Letter 5019: In the cause of our brother the most reverend John, bishop of Constantinople, I have been unwilling to write two letters. But one I have drawn up briefly, which may seem to combine both requisites; that is to say, both honesty and kindness. Let therefore your Love take care to give him this letter which I have now addressed to him in compliance ...

Gregory to Sabinianus, Deacon. Regarding the case of our most reverend brother John, Bishop of Constantinople, I chose not to write two separate letters. Instead, I have composed one brief letter that I believe serves both purposes -- honesty and kindness. See to it that you deliver this letter, which I have written to him in compliance with the Emperor's wishes. A second one will follow in due course, and his pride will find no comfort in it. He has gone so far as to transmit the acts from the case of John the presbyter, and in nearly every line he styled himself "ecumenical patriarch." But I trust in Almighty God that the divine Majesty will confound his pretension. I am puzzled, though, at how he managed to deceive you into allowing the Emperor himself to be persuaded to write to me on this matter, urging me to make peace with him. If the Emperor truly wishes to uphold justice, he should have told John to drop the proud title -- and peace between us would have followed at once. I suspect you have not fully grasped how cunningly our brother John has played this. His aim is twofold: either the Emperor is obeyed and John's vanity appears confirmed, or I refuse and the Emperor's displeasure falls on me. But we will hold to the right course, fearing nothing in this matter except Almighty God. So let your Love have no fear. Whatever you see exalted in this world against the truth, despise it for truth's sake. Trust in the grace of Almighty God and the protection of the blessed apostle Peter. Remember the voice of Truth: "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." In this cause, do whatever must be done with full authority. Now that we can in no way be shielded from the swords of our enemies -- now that for love of the republic we have lost silver, gold, slaves, and clothing -- it is too disgraceful that through these same adversities we should also lose our faith. To consent to that monstrous title is nothing less than to lose the faith. Therefore, as I have told you in previous letters: never presume to proceed jointly with him.

Book V, Letter 19 To Sabinianus, Deacon. Gregory to Sabinianus, etc. In the cause of our brother the most reverend John, bishop of Constantinople, I have been unwilling to write two letters. But one I have drawn up briefly, which may seem to combine both requisites; that is to say, both honesty and kindness. Let therefore your Love take care to give him this letter which I have now addressed to him in compliance with the wish of the Emperor. For in the sequel another will be sent him such as his pride will not rejoice in. For he has come even to this; that, taking occasion of the case of John the presbyter, he transmitted hither the acts, wherein almost in every line he called himself οἰκουμενικὸν (œcumenical) patriarch. But I hope in Almighty God that the Supernal Majesty will confound his hypocrisy. But I wonder how he could so deceive your Love as that you should allow the lord Emperor to be persuaded to write to me himself concerning this matter, admonishing me to have peace with him. For, if the lord Emperor wishes to observe justice, he ought to have admonished him to refrain from the proud title, and then at once there would be peace between us. I suspect, however, that you have not all considered with what cunningness this has been done by our aforesaid brother John. For it is for this purpose that he has done it; that the lord Emperor might be obeyed, and so he himself might seem to be confirmed in his vanity, or that I might not obey him, and so his mind might be irritated against me. But we will keep to the right way, fearing nothing in this cause except the Almighty Lord. Wherefore let your Love be in nothing afraid. All things that you see to be lofty in this world against the truth in behalf of the truth despise; trust in the grace of Almighty God, and the help of the blessed Apostle Peter. Remember the voice of the Truth, which says, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 4:4; and in this cause whatever has to be done, do it with the utmost authority. For now that we can in no way be protected from the swords of our enemies, now that for love of the republic we have lost silver, gold, slaves and clothing, it is too ignominious that through those men we should lose even the faith. For to assent to that atrocious title is nothing else than to lose the faith. Wherefore, as I have written to you already in former letters, never do thou presume to proceed with him. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360205019.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.