Letter 8050

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: John, Bishop of Syracuse [Sicily] Date: ~598 AD Context: Gregory instructs Bishop John to free Felix, born of Christian parents, from servitude to a Samaritan. Gregory to John, bishop of Syracuse. A man named Felix has come to my attention. He was born of Christian parents and is therefore entitled to the full standing of a free Christian. He is currently in a position of servitude or dependency to a Samaritan, and this is not acceptable. I direct you to take whatever steps are necessary to free Felix from this situation. A Christian born of Christian parents is not to be held in servitude to a non-Christian if it can be prevented, and in this case I believe it can be. Act on this promptly. Gregory

AD JOANNEM EPISCUPUM SYRACUSANUM. Felicem Christianis parentibus nalum a Samar@i servitio liberet. Gregorius Joanni episcopo Syracusano. Felix prasentium portitor questus nobis est, cum zit de Christianis natus parentibus , a quodam Chri- ztiano, * Samarzo, quod dici scelus est, cs8e do- natum. Et dum hujusmodi superstitionis homines Christiana quolibet modo mancipia possidere nec ratio legis, nec reverentia religionis admittat, se ta- men per decem et octo annos in cjus asserit servitio permansisse ; sed cognoscente hoc sanctz memoriz decessore vestro Maximiano, ab eo se, zelo, sicut decuit, sacerdotali commoto, de Samarzi servitio nefario dicit liberatum. Sed quia ejusdem Samarzi filivs post quinque annos ſactus dicitur Christianus , et supradictum Felicem in ejus servitium , quantum ipse dicit, quidam nituntur redigere , sanclitas ve- sira hec quz edocti sumus diligenter inquirat ; et si ta ej esse consliterit, eum tweri sludeat. et a nullo Sub qualibet occasione- gravari permiltat, quiz dum vupersiitiosz seclze mancipia domings $uos ad fidem przecedentia servitio corum aperlte redigi jura prohi- beant, quanto magis hic de Christianis parentibus natus, ect ſactus a parvulo Christianus, debet quzstionem aliquo modo sustivere, maxime quia nee palris ejus esse Servus poluit, quem liquet ex prava polius presumplione penam posse venien- tew de legibus susſinere ? Et ideo, sicut diximus, ita eum ganclilaltis vestre deſensio rationahiliter lwealur, ut vulli eum sub quolibet argumento $it ali- quatenus aſſligendi licentia. (Cf{. Joan. Diac. l. iv, n, 47, Vide lib, vi, ep. 55, indict. 14,)