Hormisdas to the Illustrious Justinian.

We have received the letters of your excellency through Eulogius, our most esteemed son, who has delivered them to us. As he returns, we send you our customary greeting and wish to inform you that the Scythian monks have made several allegations which we cannot leave unexamined. Therefore, we are hastening the arrival of our envoys, with God’s help. For this reason, we believe these monks should be kept in the city, which they themselves do not oppose.

We trust in your excellency to adhere to what you wrote to us in your previous letter concerning them. When our envoys return, we will be properly informed of the matters they have raised. If our judgment finds anything worthy of censure, it will be necessary for us to uphold ecclesiastical discipline concerning them.

Moreover, we suggest that Victor, who is said to hold the office of deacon and whose loyalty these same monks strongly accuse, as well as others who perhaps raise erroneous questions, should be sent to the city by the arrangement of our most merciful lord and son, the Emperor, at your suggestion. This will allow us to fully understand all the allegations they are making.