Gregory to Isacius, bishop of Jerusalem. The truth of the history being preserved, what else is it that at the time of the flood the human race dies outside the ark, but is preserved unto life within the ark, save this which we now plainly perceive: that the wave of its own sin destroys all the unfaithful outside the Church, and that the unity of holy Church, like the framework of the ark, guards its faithful ones in faith and in charity? This ark, namely, is joined together of incorruptible timbers, because it is built of strong souls persevering in their good. And when each one is converted from a worldly life, it is as if timbers are still being cut down from the mountains.
But when he is led to the order of holy Church for the keeping of others, it is as if from timbers hewn and fitted together the ark is built for the preserving of men's life. Which ark indeed, when the flood ceased, rested upon a mountain, because when the corruption of this life ceases, when the waves of evil works have passed away, holy Church shall rest in the heavenly country as upon a lofty mountain. And so we rejoice, having read again the letter of your Fraternity, that you run to the building of this ark in the framework of right faith; and we render great thanks to Almighty God, who, even when the shepherds of His flock are changed, keeps the faith which He once delivered to the holy Fathers unchangeable even after them. But the excellent preacher says:
'Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus' (1 Corinthians 3:11). Whosoever therefore, with love of God and neighbour, holds the firmness of the faith which is in Christ, has laid within himself the same Jesus Christ, the Son of God and of man, as a foundation set by the Father. It is therefore to be hoped that where Christ is the foundation, there also may follow the edifice of good works. Truth itself also says by itself: 'He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep' (John 10:1). And a little after He adds, saying: 'I am the door.' He therefore enters through the door into the sheepfold, who enters through Christ.
But he himself enters through Christ, who thinks and preaches true things concerning the same Creator and Redeemer of the human race, who keeps the things he has preached, who undertakes the summit of governance for the office of bearing the burden, not for the appetite of the glory of transitory honour. He also diligently keeps watch over the care of the undertaken sheepfold, lest either perverse men speaking wicked things tear the sheep of God, or malignant spirits, urging the allurements of vices, lay them waste. But in all these things may He Himself instruct us, who for our sake was made man. May He who deigned to become what He had made, Himself pour the Spirit of His love both into my weakness and into your charity, and in all solicitude and vigilance open the eye of our heart to circumspection.
But as to the fact that men of right faith are advanced to the sacred orders, unceasing thanks are to be rendered to the same Almighty God, and we must always pray for the life of our most pious and most Christian lord the emperor, and of his most tranquil consort, and of his most gentle offspring, in whose times the mouths of heretics are silenced; for although their hearts seethe in the madness of perverse thought, yet in the time of an orthodox emperor they do not presume to utter the wicked things they think; so that we openly see fulfilled what is written: 'He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were in a bottle' (Psalm 33:7).
For the water of the sea is gathered as it were in a bottle, because the bitter knowledge of heretics represses in the breast whatever wicked thing it thinks today, and does not presume to utter it openly. But your Fraternity, spiritually instructed, has set forth in all things the right faith, and has subtly expounded the things that were to be inquired into. Your faith therefore is our faith. We hold the things which you say; we say the things which you hold. But because it has come to us that in the Churches of the East no one attains to sacred orders except by the giving of rewards, if your Fraternity recognizes it to be so, let it offer this first oblation to Almighty God, that it may restrain the error of the simoniacal heresy from the Churches subject to it.
For, to be silent about other things, what sort of men will they be able to be in sacred orders, who are advanced to them not by merit but by reward? But we know with what severity the prince of the apostles pursued this, who pronounced the first sentence of condemnation against Simon, saying: 'Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money' (Acts 8:20). The very Creator and Redeemer of the human race, the Lord our God, when He had made a scourge of small cords, overthrew in the temple the chairs of them that sold doves (Matthew 21). For what else is it to sell doves in the temple, but in holy Church to give for a price the laying on of hands, by which the Holy Spirit is given?
But the chairs of them that sold doves were overthrown, because the priesthood of such men is not reckoned in the priesthood. Moreover it has come to me that in that Church which is called Nea, quarrels of your Church often arise in the city of Jerusalem. Wherefore your Holiness ought carefully to weigh all things, and gently to correct certain things, but to bear with equanimity certain things which cannot be corrected. For we plainly see what is said by the voice of the Psalmist in the person of holy Church: 'The sinners have built upon my back' (Psalm 129:1-2). For burdens are borne upon the back. The sinners therefore build upon our back, when we bear by patience those whom we cannot correct.
For the pilot of a ship, when he observes a wind adverse to him, overcomes some waves by a straight helm, but those which he foresees cannot be overcome he prudently avoids by a bent course. So therefore let your Holiness, by checking some things and tolerating others, act as a moderator, that you may in all things preserve the peace of those dwelling together in the holy Church of Jerusalem. For it is written: 'Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God' (Hebrews 12:14). For in the strife of the mind the very light of good intention is shut off. Whence the Psalmist says: 'Mine eye is troubled because of wrath' (Psalm 6:8). And what of good work now remains in us, if we lose peace from the heart, without which we are not able to see the Lord?
Do you therefore so act, that from those also who might perish through quarreling you may gather the gains of your reward. May Almighty God guard your Dilection with heavenly grace, and grant that from those who are committed to you, you may carry back manifold fruit and an overflowing measure unto eternal joys.