Letter 6034: Gregory to Castorius, our notary at Ravenna. When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna, treated with us in behalf of our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus concerning the use of the pallium, on our asking him what was the ancient custom, he replied that the bishop of the Church of Ravenna used the pallium in all litanies....

Gregory to Castorius, our notary at Ravenna. When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna, came to negotiate with us on behalf of our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus regarding the use of the pallium, we asked him what the ancient custom had been. He replied that the bishop of Ravenna wore the pallium in all litanies. We learned from others, however, that this was not the case, and it was made evident from the letters of the former bishop John, which we showed to him — though he maintained that he was saying only what he had been instructed to say. For at the time when you yourself restrained that same John from presuming to wear the pallium out of order and without authorization, he wrote to us claiming that the ancient custom had been for the bishop of that city to wear the pallium in the solemn litanies. We are sending you copies of his letters for your information. When, similarly, the deacon Adeodatus of that same church was here on a previous occasion and pressed us strongly on this matter of the pallium, we, wishing to establish the truth, questioned him likewise about what the custom had been. In order to persuade us and obtain what he sought, he testified under oath that the ancient custom had been for the bishop of his city to wear the pallium in four or five solemn litanies. Let your Experience therefore look into this matter diligently and investigate with all care how many solemn litanies there have been from ancient times. When making these inquiries, take care to refer to them not as the solemn litanies but as the greater litanies — so that when through the testimony of the deacon Adeodatus and the acknowledgment in the former bishop John's letter it becomes clear how many of these solemn litanies there were, we, knowing how often the pallium used to be worn at litanies, may most willingly grant the privilege. Do not make this inquiry of persons put forward by the church authorities, but of others whom you know to be impartial. Whatever you discover through careful investigation, report to us with precision, so that, having established the truth as I have said, we may relieve the mind of our brother and fellow bishop, the most reverend Marinianus.

Book VI, Letter 34 To Castorius, Notary. Gregory to Castorius, our notary at Ravenna. When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna, treated with us in behalf of our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus concerning the use of the pallium, on our asking him what was the ancient custom, he replied that the bishop of the Church of Ravenna used the pallium in all litanies. But that this was not so we both learned from others, and it appeared evidently from the letters of the former bishop John, which we showed to him. But he said what he had been ordered to say. For, at the time when this same John was inhibited by you from presuming to use the pallium out of order and unadvisedly, he wrote to us that the ancient custom had been this; that the bishop of that city should use the pallium in solemn litanies. We send you, for your information, copies of his letters. But when Adeodatus, deacon of the aforesaid Church, at the time when he was here, in like manner pressed us strongly concerning this use of the pallium, we, desiring to ascertain the truth, in like manner had him questioned as to what the custom was: and he, that he might persuade us to believe him, and succeed in obtaining from us what he sought, testified under oath that it had been the ancient custom for the bishop of his city to use the pallium in four or five solemn litanies. Let therefore your Experience look to the matter diligently, and enquire with all carefulness how many solemn litanies there have been from ancient times. Take care also to make enquiry by calling them, not the solemn, but the greater litanies; that when, through what the aforesaid deacon Adeodatus testified to us and what the letter of the aforesaid bishop John acknowledges, it shall appear how many of these solemn litanies there were, we, knowing how often the pallium used to be worn in litanies, may most willingly grant the privilege. But do not make this enquiry of those who are put forward by the ecclesiastics, but of others whom you know to be impartial: and whatever after careful investigation you discover communicate to us with accuracy, that having ascertained the truth, as we have said, we may relieve the mind of our brother and fellow bishop, the most reverend Marinianus. 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/360206034.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.