To the most beloved brothers, all the bishops established throughout the province of Baetica, Bishop Hormisdas.

What could be sweeter to an anxious heart than to hear of the things I desire concerning you? What could be more fitting to religious institutions than for the priests to maintain among themselves the peace that they must, as a duty, announce to others? Indeed, I received with full joy the news that you have informed me by letter of the peace of the Churches and the love that is between you. Whatever I could encourage or advise has already been offered to me willingly.

May God confirm this work that He has accomplished in us (Psalm 67), and may He, by the mercy with which He redeemed us, fulfill what He has commanded for the salvation of souls. In response to such good news, we, too, share in the role of the religious messengers. Whatever has been settled with the Easterners, whom we have already informed by letters, having been brought back to the unity of the Church’s body by the help of our God, we will communicate it to you anew whenever appropriate.

Immediately after the return of our envoys (according to our decree), a delegation was sent by the Easterners. They asked for what was certain and consulted about what was certain. But we will summarize these matters, sending to you directly what responses we have given, so that no falsehood or error can claim for itself the length of the distance between us when it suffices to hold to the truth itself concerning these matters. As for the contents of your letter, it would have been proper to fully address your desires so that a response fitting to reason could be given to all you have considered.

However, because you mentioned in your letter the privileges of old and the decrees of the Fathers, we have sent a reply on this matter to our brother and fellow bishop, Sallustius, and we also inform you briefly of what we have explained to him more fully: that no privileges granted by us should be overturned, and nothing is more suitable to the faith than that what was decreed by the Fathers should be maintained in its honor. May God keep you safe, most beloved brothers (in the year of our Lord 519).