Germanus, Bishop, Felix and Dioscorus, Deacons, and Blando, Priest.

Great is the mercy of God, and His judgments are unfathomable, for He leaves nothing hidden and brings to light the conscience of each individual. Dorotheus, the Bishop of Thessalonica, has not appeared suddenly, nor is he newly appointed, but he has revealed himself to be the man that true rumor had long proclaimed him to be. Always entangled in his evil desires, he seized the opportunity to commit the crime he had always conceived against the Catholic faith.

In other letters, we have informed your Beatitude about how we were unable to receive the documents while passing through Thessalonica. However, it had been decided that after the consecration of the Holy Church of Constantinople, one of us would be sent to him because it was expected by the aforementioned bishop that one of us, after receiving the documents, would celebrate Mass with him, thus giving him the appearance of having been publicly united to the Apostolic See.

Though it was delayed, we finally sent the venerable Bishop John to him, along with Epiphanius, a priest selected by our common election. Germanus, the venerable and illustrious bishop, was with them, as was Licinius, a count of the court, by the order of the most merciful emperor. Licinius had previously been sent to Thessalonica for another purpose and was present when a synod concerning the parish of the Church of Thessalonica was convened there. He was waiting, according to promise, for one of us to arrive. They wanted, in his presence, to make and sign the documents, which they did. The aforementioned count signed the documents, and coming to Constantinople, reported what had been done.

We were informed by Dorotheus’ representative that we should send someone to receive the documents. As we mentioned earlier, it was decided that the venerable Bishop John would go to confirm the receipt of their signatures. We requested the most pious emperor that Count Licinius accompany him, which was done. When they arrived in the city, Dorotheus was informed by Count Licinius of their presence. Dorotheus sent the priest Aristides with two other bishops, whom he knew to be the only opponents of this matter, to meet with our representatives. With them, they wanted to start a dispute about the documents, saying: “There are points that need to be amended.” Our representatives replied that it was not in their power to make such changes, saying, “We came, greeted you, and proceeded.” After these words, they departed.

They convened again on another day, repeating the same arguments, but before they could even propose their words, no intention had been raised, no insult had been provoked: suddenly, a frenzied mob rushed upon them, killing two of the bishop’s servants, breaking the bishop’s head in two places, and injuring his kidneys. If not for the mercy of God and the protection of the Basilica of Saint Mark, which rescued them from the mob’s hands, they would have perished there. However, they were saved, as is reported, because a public official intervened and was able to rescue them.

These disturbances and plots were devised by the malice of Dorotheus, who, two days before our people arrived in Thessalonica, baptized over two thousand people and distributed enough sacraments to the people to last for a considerable time, signaling to the people that the true faith was being changed. How could such actions not incite the people to revolt? Who would not be provoked to sedition by such things? After this, he tore up the very document he had signed with the bishops before the people, saying, “I will never do this until my death, nor will I consent to those who do it.” They also killed a venerable Catholic man, John, who had received us into his house and who had always been separated from communion with Dorotheus because of the Council of Chalcedon. They executed him in a manner similar to those who killed Saint Proterius.

These matters have reached the most merciful emperor, and almost the entire city is in mourning over these crimes. The holy clemency has promised to punish and summon Dorotheus, as we have asserted to His Holiness, saying, “There is no way in which the blessed pope can receive Dorotheus among the bishops or in the communion of the Apostolic See, and those who wish to receive him in their communion should know that they will be considered guilty by ecclesiastical authority.”

We have hastened to report these things to your Beatitude so that nothing may be hidden from you regarding what is happening in these parts. Received on the fourth day before the Calends of December, under the consulship of Eutharicus (in the year of our Lord 519).