From: Justinian, comes [count — the future Emperor Justinian I, at this point a powerful courtier and nephew of Emperor Justin I]
To: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
Date: ~518 AD
Context: A letter from the future Justinian the Great while he was still a count at court — already exercising enormous influence behind the scenes. He reports enthusiastically on the progress of church reunion and asks for the pope's prayers. This is one of the earliest surviving documents from Justinian's hand.
Copy of the letter of Justinian.
To my lord, the most holy Hormisdas, first among archbishops and Pope of the city of Rome — from Justinian, count.
The time we longed for with our deepest prayers has arrived: divine mercy, looking down upon the sufferings of the human race, has deigned to grant it. Now all catholics and those perfectly faithful to God can commend themselves to His majesty. And so I write to Your Apostolate with the free confidence that heavenly grace has now granted me.
For our lord the most invincible Emperor, who has always embraced the orthodox faith, has brought it about — with God's favor — that all discord has been overcome. Everything that Your Holiness's most blessed priests undertook to accomplish has, by divine grace, been joined to its fulfillment. No resistance from any quarter has prevailed.
Therefore, fortified by your sacred prayers and instructions and by the faith of the orthodox, we humbly ask that you pray for our most holy Augustus, the champion of the whole faith; for his state; and for us too, the guardians of your commands. Deign to offer to the eternal King those prayers which never fail to win a hearing, and visit us — your faithful suppliants — with your life-giving letters.
EXEMPLUM EPiSTOLAE lusTiNiANi. Desiderabilc tempus, quod summis uotis optauimus, diuina clementia dolores generis humani respiciens largiri dignata est, quo omnes catholici et deo perfecte fideles maiestati eius se ualeant commendare. idcirco has ad apostolatum uestrum libera licentia iam mihi 2 beneficio caelesti indulta direxi. domnus etenim noster inuictis- simus imperator orthodoxam religionem semper ample<cte>iis
oi
9 diptychis o^: dypciis V 10 affligeretur F, corr. 11 diptychis o^: dypcicis V 13 pacifico F, corr. o 18 p c agapito F, carr. Car.
147« l)at (simul cum epp. 143 et 146) a, 518 die 7 Sept., accept. die 20 Dec, per Gratum. Edd. Car. P 480; Bar. ad a. 518, 74; Collect. Condl; Thiel 833. 20 poat lustiniani Car. inserit Tustiniaiius comes Honnisdae papae 25 domus V, correxi: dominus o 26 seper V amplens F, corr. o
Epist. CXXXXVI 4 CXXXXVIII 1.
593
ardentissima lide cupiensque sacrosanctas ecclesias ad con- cordiam reuocare mox adeptus est caelesti iudicio infulas principales, sacerdotibus hic positis denuntiauit, ut pro regulis apostolicis unirentur ecclesiae. et magna quidem pars fidei 3 est composita deo auctore; de nomine tantummodo Acacii uestrae beatitudinis conuenit ordiri consensum. quam ob cansam domnus noster serenissimus princeps Gratum uirum snblimero, unanimum mihi amicum, cum paginis augustis ad sanctitatem tuam transmisit, ut modis omnibus dignetur Constantinopolim ad reliqua concordiae componenda uenire. sed absque quadam dilatione uestrum expectamus aduentum, quem si qua tarditas. quod fieri non debet, forsitan retinuerit, interim uel sacerdotes idoneos destinare festinet, quia totus mundus par<tium> nostrarum conuersus ad unitatem moras non patitur. accelerate ergo, domini sanctissimi, ne uobis ab- 4 sentibus, quae debent praesentibus ordinari. scimus etenim litteras uestrae beatitudinis et antecessorum uestrorum ad Orientem directas, quid super hac eadem causa contineant. ut autem nihil praetermittatur, propter causam saepius 5 memoratam ad inuictissimum regem religionis quoque negotium filio uestro uiro sublimi Grato est iniunctum fauente domino nostro lesu Christo.
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From:Justinian, comes [count — the future Emperor Justinian I, at this point a powerful courtier and nephew of Emperor Justin I]
To:Hormisdas, Pope of Rome
Date:~518 AD
Context:A letter from the future Justinian the Great while he was still a count at court — already exercising enormous influence behind the scenes. He reports enthusiastically on the progress of church reunion and asks for the pope's prayers. This is one of the earliest surviving documents from Justinian's hand.
Copy of the letter of Justinian.
To my lord, the most holy Hormisdas, first among archbishops and Pope of the city of Rome — from Justinian, count.
The time we longed for with our deepest prayers has arrived: divine mercy, looking down upon the sufferings of the human race, has deigned to grant it. Now all catholics and those perfectly faithful to God can commend themselves to His majesty. And so I write to Your Apostolate with the free confidence that heavenly grace has now granted me.
For our lord the most invincible Emperor, who has always embraced the orthodox faith, has brought it about — with God's favor — that all discord has been overcome. Everything that Your Holiness's most blessed priests undertook to accomplish has, by divine grace, been joined to its fulfillment. No resistance from any quarter has prevailed.
Therefore, fortified by your sacred prayers and instructions and by the faith of the orthodox, we humbly ask that you pray for our most holy Augustus, the champion of the whole faith; for his state; and for us too, the guardians of your commands. Deign to offer to the eternal King those prayers which never fail to win a hearing, and visit us — your faithful suppliants — with your life-giving letters.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.