Letter 11129

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Smaragdus, exarch [the exarch was the Byzantine viceroy of Italy, resident in Ravenna] Date: ~601 AD Context: Gregory asks the exarch to protect Bishop Firminus, who has returned to church unity from the Istrian schism, from harassment by the bishop Severus. Gregory to Smaragdus, exarch. The bishop Firminus has returned from the Istrian schism to the unity of the Catholic church. This is a matter for genuine rejoicing, and it is precisely what the church has been working toward through years of patient engagement with those who separated themselves over the Three Chapters controversy. However, Firminus is now apparently being harassed by Bishop Severus, who remains in schism. This harassment must stop. I ask you to use your authority as exarch to protect Firminus from these attacks. A man who has made the courageous decision to return to unity should not then be subject to reprisals from those who chose differently. Such reprisals would discourage others from making the same choice. Protect Firminus. This serves both the church and the peace of your province. Gregory

AD. SMARAGDUM EXARCHOM. Ut Firminum episcopum ad Ecclesice unitatem rever- gum, a Severs molestiis deſendat hortatur. Serva- lurum triginta dierum inducias Cillanem, at Pisa- nos pacisci noluis8e. Gregorius Smaragdo patricio et exarcho. Olim novimus, excellentissime fili, quo desiderio, __ quave conversione animi, pro * adunanda Dei Eccle- ia in lstriz videlicet partibus, zelo Redemptoris 'nostri, amore #lernz mercedis, studii vestri fervor hac causa olim exhibiti nunc vehemertius ſervor incandeat ; tantoque yos conira hostes Dei vindices deſensoresque reperiant, quanto apud Deum pretio- sior est anime quam defensio corporis. Armet vos contra devios ipsa que in vobis fidei viget rectitudo, redintegretur vestris temporibus quod in illis est partibus scissum corpus Ecclesiz. Habetis in hae causa retributorem vestri operis, rectitudinis ac in- tegritatis auctorem. De divina namque miseratione confidimus quod tanto exteriores hostes nostri va- lentiores voz contra se reperient, quanlo vos inimici rectz fidei divino in se $enserint amore terribiles. Przterea duas * ad Cillanem epistolas misimus, $i pacem quz ab excellentia vesira in triginta diebus exstiterit. Quod cum ita it, ea quz nobis de illis nu- G facta est custodiret ; et rescripsit eam se servaturum, per sunt partibus nuntiata, ad vesiram- non deslili- ' mus perferre notitiam. Firminus siquidem ſrater et coepiscopus nosler, > Tregeslinz antites Ecclesiz, ante adventum vestrz excellentiz satubri consilio ab schismate, quo inhx'serat, resipiscens, alque ad uni- tatem malris Ecclesiz rediens, nostris est epistolis conſirmatus, qualenus in vero quem cognoveral sinu mairis Ecclesiz, fortitudine animi fixus ac stabilis permaneret. uo- audito Severus, 5 Gradensis epi- $eopus , ejusdem caput schismaiis, 4 eum diversis si tamen ipsi a reipublicz partibus ſuerit custodita. Homines auiem illos quos tenuerat omnes cum rebus Suis relazavit. Sed de occisis hominibus suis vaide dolet, atque de vobis vehementer suspectus est, quia si, quod Deus avertat, locum jnvenerit, etiam in pa- - ce cum non es dubium excessurum. ' Ad Pisancs autem hominem nos(rum dudum qualem debuimus, el quomodo debuimus, transmisimus ; s8ed oblinere nil potuit. Unde et * dromones eorun jam parati ad egredieadum nuntiati sunt. * Patriarcha Aquileiensis post Heliam, ad quem Pelagius Il scripsit. lacensa aulem a Langobardis diet. 10; epist. 44 lib. 11, nunc 46 lib. 1v. Gos8anv. D Aquileia, 8edem transtulit ad Gradensem Ecclesiam, »d Rhemensis et Vatic. D, divinis actionibus , aut ſortazse, quod etiam legimus in vel. Ed. | © Puto filium faisse supradicte Eusebize, sicque nepotem Rusticianz ; quod coliigo ex epist. 25 lib. vii, nune 22 lib. vin, indict. 41; eptst. 38 lib. 1x, nune 44 lib. x1; epist. 26 lib. x1, nune 22 lib. xm. Gus8anv. 4 Pogset addi mense Junio , indict. 6, siquidem ita legitur initio epixtolz hujus in tribus Mss. Vatic. Eersr, LXNXNIH Af. 40]. — * ha melivs Vatic., Norm,, Colbert., Rhem., elc., quam Excusi, ubi legitur pro adjuvanda. Colſo di Trieste ab ea dicti. Portum habet capacem, es1que episeopalis 8ub patriarcha Aquileiensi , sive Viinensi archiepiscope. Gussany. Legimus Trege- zum in quinque Vatic., et in omuibus Norm., imo el in vet. Ed.. quos sequi cogimur, sChismaticorum in illis partibus princeps. Vide que diximus ad epist. 16 lib. 1, Gussany. 4 In Excusis, cum diversis pramiorum, etc., cerie dissentientibus saliem plerisque Mss. p © Ita in omnibus Norm., Turon., Colbert. et in duobus Vatic. In aliis legitur Varacinallem vel Va- 8accillonem ; nullis autem in Mss, reperimwus Tilqui- num, ul e>t in Excusis. | Ibis Liburn's inter alla naviam, Amice, propugnacula. | Dromonariorum remigum'meminit Cassiodorus, Va- riar, lib, 1y, epist. 13. 4:85