Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 839

Gregory to Boniface, deacon at Constantinople. As often as the discord of those who ought to have been preachers of peace makes us sad, we must strive with great solicitude that, the matter of strife being removed, they may return to concord who are at discord in mutually differing wills. Now what things have been done concerning the fortress of Cassiopi—which is situated on the island of Corcyra—and in what manner the bishop of Euria contrives to withdraw it from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Corcyra and to subject it wickedly to his own jurisdiction, is very tedious to relate.

But so that Your Charity may grasp everything in detail, we have transmitted the writings of our brother Alcyson, bishop of Corcyra, and have caused his man to come thither, who can also more minutely instruct you in each particular by word. This much, however, let us briefly touch upon: that while, in the time when Maurice was emperor, a rescript had been surreptitiously obtained to the prejudice of the Church of Corcyra, and his command—inasmuch as it had been given against the laws and sacred canons—had had no effect, and the contention between the parties had remained undecided, he gave another rescript to Andreas, our brother of former days, then metropolitan of Nicopolis: that since each party was subject to his jurisdiction, he himself ought canonically to take cognizance of and settle this cause.

This metropolitan, the cause having been examined and the sentence pronounced—of which we have sent you copies—determined that the aforesaid fortress of Cassiopi is under the power and jurisdiction of the bishop of Corcyra, whose diocese it always was. Approving which sentence, we have foreseen that it should be confirmed by the authority of the Apostolic See. And lest those things which we have decreed could be so severe that they might seem to have nothing of kindness mingled in, it was our care so to dispose the cause for the time, as the text of our sentence, which we have sent to you, shows, that neither should the bishop or clergy of the city of Euria incur the necessity of a dwelling, nor should the privileges of the Church of Corcyra be disturbed in any respect.

But since, at the very beginning, a rescript was surreptitiously obtained from the most serene lord emperor, and, against the judgment of the metropolitan of Nicopolis—which is supported by ecclesiastical rectitude and canonical reason—the aforesaid fortress of Cassiopi is reported to have been handed over to the bishop of Euria (a thing which we can neither hear without grief nor speak without groaning), with the greater injury of the bishop of Corcyra and of his clergy; so that, the jurisdiction of the Church of Corcyra having been removed—a thing grievous to say—he may hold there all power as chief authority: we have foreseen to give our sentence to no one, lest we should seem to do anything against the command of the most clement lord emperor, or, which God forbid, in contempt of him.

Therefore let Your Charity diligently insinuate everything to his Piety, and constantly assert that this is altogether unlawful, altogether depraved, altogether unjust, and very hostile to the sacred canons. And therefore let him not permit that such a sin be introduced in his times to the prejudice of the Church. But let him suggest what the judgment of the aforesaid former metropolitan concerning this business contains, or in what manner those things which were decreed by him have been confirmed by us; and let him strive so to act, that with his command our sentence may be transmitted thither, so that we may be seen both to have reserved to his Serenity, as is worthy, and to have reasonably corrected the things that have been wrongly presumed.

In this matter every effort must be made that, if it can be done, he himself also grant his own command, in which he may order that the things which have been defined by us be observed. For this being done, all room for future surreption is blocked up. Therefore, to check these prejudices, hasten to exert your vigilance with the help of almighty God, so that neither may the will of those who plot perverse things in any way prevail against the ancient state of ecclesiastical custom, nor may the nefarious deed afterward advance as a precedent.

Moreover, so that you may be able to know how great the evils and how great the oppressions which the aforesaid Alcyson, our brother and fellow-bishop, asserts that he endures from the agents of the Church of Thessalonica, we have transmitted to Your Charity the very letter which he sent to us. Therefore cause the representative of the aforesaid Church to come to you, and take cognizance of the cause in his presence; and concerning the points by which reason shall move you, write to our brother and fellow-bishop Eusebius, that he forbid his men to act unjustly, and not to oppress the lesser folk, but rather admonish them to give help in the matters wherein it shall be just.

This also we wish, that Your Charity write to him who shall have been ordained metropolitan in the city of Nicopolis, that he take cognizance of the cause concerning the losses inflicted upon his Church, of which our aforesaid brother Alcyson complains, and settle what is just; for the business itself was not decided by his predecessor, but is read to have been reserved. Gregory to John, bishop of Palermo. Know that the faculty of consecrating the basilica—which you suggest has been completed by Your Charity in honor of blessed Mary, ever a virgin, through our subdeacon and rector of the patrimony Savinus—has been granted to you by the tenor of our directive; so that, dearest brother, fulfilling the desire of your devotion, you may rejoice in the completion of the solemnity.

Given in the month of December, in the seventh indiction.