From: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To: Possessor, bishop [a pro-Chalcedonian bishop, likely in North Africa or the East]
Date: ~517 AD
Context: A personal letter of encouragement to a bishop who has maintained the orthodox faith without fanfare — Hormisdas praises his quiet constancy and urges him to continue growing in it.
Hormisdas to Bishop Possessor.
When we hear of the excellent perseverance of Your Charity and recognize the path of true faith that you uphold without ostentation, we give thanks to our God without ceasing. May you continue in this course and provide an example for others to follow.
These are heavenly gifts. These are the marks of divine favor. These are the judgments of God, who has not allowed you to be separated from the fellowship of catholic bishops. Therefore, dearest brother, I encourage you with this letter: persevere in the constancy for which you were chosen, and build on the worthy beginnings you have made.
A good work — especially one that concerns the teaching of the faith — must always be growing; if it ceases to grow, it begins to diminish. And if worldly tribulation presses upon you, remember that it is the fire that proves the quality of the gold. Farewell.
HORMiSDA possEssoRi EPI8C0P0. Optimam uestrae caritatis audientes instantiam et cognoscentes rectae fidei tramitem, quem sine strepitu uindicatis, deo nostro gratias sine cessatione persoluimus, ut et in ea dispositione persistas et ceteris, quod sequantur, tribuere possis exemplum. ista sunt dona caelestia, ista sunt diuinae tributionis indicia, ista sunt dei iudicia, quae te a catholico sacerdotum noluerunt separari
2 consortio. unde, frater karissime, praesentibus hortamur alloquiis, ut in ea constantia, qua electus es, perseueres et augmenta probabilibus initiis subministres, quia bonum opus, praecipue quod ad doctrinam fidei pertinet, nisi semper cre- uerit, uidetur imminui, et si tribulatio mundana contigerit, ante oculos nostros futura praemia ponentes apostolica nos admonitione consolemur dicentes: non sunt condignae passiones huius temporis ad futuram gloriam, quae
3 reuelabitur <in> nobis. meliora tamen speramus, quia deus, qui per beatum apostolum dixit: qui uos non dimisit temptari super quod potestis, ipse pro sua pietate, quos suos elegit esse, et de laqueis aduersariorum sicut semper
4 eripiet. libellum dilectionis tuae de confessione rectae fidei
19 Eom. 8, 18 22 Cor. I 10, 13 2'hisdem V sita F, corr. Thiel
ISU Dat. (simul cum epp. 126. 128—130, 132) a. 517 die 3 Apr. per Ennodium etc. Edd. Car. P 466; Bar. ad a. 517, 27; CoUect. Concil.; BTA I 401; Thiel 805. 6 horii7s V 7 sq. tramitemque F, corr. &2 9 persolumus V, corr. o 11 ^re>tributionis Car. 13 fratres karissimi F, corr. 14 electus F; exorsus Bar. 18 occulos F
9 consolemur Thiel: consulimur F, consolamur 20 gloria F, corr. o 21 in addidi secundum Vulgatam, cf. p. 550, 25 23 ipsa F, corr. per sua pietate F, corr. o 25 eripi. et F, corr.
Epist. CXXX 10 — CXXXII 3.
553
per legatos nostros remeantes accepimus et in eo sinceritatem taae fratemitatis agnouimus, quia, quod recte credit, sub adtestatio<ne> publica praedicare non distulit. Data IIL Nonas April. Agapito <cons.>
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From:Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
To:Possessor, bishop [a pro-Chalcedonian bishop, likely in North Africa or the East]
Date:~517 AD
Context:A personal letter of encouragement to a bishop who has maintained the orthodox faith without fanfare — Hormisdas praises his quiet constancy and urges him to continue growing in it.
Hormisdas to Bishop Possessor.
When we hear of the excellent perseverance of Your Charity and recognize the path of true faith that you uphold without ostentation, we give thanks to our God without ceasing. May you continue in this course and provide an example for others to follow.
These are heavenly gifts. These are the marks of divine favor. These are the judgments of God, who has not allowed you to be separated from the fellowship of catholic bishops. Therefore, dearest brother, I encourage you with this letter: persevere in the constancy for which you were chosen, and build on the worthy beginnings you have made.
A good work — especially one that concerns the teaching of the faith — must always be growing; if it ceases to grow, it begins to diminish. And if worldly tribulation presses upon you, remember that it is the fire that proves the quality of the gold. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.