Hormisdas to John, Bishop of Constantinople.

We have indeed, brother, given a fitting response to your letters under the freedom of the Church; and what we rejoiced in them we have included, expressing clearly what had been passed over in silence. Although all things have already been impressed upon your understanding—whether by frequent embassies or by the long-standing experience of your conversation in the Church—it still pleases us to set forth our plan more broadly with repeated reasoning. For the strength of faith is well discussed when the desire to establish peace is explained in simple words.

Your desires, by which you testify that you hasten toward ecclesiastical harmony, we have always wished to see fulfilled in those regions. Nor have we been content with mere ambition of prayers; we have also employed supplications. These things we say are confirmed by your testimony and that of the world: for to bring about the restoration of Catholic unity, we submit our authority with integrity. May divine mercy incline its ear to our prayers, so that what you believe ought to be sought, you may follow, and what is offered, you may love.

Our concern is one, our guardianship is one: to desire peace in such a way that the decrees of religion and the venerable Fathers are preserved. For those things that do not differ in their harmonious belief ought rightly to endure in similar observance. But why do we delay longer? You yourself know what the cause of unity demands; you yourself know by what path you ought to come to the fellowship of the blessed Apostle Peter. You have the guide of your journey—whom you already claim to follow—in the assembly held at Chalcedon for the sake of religion. Now, too, as you have testified that you embrace it, the teaching of the blessed Leo will accompany you on your return.

If these things please you, let not the defense of the condemned Acacius please you—this is what holds back the prayers of good zeal from perfection. For if those things were established by the assembly of the venerable Fathers against the enemies of God and His law, so that whoever followed them in communion would already then fall under the sentence pronounced against them in their condemnation, then what we steadfastly carry out is not new. Rather, we preserve the just judgments made in those times by the decree of the Fathers.

We therefore exhort you, brother, and with the help of our God’s mercy, we urge your mind, that by condemning Acacius along with his followers and separating yourself from all contagion of heretics, you may be nourished with us in the participation of the Lord’s body. If you preach all things with us, why do you not condemn all things with us? For you truly embrace with us what we venerate only if you abhor with us what we detest. True peace knows no partial distance, and the true worship of the one God cannot exist except in the unity of confession.

Wherefore, greeting you with the affection of brotherly love, we signify that your petition has been fulfilled—as you hoped—through the most religious men sent: Bishops Germanus and John, Deacon Felix, Deacon Dioscorus, and Presbyter Blandus. What instructions they have been given, you will clearly recognize if you consider their statements beforehand. They will receive your peace under the profession we have often written. Fulfill, therefore, our joy, most beloved brother, and send back to us through them the proclamation of your true faith, so that through you an example may be given to all (in the year of our Lord 519).