Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)→Unknown|gregory great
From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome
To: The clergy, order, and people of Crotone
Date: ~592 AD
Context: Gregory directs the people of Crotone to obey their visiting bishop John and to choose a suitable bishop for themselves.
Gregory to the clergy, order, and people of Crotone [a city in Calabria].
Your church has been without settled episcopal leadership, and I have appointed the bishop John to serve as your visitor [a bishop delegated to oversee a church during a vacancy]. I direct you to obey him in the exercise of this function.
At the same time, I direct you to turn your attention to the selection of a suitable permanent bishop for your church. The visitor arrangement is temporary; what your community needs is a permanent, properly elected and ordained bishop who can give his full attention to your church's governance.
Begin the process of identifying and evaluating candidates. The man you choose should be of blameless life, sound faith, and the pastoral ability your church requires. Bring your recommendation to me in due course, and we will proceed from there.
Obey the visitor in the meantime. And take the episcopal election seriously.
Gregory
Context:Gregory directs the people of Crotone to obey their visiting bishop John and to choose a suitable bishop for themselves.
Gregory to the clergy, order, and people of Crotone [a city in Calabria].
Your church has been without settled episcopal leadership, and I have appointed the bishop John to serve as your visitor [a bishop delegated to oversee a church during a vacancy]. I direct you to obey him in the exercise of this function.
At the same time, I direct you to turn your attention to the selection of a suitable permanent bishop for your church. The visitor arrangement is temporary; what your community needs is a permanent, properly elected and ordained bishop who can give his full attention to your church's governance.
Begin the process of identifying and evaluating candidates. The man you choose should be of blameless life, sound faith, and the pastoral ability your church requires. Bring your recommendation to me in due course, and we will proceed from there.
Obey the visitor in the meantime. And take the episcopal election seriously. Gregory
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.