E00615: A letter from papal legates in Constantinople to Pope Hormisdas in Rome reports that Justinian (the future emperor; nephew of the emperor Justin I) seeks relics of the Apostles *Peter and *Paul (S00008 and S00037), and of *Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037) for his basilica of Peter and Paul in Constantinople. When told the request is against the custom of Rome, he requests contact relics (sanctuaria) of Peter and Paul, and pieces from their chains and from the grate of Laurence. Written in Latin in 519; preserved in the Collectio Avellana.

Collectio Avellana 218 (Papal legates in Constantinople to Pope Hormisdas, JH 1587)

Letter dated 29 June 519, to Pope Hormisdas from the papal legates sent to Constantinople to negotiate the end of the Acacian schism.

ITEM SUGGESTIO QUORUM SUPRA
(1.) Filius uester magnificus uir Iustinianus res conuenientes fidei suae faciens basilicam sanctorum apostolorum, in qua desiderat et beati Laurentii martyris reliquias esse, constituit: sperat per paruitatem nostram, ut praedictorum sanctorum reliquias celeriter concedatis. (2.) habuit quidem petitio praedicti uiri secundum morem Graecorum et nos e contra consuetudinem sedis apostolicae exposuimus. accepit rationem. et quia talis feruor est fidei eius, qui mereatur quicquid de apostolica sede depoposcerit, et tale est, quod sperat, unde et salus animae et fidei affectus accrescat, talibus desideriis postulata competit non negare. (3.) unde si et beatitudini uestrae uidetur, sanctuaria beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli secundum morem ei largiri praecipite, et, si fieri potest ad secundam cataractam ispa sanctuaria deponere, uestrum est deliberare. petit et de catenis sanctorum apostolorum. si possibile est, et de craticula beati Laurentii martyris. (4.) ista sunt desideria praedicti uiri, in haec fides ipsius est incitata. propter hoc in urbem uestram uirum spectabilem Eulogium magistrianum direxit, hoc sibi satisfacere iudicans, si de ipso fonte, de quo per omnem terram sanctuaria apostolorum sunt data, inde et ipse reliquias suscipere mereatur. et bene facitis causam ecclesiasticam, magnopere in contestatione dei, tali homini commendare, cuius sinceritas et integritas circa religionem catholicam nota est omnibus hominibus. (5.) hinc uoluerunt capsellas argenteas facere et dirigere, sed postea cogitauerunt, ut hoc quoque a uestra sede pro benedictione suscipiat. Singulas tamen capsellas per singulorum apostolorum reliquias fieri debere suggerimus. Data III Kal. Iul. Constantinopoli.

'FURTHER MEMORANDUM OF THE ABOVE
(1.) Your son Justinian, of magnificus rank, acting as befits his faith, has built a basilica of the Holy Apostles, in which he also wishes there to be relics (reliquiae) of the blessed martyr Laurence. He hopes that, by the mediation of our humbleness, you will quickly grant relics of the said saints. (2.) The petition of the said man was according to the custom of the Greeks, and we explained to him that it was against the custom of the Apostolic See. He accepted our reasoning. And since the fervour of his faith is of a kind that merits whatever it requests from the Apostolic See, and what it hopes for is the kind of thing from which both the salvation of the soul and the feeling of faith are increased, he beseeches that the things requested with such desire be not declined. (3.) Hence, if Your Beatitude approves, order that sanctuaria [lit. 'holy things'] of the blessed Peter and Paul be granted to him according to custom, and it is for you to decide if it is possible to place the same sanctuaria at the second opening (cataracta). He also requests something from the chains of the Holy Apostles, if it is possible, and of the griddle of the blessed martyr Laurence. (4.) These are wishes of the said man; towards these his faith has been incited. For this reason, he has sent to your city the magistrianus Eulogius, of spectabilis rank, considering that he will be satisfied if, from the very source from which sanctuaria of the Apostles are given all over the earth, he too may be worthy to receive relics. And you do well for the interests of the church, and greatly in bearing witness to God, by trusting such a man, whose sincerity and integrity with regard to the Catholic religion is known to all men. (5). They wished to make and send from here silver cases (capsella), but later they thought that he should receive this too from your See, as a blessing. So we suggest that separate cases should be made for the relics of each of the Apostles. Given on the third day before the Kalends of July at Constantinople.'

Text: Günther 1898, 679-680. Translation: Efthymios Rizos and David Lambert.