Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 838

Gregory to Alcyson, bishop of Corcyra. Not without cause is it demanded that the ambition of a haughty heart be beaten back, when—the force of the sacred canons being set aside—the excess of rash presumption, in unlawfully coveting what belongs to another, is proved to be not only harmful in generating losses, but also contrary to the peace of the Church. Having therefore read again the letters of Your Fraternity, from which we have learned what things have formerly or lately been done concerning the fortress of Cassiopi—which is situated in your diocese—by the bishop of the city of Euria, we have been saddened that those who ought to have been debtors of the Church for the charity bestowed upon them, have with no shame been prevented from becoming rather its enemies;

so that, against ecclesiastical ordinance, against sacerdotal modesty, against the statutes of the sacred canons, they contrived to withdraw the aforesaid fortress from your jurisdiction and to subject it to their own power, that they might in a manner become lords where they had first been received as strangers.

Concerning which matter, since Andreas, our brother of venerable memory, metropolitan of Nicopolis—with the imperial command also aiding him, in which the cognizance of this cause had been enjoined upon him—is known, by the sentence pronounced, as has been made clear to us, to have decreed that the aforesaid fortress of Cassiopi ought to remain under the jurisdiction of your Church, as it always was: approving the form of that same sentence, we confirm it by the authority of the Apostolic See, justice favoring, and we decree that it remain firm through all things. For no reason of equity, no order of the canons consents that one should in any way occupy the parish of another.

Wherefore, although the fault of this dispute may seem to demand no small severity against them—because by them evil has been rendered for good—yet one must strive that kindness be not overcome by the excess, nor that what is owed to strangers, even brethren suffering necessity, be denied them, lest charity be judged to accomplish nothing in the minds of bishops, if those to whom great compassion is owed are left without the remedy of consolation.

It is fitting therefore that the priests or clergy of the city of Euria be in no way driven away from dwelling in the aforesaid fortress of Cassiopi; but that they also have licence, with due veneration, to lay to rest the holy and venerable body of blessed Donatus, which they brought with them, in one of the churches of the aforesaid place which they shall choose, whether within or without. Yet so that a guarantee be procured for Your Charity, in whose parish the fortress itself is situated, by a bond issued, through which the bishop of Euria shall promise that he will thereafter claim no power for himself over it, no privilege, no jurisdiction, no authority whatsoever as a cardinal bishop;

but, peace being restored by God's favor, having removed the venerable body of Saint Donatus, if they should so prefer, they will return in every way to their own places. So that, with the memory of this promise enduring, they may not henceforth dare to claim anything there for themselves as chief authority on any occasion whatsoever, but may acknowledge that they are at all times guests in that place, and that the Church of Your Fraternity may incur no prejudice to its right or privilege in any part. (See below, epistles 8 and 13.)