Letter 3062

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Eutychius, bishop [of Tyndaris or another Sicilian see] Date: ~593 AD Context: Gregory urges a bishop to persevere in his efforts to convert idol worshipers, and directs him on the matter of a praetor. Gregory to Eutychius, bishop. I hear that you have been working persistently to bring the idol worshipers in your area to the Christian faith. I encourage you not to lose heart in this work. Conversion is often slow, and the resistance one encounters is discouraging. But the alternative — leaving people in spiritual darkness because the work is difficult — is not acceptable. Persevere. Use persuasion, instruction, and the example of Christian life and charity. Do not use force; people brought to faith by coercion have not genuinely converted. What we want is not conformity but genuine faith, and that can only come from genuine choice. On the matter of the praetor [a local official]: bring his case to me with the specific details. I cannot give you direction on it without knowing exactly what the situation is. Gregory

AD EUTYCHIUM EPISCOPUNM. Us mr convertendis idolorum cnttoribus perseveret horta- tur. bpsi pretoris poxtulat patrocinium. Gregorins Entychio episcopo * Tyndaritano. Seripts fraterniratis tuz, Benenato Ecclesie te elerico deferente, sascept; grafiasque omnipotenti Dev retolf, quod inf canis anime et jis que ad Denr pertinent, te ocenpetum e8se cognovimns. Secripsisti siquidem nobis quosdam idoforam cutrores, Þ atque Angetlioram dogmatis in G7Y iis in quibns consti- tutus es pariibus inveniri, de quibus pſares assernisti esse convers0s, aliquos mem potemtum nomine atque locorun? se qualitate deſendere. Auriliantes igitur bonis tae charitatis operibnus , viro glorioso pre#tori Siciliz nostra scripta transmiginrns, quatenus, jn- rante Domino, qma potest tibi virtore coneurrat, nt quod handabiliter coeptum evt, valeat salubriter adim- pleri. Oportet ergo ſraternifatem tuam, maximam in hoe sollicftadinem gerere. Vere enim episcopalem vitam sequeris, & per zelum linguamque tuam hos qui a fidei veritate dissentiunt in Ecclesiz unitatem reduxerts. Eprer. LXH [Af. 604. — © Tyndaris, vulgo adhne 8ancta Maria di Tindaro, urbs olim Sicilia: episcopa- lis inter Mylas et Pactas, nane excisa, in ora littorali quz Liparzas insulas respicit. Gussaxv. In quatnor Vatic,, Norm., Rhem., Reg. et plerisque , legitur Tindatino vel Tuwdarino. In dnobus Teller., Londario. V Ita Vatieani, quinque Anglic., Septeni Norw., Khem., etc. Angellii forte ii Suut de quibns Niceph. lib. xvu1 bist., c. 49 : Tertii, inquit, preterea Severite sunt... alinm es8e dicunt Patrem, alium Fi- ltinum, et atium Paracletum, Spiriium videlicet ganctum ; non esse auiom horum quemque per 8cipsum naturam, sed habere communem Deum sire Deitat:m in ipsis eris'entem ; aque de ea Deitcte indivicibili modo p r- licipantes, quemlibet exxe Deum. Unam autem $1b35- slentiam opinantur e856, Patrem, et Filium, ct Spiritum ganctum ; communem vero ip:um Deum, substantiam el naturam. Ceterum Angehie isli ab adverzariis ita appellati swnt, « quodam Alezandrie loco, Angelii no- men habente, in que 8ci/icel, qui primas apyd 80s ſerunt, conventus cogebant. Hos iid:m adversarn Sabelliani- ${as... nominarunt. Pro, Anrgelliorum, Editi legerunt . Furrunt $sane chm qui in cultu angelo- rum inganirent. Angustinus, hevesl irigesima nova : Angelici in angelorum cultum mclinats, quos Epipha- nius jam omnine de ſeeiese testatur heres. 60. Amn dis- Seminatos ab ilis hbevreticis errores, au alios hie intelligat Gregorius , incortum. Sanctus Pauls, ad Coloss. 1, 48 > Neme vos scducat roltens m humiliate el religione angelorum. Que Apostoli verba Sic expo- nit Theodoretus : Qui tegrm defendebant , eos etiam ad angelos colendos inducebunt , dicentes legem [u:380 = eos datam. Mansit autem perdiu hoc vitium m hrygia et Pisidia. Proinde synodus que convenit apud Laodiceam Phrygie, lege prohibuit ne precarentur an- gelos, can. 55... Hi ergo humilitate nimirum ducts hoc fieri swadebant, dicen'es universorum Deum nec SANCTI GREGORIU MAGNI te discrete alque benignissime relaxare, ad sequendas A