教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 777 章

Gregory to Constantine, bishop of Scodra. The things which the most beloved bearer of these presents, Nemesion—who says that he is bishop of the city of Doclea—has complained of concerning the crime of Paul of Doclea, once, as he himself asserts, a bishop, would have had to be set forth to your Fraternity the more subtly, had he not testified that you know all; inasmuch as he declares that you both had compassion upon him and wished to come to his aid, but were by no means able to do so.

And since the cause of so great a crime ought not to be neglected or passed over unpunished, lest by imitation of it a wicked audacity be taken up by others—which God forbid—let your Fraternity read over the more diligently the copies of the writings subjoined hereto, which we have directed to our most reverend brother John, bishop of the city of Prima Justiniana, who holds our stead. And if you know that you can accomplish all things according to their tenor, execute and carry out by our authority all those very things which we have enjoined upon him. But if you see this to be difficult for you, certain obstacles perhaps standing in the way, you must strive that these our writings reach the aforesaid brother of ours without excuse.

It also behoves you to be urgent with him, that those things which have been enjoined upon him by us he ought to execute the more strictly, and to be softened by no occasion; but that the things which have been wickedly done be corrected by fitting amendment, so that one and the same matter may be both a suitable punishment of the offender and a terror to others constituted in the same order.