Letter 10004: Serious charges have been brought against the priest Sisinnius — charges of idolatry and of sexual immorality.

To Savinus, Regionary Subdeacon. [Summary: Let him investigate most diligently in the matter of the priest Sisinnius, who has been accused of idolatry and sodomy. If the evidence is present, let him cast him into prison. Likewise let him compel him to return the deposit to the orphan sons of the priest Victorianus.] Gregory to Savinus, regionary subdeacon. Since for the most part what is a fault in laymen is a crime in those who have been set in the sacred order, anyone who burns with zeal for righteousness is not ignorant of how great a strictness of punishment a sin requiring expiation deserves in such men. For it has been reported to us by the account of certain persons that Sisinnius, a priest of the city of Regium, is—which is a thing utterly intolerable even to hear—a venerator and worshipper of idols, to such a degree that he has presumed to keep a certain idol set up in his own house. But also—which is no different a wickedness—that he is stained with the foul vice of sodomy. And therefore, because the iniquity of so great a crime must be sought out and investigated with strict and subtle inquiry, we command you by this authority that with watchful attention and altogether diligent care you make inquiry; and if you are able to lay hold of any proofs of this matter, that you place him in strict custody, until you report back to us, so that we may be able to deliberate in what manner so monstrous a crime ought to be examined and punished. But know that this affair will without doubt make plain what manner of zeal and ardor you have against the most abominable crimes, through which you should be aware that you will either be much commended before us for your solicitude, or dangerously accused of negligence. Hence it is necessary that you take pains to show yourself so watchful in this investigation that you may both gladden us by your solicitude and make God favorable to you. This also has been reported to us concerning the aforesaid priest, that a certain priest Victorianus had entrusted to him, by his own authority, money together with various goods and ornaments; and when he denied the deposit, judgment having been held he was convicted, and was condemned to be obliged to return it. And because, while he delays to restore that which he was condemned to pay, the man who is said to have made the deposit has died, and his sons are reported to labor under his need, let your experience also inquire into this diligently, and so, saving justice, bring this case to an end; provided that, if it is so, that man may neither retain another's goods with a treacherous mind, and the orphans may receive what is their own even with their father lost. [The remaining lines of the source are editorial apparatus (manuscript variant readings and scholarly notes from the edition: "Epist. IV [al. 3]..." citing the printed text versus manuscripts of Normandy, Reims, Corbie, Tours, etc., a parallel from St. John Chrysostom, Homily 77 to the people of Antioch, that a priest committing the same sins as laymen suffers not the same but much heavier penalties, and a citation of Alciatus on the law "De verborum significatione"); they are not part of the letter and are not translated.]

AD SAVINUM SUBDIACONUM REGIONARICUM. In Sisinnium pres|-yterum de idololatria et 8046mia ac- cusatum inquirat diligentissime. Illum, si adsint indi- cia, detrudal in carcerem. Kuindem coqat ad redden- Jum orphanis Victoriani presbyteri ſiliis depositunt. {,regorius Savino subdiacono regionario. Cum ' plerumque quod in laicis * culpa es1l, hoc crimen in $acrQ Sit ordine conslitutis, LQA4&4 quanla in eis districtione puniendum Sit Þ piaculare fagitium, qui zelo reclitudinis © uritur non ign« rat. Quorumdam siquidem relatione perlatum est, quia Sisinnius, Regilan:e civitatis presbyter, quod auditu jps0 intolerabile nimis est, idolorum venerator ac cvltor Sit, adeo ut in domo $ua quoddam idolum positum habere prasumeret. Sed et, quod non dissi- mile nefas est., Sodomiz illum scetere maculatum. Et ideo quia Llanti facinoris iniquitas districta atque $ubtili investigatione quarenda atqueglectenda ext , hac tibi auctorilate priacipimus ut vigilanti stgio et diligenti omnino cura perquiras; et $i qua tudicia apprehendere hujus rei potueris, eum in custodiam districtam , quousque nobis renunlies, redigas; ut qualiter immanis$imuim facinus disculi debeat ac pu- niri, deliberare possimus. Scito aultem quia Stludium zelumque tuum qualis contra nefandissima $it Ccri- mina hac causa esL Sine dubio monstratura, per quam te apud 10s aut multum de $ollicitudine com- mendari, aut periculose de neglectu noveris ac- cuSari. Unde necesse cs ut ita te vigilantem in hac requisitione sludeas exlibere, qua'enus et nos de $uI- licitudine la latifices, ct beum libi ſacias esse pla- C cabilem. llvc quoque nobis de pradicto presbytero nuntia- jum est, quod Viclorianus quidam presbyler ei cum diversis rebus vel ornamentis © auctoritale Sua pe- cuniam commendassel ; qui dum depositum abnega- ret, judicio habilo convictus est, et ut reddere de- buissel addictus. Et quia, co restiluere id quod con=- demnatus est diſſerente, is qui deposui>se dicitur obiit, el necessilate czus perbibentur filii laborare, et hoc experientia tua diligenter inquirat, atque ita , salva ratione, ad finem hauc causam perducat ; dummodo, Si ila est, nec ille res alienas perſida mente retincat, ErisT. IV [AL 3]: — * In Excusis, gravissimo er- rore culpa non est ; re, uguantibus Mss. Norm., Reg., Corb , Turon., Khem., etc. Significat sarctus Gre» gorius culpam quz in laicis est levior, in clericis, MaXxi4zie SL SACTO In ordine Sint Conslituli, graviorem e:8e, Idem docet sanctus Chrysoslomus hom. 77 ad populum Antioch, : Sacerdos cadem cum 8b (itis pec-. cata commillens, non eadem, scd multo gratiora paitte- (ur, Partim ex GUSSANY. | © In Norm., Kemig. et Colbert., utitur. 114 est, reser valo Sibi jure rei suz vindicand:e quilibet usvcapione rejecla. Ita Alciatus auctorita- lem expout ad legem 115, De verborum s8ignif. GUus- Saxv. Yarie legitur hic locus in Mss. In Neri. : Vic:or. presb. diversas res vel ornamenta auctoritati ma, atque pecuniam. Tia Rhem. et Vatic. D, bis wu: tis, ornamenta actionis wwr. ly \atic. Bet E, 1:70 A et orphani quod snum est vel amis$0 patre reci- piant.