Letter 34

From: Emperor Justin I, Constantinople To: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome Date: ~518 AD Context: A landmark letter — the new Emperor Justin I, who had overthrown the Monophysite-leaning Anastasius, writes to Pope Hormisdas announcing his desire to end the Acacian Schism and restore church unity. This letter changed everything. The Emperor Justin Augustus to Pope Hormisdas. John, the most blessed bishop of this royal city, together with the other reverend bishops gathered here from various places and cities, have informed Our Serenity that they have composed letters to be presented to Your Holiness regarding the unity of those who worship the true and orthodox faith, and the reunion of the venerable churches. They have earnestly requested that we too should send a letter on this matter. We have gladly embraced their petitions, as men who have always been devoted to unity, and we have decided to send these sacred pages to Your Beatitude. Upon receiving them, we ask that you attend to the desires of the aforementioned most reverend bishops, and that you pray for us and for the state, whose governance has been entrusted to our piety by divine power. We believe that through the prayers of Your Holiness and through the unity of the holy churches, the strength and stability of our reign will be secured.

ivsTiNus AuousTus HORMisDAE PAPAE. lohannes uir beatis- simus, huius regiae urbis antistes, et ceteri uiri religiosi episcopi de diuersis locis et ciuitatibus hic reperti nostram serenitatem docuerunt pro concordia ueram et orthodoxam w fidem colentium proque unitate uenerabilium eius ecclesiarum litteras tuae sanctitati offerendas confecisse ac magnopere postularunt nostras etiam epistolares paginas super hoc ad eam emanare. quorum petitiones, utpote semper unitatis 2 amatores constituti, libenter amplexi hos diuinos apices ad «tuam beatitudinem censuimus prorogandos, quibus susceptis desideriis supra dictorum reuerentissimorum antistitum subuenire proque nobis et re publica, cuius gubernatio nostrae pietati 4 Rom. 13, 1 14S« Bat. (simul cum epp. 146 et 147) a. 518 die 7 Sept, accept. die 20 Dec, per Gratum. Edd. Car. P 478; Bar. ad a. 518, 71; Collect. Concil.; Thiel 831. 18 nra V 23 ut potes F, corr. 25 BUBceptis p^: scriptis V 588 Horniisda lastino; Homiisda lohannl Constantinopolitano caelitus credita est, supernam maiestatem suis orationibus 3 placare dignetur. ut autem tuae sanctitati pacis et unitatis atque concordiae iura plenius patefiant, quosdam religiosissimos sacerdotes pacem amplectentes et desiderantes ad sacrissimum nostrum peruenire disponat comitatum. ob banc etenim causam Gratum u. s. sacri nostri consistorii comitem et magistrum scrinii memoriae direximus, cuius praeclaram opinionem multis antea notam habemus temporibus. Data VII. Id. Septembr. Constantinopoli Magno u. c. cons.