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| To Castorius, Notary.
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Epistle XXXIV.
To Castorius, Notary.
Gregory to Castorius, our notary at Ravenna.
When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna,
treated with us in behalf of our most reverend brother and
fellow-bishop Marinianus concerning the use of the pallium, on our
asking him what was the ancient custom, he replied that the bishop of
the Church of Ravenna used the pallium in all litanies1657
| 1657 Marinianus had
succeeded John as bishop of Ravenna. For Gregory’s dispute
with John concerning the use of the pallium, see above, III. 56, 57; V.
11, 15, and below, VI. 61. | . But that this was not so we both
learnt from others, and it appeared evidently from the letters of the
former bishop John, which we shewed to him. But he said what he
had been ordered to say. For, at the time when this same John was
inhibited by thee from presuming to use the pallium out of order and
unadvisedly, he wrote to us that the ancient custom had been this; that
the bishop of that city should use the pallium in solemn
litanies. We send thee, for thy information, copies of his
letters. But when Adeodatus, deacon of the aforesaid Church, at
the time when he was here, in like manner pressed us strongly
concerning this use of the pallium, we, desiring to ascertain the
truth, in like manner had him questioned as to what the custom
was: and he, that he might persuade us to believe him, and
succeed in obtaining from us what he sought, testified under oath that
it had been the ancient custom for the bishop of his city to use the
pallium in four or five solemn litanies. Let therefore thy
Experience look to the matter diligently, and enquire with all
carefulness how many solemn litanies there have been from ancient
times. Take care also to make enquiry by calling them, not the
solemn, but the greater litanies; that when, through what the aforesaid
deacon Adeodatus testified to us and what the letter of the aforesaid
bishop John acknowledges, it shall appear how many of these solemn
litanies there were, we, knowing how often the pallium used to be worn
in litanies, may most willingly grant the privilege. But do not
make this enquiry of those who are put forward by the
ecclesiastics,
but of others
whom you know to be impartial: and whatever after careful
investigation you discover communicate to us with accuracy, that having
ascertained the truth, as we have said, we may relieve the mind of our
brother and fellow-bishop, the most reverend Marinianus.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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