From: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To: John, bishop of Nicopolis
Date: ~March 3, 517 AD
Context: Hormisdas thanks John for his steadfastness under pressure and consoles him with the image of Peter saved from drowning by Christ's hand — a recurring metaphor in these Acacian Schism letters.
Hormisdas to John, bishop of Nicopolis. Delivered by the subdeacon Pullio.
When our subdeacon Pullio returned, we received the letters from Your Charity. We rejoiced at the constancy of your faith and the devotion you show toward communion with the apostolic see. But we were saddened to learn that you have been suffering certain hardships.
These things, however, cannot last. Where God is purely worshipped, even if adversities arise, they are transformed into prosperity, according to the apostle who says: "Hope does not disappoint" [Romans 5:5]. The prince of the apostles, stepping out in doubt upon the sea, struggled — but when he called upon his Lord, he found him ready; stretching out his hand, he did not allow him to remain in danger [Matthew 14:28-31].
So let us follow the examples of our founders and, remaining in their faith, seek the help of the One of whom it is written: "He does not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able" [1 Corinthians 10:13].
We greet Your Charity and urge you, as we said before, to persevere in what has been well begun — "for he who endures to the end will be saved" [Matthew 10:22]. Do not cease to relieve our concern with frequent messages. Also strengthen the bishops of your province with appropriate encouragement, because doing these things will bring you merit.
HOBHISDA lOHANNI EPISCOPO NICOPOLITANO. PER PULLIONEM
8UBDIAC0NUM. Eemeaute PuUione subdiacono nostro litteraa caritatis uestrae suscepimus de constantia fidei uel de inten- tione, quam circa communionem sedis apostolicae geritis, lo gratulantes; sed contristati sumus, quod uos aliquas sustinere molestias perbibetis. ista tamen diutumam non possunt habere substantiam, quia ubi deus pure colitur, etsi aduersa con- tigerint, in prosperis commutantur secundum apostolum di-
2 centem: spes non decipit. dubitans apostolorum princeps 13 incedens per pelagus laborauit; mox tamen inuocato domino
• 8U0 paratum habuit, qui eum poirecta manu non pateretur sustinere discrimen. ergo auctorum nostrorum sequentes exempla et in ipsorum fide permanentes illius poscamus auxilium, de quo scriptum est: qui non nos dimittit temptari super 20
3quod possumus. igitur salutantes caritatem tuam hor- taraur, ut quemadmodum praediximus, in his, quae bene in-
15 Rom. 5, 5 15 sqq. cf. Matth. 14, 28—31 20 Cor. I 10, 13
124« Bat. a. 517 die 3 Mart. per Pullionem; respondet epistulae lohannis deperditae per eundetn Pullionem initio eiusdem anni datae. Edd, Car. P 469; Bar. ad a. 516, 66; Collect Concil; BTA I 391; Thiel 786. 7 per Pullionem subdiaconum huc reieci a V perperam in fine praecedentis epistulae additum 9 caritates F, corr. o 12 mo- lestia V, eorr. 0 diutuma V man. rec. 13 substancia F, corr. o 14 prospera Bar. 16 pellagus V 20 nos non trsp. Car. 22 que ammodum V, corr. 0
Epist CXXIII 8 — CXXV 1.
537
choata sunt, perseueres, quia <qui> perstiterit usque in finem, hic saluus erit. frequenter alloquiis tuis nostram soUicitudinem releuare non desinas; paroeciales quoque sacer- dotes tuos competenti adhortatione confiiina, quia ista faciendo
5 talentum tibi creditum poteris multipKcare cottidie. de illa 4 quoque parte, qua dileetio tua postulat, cogitamus, ut ad imperatorem clementissimum pro generalitatis quiete preces nostrae perueniant. tuum est, ut uotum studiumque nostrum congruis orationibus iuuare non cesses, quia nos in his deo
10 auctore perficiendis uacare minime poterimus. Data V. Nonas Martias Agapito cons.
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From:Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To:John, bishop of Nicopolis
Date:~March 3, 517 AD
Context:Hormisdas thanks John for his steadfastness under pressure and consoles him with the image of Peter saved from drowning by Christ's hand — a recurring metaphor in these Acacian Schism letters.
Hormisdas to John, bishop of Nicopolis. Delivered by the subdeacon Pullio.
When our subdeacon Pullio returned, we received the letters from Your Charity. We rejoiced at the constancy of your faith and the devotion you show toward communion with the apostolic see. But we were saddened to learn that you have been suffering certain hardships.
These things, however, cannot last. Where God is purely worshipped, even if adversities arise, they are transformed into prosperity, according to the apostle who says: "Hope does not disappoint" [Romans 5:5]. The prince of the apostles, stepping out in doubt upon the sea, struggled — but when he called upon his Lord, he found him ready; stretching out his hand, he did not allow him to remain in danger [Matthew 14:28-31].
So let us follow the examples of our founders and, remaining in their faith, seek the help of the One of whom it is written: "He does not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able" [1 Corinthians 10:13].
We greet Your Charity and urge you, as we said before, to persevere in what has been well begun — "for he who endures to the end will be saved" [Matthew 10:22]. Do not cease to relieve our concern with frequent messages. Also strengthen the bishops of your province with appropriate encouragement, because doing these things will bring you merit.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.