Who he was
Hormisdas came from a wealthy family of Frosinone and had been married before he received higher orders; his son later became pope as St Silverius. He was a deacon and close supporter of Pope Symmachus, and was elected the day after his funeral.
What he is remembered for
He ended the Acacian Schism: in 519, under the Emperor Justin I, the Patriarch of Constantinople and most Eastern bishops signed his confession of faith, the Formula of Hormisdas, which affirms that the Catholic faith has always been kept unstained in the Apostolic See and was cited at the First Vatican Council. He also reconciled the last followers of Laurentius in Rome. He is remembered as the pope who restored unity between Rome and the East.
He is honoured by the Church as Saint. Read his page in the dictionary of saints.
Sources
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