevolence of Your Beatitude, we beg with fatherly affection all the more earnestly that you would deign generously to adorn and illuminate, with the relics of the holy Apostles, both us and their basilica which has been built here in our house under the name of the aforesaid venerable ones; knowing that you can bestow upon us no greater gift nor favour, most blessed lord father, than if you fulfil this our petition. And since the aforesaid agent-in-office is suddenly setting out upon his journey, we have also sent two pallia of pure silk for the ornament of the altar of the holy Apostles; and receiving these, bid that continual remembrance be made of us in your most efficacious prayers. (188.) LIKEWISE A COPY OF THE LETTER OF JUSTINIAN.

That the fullest perfection of faith may come to us through the teaching of Your Beatitude, we have again sent Eulogius, a diligent man and agent-in-office, on this account besides his other business; through whom we most earnestly beg that, in all things circumspectly and most cautiously, we may be confirmed in the confession of the Catholic faith by the answer of your apostolate. For after the unity once granted to the Catholic Church by the divine mercy, certain men assert that Christ, the Son of God, our Lord, crucified in the flesh for our salvation, ought to be proclaimed as One of the Trinity. And if this is to be accepted, may Your Reverence, with fatherly foresight and by your most cautious rescript, deign to make us certain what we ought to follow, or what we ought to avoid concerning this;

since the words seem to create a disagreement, whereas the meaning is proved to be one among all Catholics. Take up therefore, holy and venerable father, the labour once undertaken, in this too following your predecessors, whose memory you both embrace and adorn by your fellowship in the pontificate; and hasten to render us free and secure concerning this matter. For we believe that to be Catholic which shall have been made known to us by your religious reply. And because it is said that the Scythian monks came to your See on this account, having given them a reply according to the tradition of the Fathers and the order of the rules, bid that they be sent back to us with your letters, fearing nothing;

and command that copies of these, duly sealed, be given to the aforesaid diligent man Eulogius. For we ask you to arrange all these things with the greater caution, lest room be given to falsehood or to snares; since, embracing the Catholic faith with the utmost longing, we beg that unity may be granted to the whole world through your teaching. (189.) HORMISDAS TO JUSTINIAN THE ILLUSTRIOUS. We have received the letters of Your Highness delivered by our son Eulogius, a most excellent man; and on his return, rendering the due office of greeting, we signify that the Scythian monks have alleged very many things which we cannot leave undiscussed; but, with God's help, we await the arrival of our legates.

For which reason we think that they should be detained in the city, from whose ordering they themselves do not dissent. Yet we trust that Your Excellency retains what he wrote to us concerning them in letters sent in time past. When, upon the return of the legates, we shall have been suitably informed concerning their allegations, if our examination shall find anything worthy of reproof, it will be necessary that we should maintain ecclesiastical discipline towards them.

Moreover, let Victor, who is reported to hold the office of deacon, whose faith these very monks vehemently accuse, or others who perhaps raise perverse questions, be sent to us at the city by the ordinance of our lord and son, the most clement Emperor, at our suggestion, so that we may be able to take cognizance of all the allegations about which they contend. (190.) HORMISDAS TO JUSTINIAN THE ILLUSTRIOUS. We have known the mind of Your Magnificence to be so vigorous in religious affection that you would rather have a benefit in the perfecting of the peace of the Church demanded of us than merely requested, judging it to redound to the merits of Your Excellency that we should chance to offer for the common desire. Whence we too presumptuously seek from you, as it were,

the debt which we know will profit your merits; and therefore, lord son, greeting you with all charity, we hope that you will press on with the work which, by the Lord's help, you have founded, mindful of the divine testimony: 'He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.' Moreover, the monks whom you signified in your letters had come to Rome, we wished to return home soon; but because, under the testimony of the divine power, they said that through snares prepared on the road they could suffer peril of their life, being unwilling to return to Constantinople, we did not permit them to be violently expelled. Wherefore we shall find it necessary, when our legates come, to inquire what true cause it was that stirred up the discord among them.

But the sanctuaries of the most blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, even as you asked with most religious affection, we have transmitted through the bearer of these letters with all veneration, hoping that by their prayers the offering and the desires of your mind may be acceptable to the grace of the Godhead. We beg also that you would announce to our solicitude, in a running page of letters, both concerning the things that are being done for concord and concerning the good of your safety, so that it may be our joy. Given on the fourth day before the Nones of September, in the consulship of Eutharicus. (191.) A COPY OF THE LETTER OF JUSTINIAN. BY BROTHER PROEMPTOR. Whatever is more cautious, whatever is more firm, that it may be done for the holy faith and the concord of the sacred churches, we desire.

Whence both our most glorious brother Vitalian has written back to Your Beatitude through Paulinus, the most excellent defensor of your church, and we too have taken care to signify through the same that Your Beatitude ought to accomplish those things which grant peace and concord to the holy churches. Nevertheless, presently we have sent, with the letters of our most pious Emperor, one who may bring back a more certain answer to Your Holiness; for how great a question has arisen in our parts, the aforesaid religious man, the defensor, can also instruct Your Holiness. Whence we beg that, if it be possible, an answer being given most speedily and the religious monks satisfied, you would send back to us John and Leontius.

For unless this question be resolved by your prayers and diligence, we fear lest the peace of the holy churches cannot come to pass. Therefore, knowing that both the reward and the peril of this matter are reserved for you, treat it diligently and send back to us a most firm answer through the aforesaid religious monks, if it be possible, before our legate reaches Your Beatitude; for upon this alone the whole intention hangs. (192.) JUSTIN AUGUSTUS TO POPE HORMISDAS. THROUGH OUR LEGATES, THAT IS, GERMANUS AND JOHN, BISHOPS; FELIX AND DIOSCORUS, DEACONS; AND BLANDUS, PRIEST.

Truly the greatest thanks must be rendered by us, in that you do not hesitate to expend eager labour for gathering and uniting the venerable churches; but in this most of all your perfect skill shines forth, that you choose men who can serve the sincere and unblemished intent of your holiness with a benevolent and whole mind. For Germanus, the most reverend bishop, and likewise Felix and Dioscorus and Blandus, most religious men, showed themselves so attentive in their diligence and were versed in such wisdom that, as far as pertains to their office, all things being fully carried through and worked out, no matter of dispute remained any longer.

But since mortal frailty is of such a condition that it desires to be dealt with more gently regarding itself and to have a plain answer given to its questions, especially when some cause has been rolled down upon an immense multitude of men, it has come to pass that in this most flourishing city, whatever was ordained concerning the cause of religion and concerning the unity to be celebrated with the Apostolic See in the times of John of most religious memory, while he held the priesthood of this royal city, that, by God's favour, is preserved unshaken; nay, in several other cities also your ordinance has been approved and received; but the rest have need of some milder moderation in the names of the prelates — not of those who were specifically enumerated in the letter which Your Holiness is known to have sent to us, but of others whose memory those cities especially cherish, in which they are known to have flourished while yet surviving.

For which reason there was indeed no liberty granted to the legates of Your Holiness to go beyond the tenor of the mandate with which they were sent; but the whole end of the business now hangs only upon your judgment, so that he alone ought to conclude the peace who first set in motion the beginnings of the matter. But these things, and certain others, shall be more openly recounted through our legate, who will be sent a little later; while for the present, as the most religious men return, we have thought it fitting both to appeal to Your Reverence and to admonish you to use your prayers on behalf of our empire and for the safe state of the commonwealth. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of July at Constantinople, in the consulship of Vitalian and Rusticius. (193.) JUSTIN AUGUSTUS TO POPE HORMISDAS.

Since it is our intent, most religious father, that in every matter of ours our counsels should concur together, so too in the case of Helias, the most reverend bishop, we believe that should be determined, at the admonition of your legates, which among the various considerations on both sides has been perceived to be the more expedient. For at present the favour of all protects the pontiff of the city of the Caesareans, whom, on account of his most excellent institutions, not only the inhabitants judge that he should most strongly be retained, but almost the whole East without doubt venerates; and he who was formerly in the same priesthood complains that he was removed by injury.