Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 383

Gregory to Basilius. Much does our heart rejoice with your Greatness, that we find you so zealous in your deeds that you acquire for yourself both glory among men and the rewards of recompense with Almighty God. Among other praiseworthy things, therefore, which you do, we have come to know — both by the testimony of many and now by the full report of our own men — how the fervor of your love was kindled against the schism of the Istrians for the unity of the Church. Wherefore we implore the mercy of our Redeemer, that His grace may support you in all things, and grant you to fulfill in affection what He has granted you to will.

Since therefore in this matter the profits of recompense increase as much as the zeal of labor is augmented, we, embracing you with paternal love, exhort that, seizing the opportunity of the occasion, you should more earnestly exercise your efficacy, and by whatever means may be possible, should strive with all zeal to act, so that with the Lord's aid you may fulfill your praiseworthy desire concerning the return of those who err. And as for Castorius our chartulary, the bearer of these presents, whom we have sent thither for certain causes, may your Greatness — that it may multiply its good deeds — be zealous to aid him with your solaces in all things.

May Almighty God, by His protection, together with your sons and all your household, defend and guard you from all adversity, and grant to you both the prosperity of the present life and the gladness of the life to come.