Hormisdas to Justin, the August Emperor.

The glorious labors of your clemency are crowned by the ecclesiastical palm of concord and the desired tranquility of a peaceful world, as acknowledged by universal proclamation. This makes our voice constantly eager and ready to express our gratitude. Yet, let us not remain silent about the fact that we continuously offer prayers to our Lord on your behalf; for while our affection in prayer is infinite, our expressions of it in words may be limited.

Among the benefits of your piety, however, one particular concern, which greatly affects us, does not leave our minds: the fact that Helias, Thomas, and Nicostratus, our brothers and fellow bishops, who were the first to hasten to embrace ecclesiastical concord in devotion, are not only deprived of the great reward of their initial endeavor but are also burdened with the misery of a bad example. Therefore, with mixed prayers and tears, we implore your clemency that our joy, which you provide daily through the conversion of heretics, may not be intolerably disturbed by the rejection of these aforementioned men.

For it is not merely the cause of these persons that concerns us—although the glory of their good deed and merit should be enough for them—but also that the decrees of the venerable canons are being disregarded. The rejection of these men also touches upon a significant injury to the Apostolic See, and the sincerity of your Christian faith, which both strongly supports the ancient decrees and newly establishes the primacy of the Apostolic See by acts of reverence, should not leave an unresolved matter that remains an insurmountable question for posterity.