Letter 2

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: The Patriarch of Constantinople Date: ~519 AD Context: Avitus celebrates the restoration of communion between Rome and Constantinople after the end of the Acacian Schism (484-519), likening the two sees to twin stars guiding the world. Avitus, bishop, to the Pope of Constantinople. While my lord, your son the patrician Sigismundus [the Burgundian prince], was seeking an audience with the most glorious emperor on a diplomatic mission, a doubly blessed opportunity also opened a path for me to send my respects to you. For even as we already longed for you as a preeminent priest, the illustrious Laurentius added to the honor you hold in our hearts by indicating in his letter that every cloud which had darkened the peace of the Eastern peoples with its threatening haze has been cleared away by the bright sky of restored peace — and that you now enjoy with the bishop of Rome the kind of harmony that, like the twin princes of the apostles [Peter and Paul], it is fitting to proclaim to the world. What Catholic would not rejoice at the peace of such great churches, which the world watches like a twin constellation set in the heavens as a sign of the faith? Who would not rightly take pleasure in the return of those who had strayed and the steadfastness of those who remained, when — with some sheep safe within the fold — the one that had wandered through the fault of an erring shepherd is called back to the heavenly pens amid general rejoicing? Guard, then, as fathers, the discipline of the church that has been handed down to you and that extends over us as well. Your harmony needs to teach as much by its authority as by its example. What love will we urge upon the people if we do not see it in our own leaders? What in the body can appear firm when the head is unsteady? So give the returning their full share of unity. Through your preaching, see to it that no one perishes through stubbornness. Do not let the cunning beast ravage the watchtower assigned to you, if Rome breaks away from the unity of your purpose. Our grief, if the sun sets on your disagreement, is the East's loss. Since we have received this most welcome news through a most trustworthy messenger, confirm it to us with a letter of your own: let the Western church, awaiting in your words the gift of a heavenly oracle, rejoice that what it was glad to receive through a fellow student may be multiplied through the master.

Avitus episcopus papae Constantinopolitano. Dum domnus meus filius vester patricius Sigismundus gloriosissimum principem officio legationis expetiit, nobis quoque deferendi ad vos famulatus aditum dupliciter sancta opportunitate prospexit. Cum enim ut praecipuum sacerdotem iusto vos desi- derio sitiremus, adiecit vir inlustris Laurentius honorem vestri animis nostris, indicans apicibus suis omne nubilum, quod quietem orientalium populorum ambiguo caligante fuscaverat, redintegratae pacis serenitate detersum et eam cum Romano antistite vos habere concordiam, quam velut geminos apostolorum principes mundo adsignare con- veniat. Quis enim, qui vel catholicus dici potest, de tantarum ac talium ecclesiarum pace non gaudeat, quas velut in caelo positum religionis signum pro gemino sidere mundus spectat? Quis non merito delectetur infirmantium reditu, incolumium statu, cum aliis ovibus intra claustra salvatis illa. quae vitio errantis arbitri fuerat evagata, caelestibus caulis laetitia plaudente revocatur? Custodite igitur quasi patres traditam vobis etiam super nos ecclesiae disciplinam. Concordia vestra tantum opus est magi- sterio, quantum oportet exemplo. Quam caritatem populis suadebimus, si hanc in nostris rectoribus nesciamus? Quid in corpore firmum videri poterit, quod nutat in vertice? Vnanimi ergo copiam redeuntibus date; ne quis intentione pereat, praedica- tione prospicite, ne speculam adsignatam furax bestia populetur, si ab unitate sensus vestri Roma dissultet. Maeror noster, si super dissensionem vestram sol occidat, dam- num orientis est. Quia nos prosperrimum, quem supra dixi, nuntium per fidelissimum virum accepimus, ad notitiam nostram vestro firmate rescripto: ut expectans occiden- talis ecclesia in sermonibus vestris donum caelestis oraculi, quod se laetatur accepisse per condiscipulum, multiplicari sibi gaudeat per magistrum.