To Sabinianus, Bishop of Jadera¹⁷⁴⁷

1747 See VI. 27, VII. 17, VIII. 10, and III. 47, note 2.

Gregory to Sabinianus, &c.

I am well delighted in thy sincerity, dearest brother, knowing how, with the discrimination of a careful judgment, it both obeys where obedience is due and resists where resistance is due with priestly zeal.  For with what alacrity of devotion thou hast submitted to what we enjoined for the fault of thy past transgression is disclosed to us by the contents of the letters which thou hast sent to us by the bearer of these presents.  For indeed my beloved brother could not take it otherwise than as it was enjoined by one who loves him.  Hence I trust in the compassion of Almighty God that His grace so protects thee that, having been thus absolved also from other sins, thou mayest rejoice in having wholesomely obeyed.  But as to what thy Charity has signified about being distressed by the jealousy of the excommunicated prevaricator Maximus, thou oughtest not to be disturbed; but it becomes thee by patiently enduring to bear up against the billows that swell vainly to some small degree, and by the virtue of perseverence to subdue the foaming of the waves.  For patience knows how to smooth what is rough, and constancy to overcome fierceness.  Let not, then, adversity deject your spirits, but inflame them.  Let priestly vigour shew thee in all things the more bold.  For this is a true evidence of truth, for one to exhibit himself as all the readier in hard circumstances, and all the braver in such as are adverse.  Wherefore, that no blow may avail to upset the firmness of thy rectitude from its good determination, plant, as thou hast begun to do, the steps of thy soul on the solidity of that rock on which thou knowest that our Redeemer has founded the Church throughout the world, that so the right footsteps of a sincere heart may not stumble on a devious way.

As to the things about which thou hast written, or which the bearer of these presents has explained in our presence, do not suppose that we are neglecting them:  we are very carefully considering them.

Further, we have already, both before and now, given accurate information about everything to our most beloved son the deacon Anatolius¹⁷⁴⁸

1748 At this time Gregory’s apocrisiarius at Constantinople.  Cf. VII. 31, IX. 82.

1749 Callinicus, who at this time was Exarch of Italy at Ravenna.  See IX. 9, with note, and III. 47, note 2.

As to the presbyter about whom thy Fraternity has consulted us through the representation of the bearer of these presents, know that after his lapse he cannot by any means remain in, or be restored to, his sacred order.  Still be ought to be somewhat mildly dealt with, inasmuch as he is said to have readily confessed his fault.  Furthermore, this same bearer spoke at the same time of certain privileges of your Church granted by our predecessors.

About the writings thus referred to by your Charity we wish to be more accurately informed.  Or, if any of them are lying in the registry of your Church, it is necessary that copies of them be transmitted hither; that we may be able with willing mind to renew whatever concerns reverence for your dignity or the genius of the aforesaid Church.

If our common son, the glorious lord Marcellus¹⁷⁵⁰

1750 Proconsul of Dalmatia.  Cf. IX. 5, and III. 47, note 2.

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH