Hormisdas to all the beloved brothers, the bishops throughout Spain.

Among the matters our brother and fellow bishop John has conveyed to our knowledge, out of zeal for ecclesiastical benefit, he has also consulted us, out of love for the Catholic faith and reverence for the Apostolic See, on the proper manner of granting holy communion to those who come from the Greek clergy, specifically concerning the case of Acacius, who was condemned by our predecessors for communion with heretics. Those who do not separate themselves from his contagion are to be excluded from our communion. I commend the intention of a man who is fervent with this zeal for the faith and the Apostolic institutions, such that he does not allow anyone to be unwittingly submerged in the mire of alien error.

This is a concern worthy of the faithful, that they should always remain vigilant with careful diligence, preserving themselves from all perversion. This is indeed the innocence of faith, that it should foresee and avoid errors, even by accident. Thus, in satisfying the praiseworthy desires of the aforementioned man, and mindful of our own duty, as is proper, we have taken certain documents from the archives of the Church and sent them to your council for the instruction of all. By learning more fully from these what has been done, you may separate yourselves from all communion with those in error.

Indeed, the sentence spoken against the impious transgressors (by divine inspiration) was not motivated by personal hatred. In this matter, we have never ceased from preaching, whether by petitioning the prince or by admonishing priests and people, that the transgressors, having been absolved, should return to the right faith out of love for God and fear of judgment. But their lamentable stubbornness has brought them to such a point that no remedy can overcome their deadly poison, and the evil seeds grow with roots firmly planted in worse soil.

Therefore, most beloved brothers, having been properly instructed in all things, keep yourselves and the Church of God, as the exhortation of the Apostle warns (Acts 20). We have also sent a document, by which any Oriental clerics seeking your communion may be admitted to it, according to the same standard as those from Thrace, Scythia, Illyricum, and Old Epirus, and according to which it is known that many from Syria have already been received, rejoicing to come to what is right and to have turned away from deviation. Thus, to prevent any deception, we order that all care and diligence be vigilant so that there may be no place for ignorance, and no one may use the excuse of past simplicity. For one who knowingly sins requires confession. It is necessary that he who is shown to have persisted in the wrong path should attribute the error to himself.

Boniface, the notary of the Holy Roman Church, is sending copies of the document issued from the archives.

The first safeguard is to preserve the rule of the right faith and never deviate from the constitutions of the Fathers. And since the sentence of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be ignored, saying: “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church” (Matthew 16), etc., these words are proven by the effects of events, for in the Apostolic See the Catholic religion has always been preserved without stain. Desiring not to be separated from this hope and faith in the least, and following the constitutions of the Fathers, we anathematize all heresies, especially Nestorius the heretic, who was once Bishop of the city of Constantinople and was condemned in the Council of Ephesus by the blessed Pope Celestine of the city of Rome and the venerable Cyril, Bishop of the city of Alexandria.

Similarly, we anathematize Eutyches and Dioscorus of Alexandria, who were condemned in the Holy Synod, which we follow and embrace, the Council of Chalcedon, which followed the holy Council of Nicaea and proclaimed the apostolic faith. We also detest Timothy the Parricide, surnamed Aelurus, and likewise condemn his disciple and follower in all things, Peter of Alexandria. Furthermore, we anathematize Acacius, formerly Bishop of Constantinople, who was condemned by the Apostolic See, as well as all who were accomplices and followers of these heretics, or who have remained in their communion or society. Acacius, by associating himself with their communion, deserved to have the same sentence of condemnation as they did. We likewise condemn Peter of Antioch with his followers and all those mentioned above.

We receive and approve all the letters of the blessed Pope Leo, which he wrote on the Christian religion, as we have previously stated, following in all things the Apostolic See and proclaiming all its constitutions. And I hope in all things to be worthy to be in the one communion with you, which the Apostolic See proclaims, wherein lies the integrity and true solidity of the Christian religion. I promise that, in the future, those separated from the communion of the Catholic Church, that is, those not in agreement with the Apostolic See, will have their names excluded from being recited among the sacred mysteries. But if in any way I should attempt to deviate from my profession, I profess by this sentence that I shall be an accomplice with those whom I have condemned.

I have written this profession with my own hand and have sent it to you, Hormisdas, the holy and venerable Pope of the city of Rome.