Hormisdas
Pope under whom the Acacian schism ended. After two fruitless embassies to the emperor Anastasius, his legates obtained in 519 the signature of the patriarch of Constantinople to a profession of faith that accepted Chalcedon and condemned Acacius.
The Liber Pontificalis calls Hormisdas a Campanian from the town of Frisino (Frosinone), bishop for nine years and seventeen days from the consulship of Senator, which is 514 (Liber Pontificalis 54 (Hormisdas), Loomis p. 124). It says that he twice sent bishops to the emperor Anastasius with a written profession by which the Greeks might return to communion, that the emperor refused it and sent the second embassy away under guard, and that he wrote to the pope that he meant to give commands and not to take them (Liber Pontificalis 54 (Hormisdas), Loomis pp. 125–127).
When Justin succeeded Anastasius and asked for legates, Hormisdas sent Germanus, bishop of Capua, with others, carrying the same profession. The Roman account says that the clergy of Constantinople at first refused to agree unless they were told why Acacius had been condemned, that the deacon Dioscorus explained it before the emperor, and that Justin then ordered every bishop in his realm to sign (Liber Pontificalis 54 (Hormisdas), Loomis pp. 127–129). The copy signed by John of Constantinople on 28 March 519 survives (Formula of Hormisdas Collectio Avellana 159 (CSEL 35, pp. 607–610)). Hormisdas was buried at St Peter’s on 6 August in the consulship of Maximus, which is 523 (Liber Pontificalis 54 (Hormisdas), Loomis p. 131). See the Henotikon and the Acacian Schism.
In the timeline
- AD 482 to AD 519, firm dateThe Henotikon and the Acacian Schism
The emperor Zeno tries to reunite the supporters and opponents of Chalcedon with a statement of faith that neither adopts nor expressly condemns the council. Rome answers by declaring Acacius of Constantinople deposed, and the two sees stay out of communion for thirty-five years.