Letter 43

From: Hormisdas, Pope of Rome To: Justinian, illustris [the future Emperor, here addressed by his formal rank] Date: ~519 AD (January) Context: Hormisdas writes to Justinian acknowledging his letter full of zeal for the faith, and pressing for the completion of reconciliation — all Eastern bishops must sign the Formula of Hormisdas. Hormisdas to Justinian, the Illustrious. I received your letter with love — a letter full of holy faith — in which you announced that an opportunity for exercising the firmness of apostolic teaching among you has been divinely granted. We give thanks to our Lord, though we cannot do so adequately, for He has given you both the time and the will for so splendid a remedy. We recognize that these things are being ordained from above, since divine majesty has bestowed imperial power upon one who considers himself appointed for the purpose of composing the peace of the churches. What remains, then, is this: all the bishops of the Eastern regions must testify, following the form of the libellus, that they have come to the full effect of correction. The path to venerable concord is open. The remedies for the hoped-for restoration are marked out. Let the work be completed.

HORiiiSDA IU8TIMAN0 iLLusTRi. Magnitudiuis uestrae litteras sanctae fidei plenas amore suscepimus, quibus ad eiercendam apud uos praedicationis apostolicae firmitatem oportunitatem nobis prouenisse diuinitus nuntiastis. unde insufficienter domino nostro agimus gratias, qui ad tam praeclara remedia et tempus uobis et animum dedit. et nos quidem ista desuper agno- 2 scimus ordinari, postquam ei detulit diuina maiestas imperium, qui se ad componendam ecclesiarum pacem iudicat ordinatum. ergo restat, ut uniuersi episcopi partis Orientalis iuxta libelli 158, Dat ut ep. 148. Edd. Car. P 488; Bar. ad a. 519,^0; Colle^. Concil; BTA I 420. Thiel 847. 4 prabp praet thkssalox V 5 PARi V 15 misericordiae F, eorr. 602 Hormisda TheoJosio; Honnisda Euphemiae seriem <ad> correctionis peruenisse se testentur effectum. 3 patet uenerandae uia concordiae, notata sunt optatae remedia sanitatis: sacerdotes, qui catholicam pacem desiderant, profes- sionem catholicam non recusent. non enim opus est partibus errorem comgi sed radicitus amputari. insistite igitur, sicut 5 coepistis, ut merces apud deum uestra, quae de boni operis inchoatione habet initium, de perfectione consequatur effectum. 4 animum quidem uestrum talem missa ad nos testantur alloquia, ut ad plenitudinem boni propositi non multum indigeatis hortatu: nostri tamen desiderii ea, quae spem dedit, ratio lo amplius accendit ardorem et auidius gaudia impleri cupimus, quae instare iam diuinitus arbitramur. hinc <est>, quod beatum Petrum apostolum cotidie suppliciter obsecramus, ut uobis, per quos integrari membra sua sancta iam sperat ecclesia, 5 et effectum deus celerem et salutem tribuat longiorem. nos is quidem nestris animis obsequentes uiros direximus ad soli- dandam sub apostolicae dispositionis ordinatione concordiam: uestrum est, ut sicut nos bonae intentioni deesse noluimus, 6 ita eos ad nos optatum referre faciatis effectum. munus uestrum ueneranda sacraria susceperunt: quod amplius beato 20 Petro apostolo facietis acceptius, si per uos optatam ecclesiae receperint unitatem.