Letter 4090: I write to you both together because the matters I wish to raise touch both your great sees and require your joint...

To the bishops Eulogius and Anastasius. [Argument:] He sends them the letters both of his predecessor Pelagius and his own to John, who was arrogating to himself the title of universal bishop. He earnestly exhorts them that by common counsel and with one spirit they should pursue that man's pride. Gregory to Eulogius, bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, bishop of Antioch. Since that excellent preacher says: "As long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry" (Romans 11:13); and since the same man elsewhere says: "We were made as little ones in the midst of you" (1 Thessalonians 2:7); he doubtless shows us, who follow, an example, that we should both hold humility in our mind, and yet preserve the dignity of our order in honor, in such a way that neither should humility in us be timorous, nor exaltation be proud. For eight years ago, in the time of my predecessor Pelagius of pious memory, our brother and fellow bishop John, in the city of Constantinople, seeking an occasion from another cause, held a synod, in which he attempted to call himself universal. As soon as that same predecessor of mine learned this, he annulled the acts of that synod by letters directed under the authority of the holy apostle Peter. Of which letters indeed I have taken care to send copies to your Holiness. But the deacon, who according to custom was attending the footsteps of our most pious lords for the purpose of making responses on behalf of the Church, he forbade to celebrate the solemnities of the Masses together with our aforesaid fellow priest. And I too, following his sentence, have transmitted similar writings to our aforesaid fellow priest, copies of which I have judged should be transmitted to your Beatitude, intending this especially: that in this matter, by which through a new pride the whole bowels of the universal Church are disturbed, we should first strike the mind of our oft-mentioned brother with a modest intention; and if he is in no way willing to be bent from the rigidity of his elation, then what ought to be done may be more subtly considered, with the solace of almighty God. For as your venerable Holiness knows, through the holy Council of Chalcedon this name of universality was offered to the pontiff of the apostolic see, which by God's disposition I serve. But none of my predecessors ever consented to use this so profane a word, because plainly, if one patriarch is called universal, the name of patriarch is derogated from the rest. But far be this, far be it from a Christian mind, that anyone should wish to seize for himself that whereby he would seem in any small part to diminish the honor of his brethren. Since therefore we are unwilling to receive this honor when offered, weigh how disgraceful it is that anyone should have wished violently to usurp it for himself. Therefore let your Holiness in your letters never name anyone universal, lest you detract what is due to yourself, when you offer to another an honor that is not due. Nor let a sinister suspicion gnaw at you, because I fear the almighty Lord, and in no way consent to do anything against the evangelical statutes, against the most sacred canons. But I, although I am separated from you by long intervals of lands and sea, am nonetheless wholly joined to you in heart. And of your Beatitude toward me I am confident in every way of this, because, since you love me in turn, you are not far from me. [The Redeemer] sprinkled the mass of the whole human race sufficiently into unity (cf. Matthew 13:33). And [it is that] small stone, which, cut from the mountain without hands, occupied the whole face of the world (Daniel 2:35). Who to this end extends himself in every direction, that, the human race being reduced into unity, the whole body of the Church might be perfected, and thus that partial distinction might pertain to the movement of the members of the whole framework. Whence we too are not far from you, because in him who is everywhere we are one. Let us therefore give thanks to him who, the enmities being dissolved, in his flesh brought it about that in all the world there should be one flock, and one fold under himself the one shepherd, ever mindful of what the preacher of truth admonishes us, saying: "Being careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). And: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one shall see God" (Hebrews 12:14). Who also says to other disciples: "If it be possible, as much as is in you, having peace with all men" (Romans 12:18). For he saw that the good cannot have peace with the wicked; and therefore, as you know, he premised, "If it be possible." But because peace cannot be made firm except on two sides, when the wicked flee it, the good ought to hold it from the marrow. Whence also it is wonderfully said, "As much as is in you," namely that it may remain in us, even when it is repelled from the mind of depraved men. Which peace indeed we then truly hold, when we pursue the faults of the proud with charity and at the same time with insistent justice, when we love them and hold their vices in hatred. For man indeed is the work of God, but vice is the work of man. Let us therefore distinguish what is God's and what likewise is man's [doing], so that we neither hold a man in hatred on account of his error, nor on account of the man love the error. With united mind therefore let us pursue the evil of pride in the man, so that the man himself may first be freed from his enemy, namely from error. Our almighty Redeemer will furnish strength to charity and to justice; he will furnish to us, placed far from one another, the unity of his Spirit, he by whose craftsmanship the Church, constructed as it were upon a citadel by the measure of the four sides of the world, and bound fast by the framework of imperishable timbers and the bitumen of charity, is disturbed by the adversity of no spirit, by the swelling of no wave coming from without. But just as, by his governing grace, it must be sought that no wave coming upon us from outside should trouble us, so it must be prayed with all our bowels, dearest brethren, that with the right hand of his providence he may exhaust the accumulation of the bilge-water within us. For the adversary the devil, who raging against the humble, "as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8), now, as we perceive, does not go about the sheepfolds, but has fixed his teeth so strongly into certain necessary members of the Church, that it is doubtful to no one that, unless with one accord, the Lord favoring, the provident throng of all the shepherds runs together, that fold, which God forbid, he will soon tear to pieces. Consider, dearest brethren, [...]. But may almighty God show your Beatitude with what grievous groaning of this consideration I am tormented, that he who once was most modest to me, he beloved by all, he who seemed occupied in almsgivings, prayers, and fastings, has taken vainglory out of that very ash on which he sat, out of that very humility which he preached, so that he attempts to ascribe all things to himself, and through the elation of pompous speech strives to subjugate to himself the members of that same Christ, which cohere to the one sole head, namely Christ. Nor is it any wonder that that tempter, who knows that the beginning of all sin is pride, both used it then in the first man before all things, and now places it for certain men at the end of their virtues, so that those who in some measure seemed by the good pursuits of their life to escape his most cruel hands, in the very goal itself of their good work, and as it were in the very conclusion of perfection, he sets a snare for them. Whence it must greatly be prayed, and almighty God implored with assiduous prayers, that he may turn this error away from that man's mind, may remove this evil of pride and confusion from the unity and humility of the Church. And with the Lord favoring, we must run together and provide with all our strength, lest in the poison of one man's speech the living members in the body of Christ should die. For if this is licentiously permitted to be said, the honor of all the patriarchs is denied. And when perhaps he who is called universal perishes in error, no bishop at all will be found to have remained in the state of truth. Keep the Churches, as you received them, and let nothing of this temptation of diabolical usurpation be ascribed to you. Stand firm, stand secure: presume neither ever to give nor to receive writings with the falsehood of the universal name. Forbid all the bishops subject to your care from the defilement of this elation, that the whole Church may know you as patriarchs, not only in good works, but also in the authority of truth. But if perhaps any adversities follow, persisting with one accord, we ought even by dying to show that we love nothing specially for ourselves to the loss of the general body. Let us say with Paul: "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Let us hear what the first of all shepherds says: "If you suffer anything for justice's sake, blessed shall you be" (1 Peter 3:14). For believe me, that the honor which we have received for the truth to be preached, if the cause of necessity requires it, we more securely relinquish for that same truth than we hold it. But for me, as befits your most dear Beatitude, pray, that what I dare to speak to you, I may show forth in works.

AD EULOGIUM ET ANASTASIUNM EPISCOPOS, Tum Pelagii decessoris 8ui, tum 8uas ad Joannem, litulum universalis episcopi 8ibi arrogantem, epi- slolas mittit. Horiatur enixe ut communi consilio atque uno 8piritu illius superbiam insequantur. Gregorius © Eulogio episcopo Alexandrino, ct Ana- slasio episcopo Antiocheno. tres alii Vatic., Norm. omnes, Reg., Colhert., Corhb., etc. Ita etiam legitur apud Joan. Diac., lib. um, capp. 43 et 49, 1am in Mss. quam in Editis. © Vatic, D, rapinis. fallaciis, atque flagitiis. 4 Episcopo Rhiziniensi cum AnaSLaSh» arclam ne- cessiludinem ſuisse xpparet ex ep. 27, nunc 28, lib. 1, cum Anaslasius Sede pulsus erat. G:USSANV. | Eersr. XLIlI [Al. 36]. — *® Fuit quadragesimnus T1 SANCTI GREGORII MAGNI 712 Cum przdicator egregins dicat : Quandiu quidem A hac in re de serenissimis dominis animum vestrum um gentium apoxtolns, ministerium meum honoriſi- cabo (Rom. x1, 45). Qui rursns alias dicit : Facti 77] umns wt parvuli in medio vestrum (I Thess. n, 7), exemplum procul dubio nobis sequyentibus ostendit, ut et humilitatem tencamus in mente, et lamen ordinis nostri dignitaiem servemus in honore, quatenus nec in nobis humilitas limida, nec erectio zit superba. Ante hos siquidem annos Þ octo, gan- cz memorize decessoris mei Pelagii tempore, ſrater et coepiscopus noster Joannes in Conslantinopoli- lana urbe ex causa alia occasionem quzrens $8yno- dum fecit, in qua se universalem appellare conatus est. Quod mox idem decessor menus ut agnovit, di> rectis lileris ex auctoritate 'sancti Petri aposto'i ejusdem $ynodi acta cas8avit. Quarum videlicet -epi- ztolarum $anctitati vestre exemplaria studui desti- nare. Diaconum vero qui juxta morem pro respon- sis Ecclesiz faciendis piissimorum dominorum ves- tigiis adhzrebat, cum praſato consacerdote nostro missarum Solemnia celebrare probibuit. Cujus ego quoque sententiam sequens, similia predicto consa- cerdoti nostro scripta transmisi, quorum exempla- ria ves(re beatitudini censui transmiltenda , hoc pracipue inlendens, ut hac de re, qua ex © nova - Superbia tota universalis Ecclesiz viscera perturban- tur, prius sxpe fati ſfrairis nostri animum modesia intentione pulsemns, Qui si nequaquam a $8uz ela- tionis rigore voluerit inclinari, tunc quid fieri de- beat, cum- omniputentis Dei solatio sublilius per- tractetur. Sicut enim veneranda mihi vestra sanctilas novit, per 8anctam Chalcedonensem $synodum ponlilici se- dis apostolice, cui Deo disponente deservio, hoc universitatis nomen oblatum es!. Sed nullus un- quam decessorum meorum hoc lam proſano voca- bulo uti consensit, quia videlicet si unus patriarcha universalis dicitur, patriarcharum nomen czteris derogatur. Sed absit hoc, absit a Christiani mente id sibi velle quempiam arripere, unde ſratrum svorum honorem 4mminuere ex quantulacungque parte vi- deatur. Cum ergo nos hunc honorem nolumus obla- tum $usciperc, pensale quam ignominiosum sit hunc $ibi quempiam violenter usurpare voluisse. Pr opterea Sanclitas vesira in $uis epistolis nemi- nem unquam universalem nominel, ne $ibi debitum detrahat, cum alteri honorem offert indebitum. Nec septimns episcopus Alexandrinus, vir insignis pieta- - tis et 8ciemize. De eo Joan. Moschus, Limonarii ec. 446 et 147, Evagrius, lib. v, c. 16. Photius, in Bi- blioth., cod. 205, 225, 226, 227, 250, 28, ejus scriptorum mentionem ſacit, Gussaxv. doctor, data legitur mense Martio, indict. 5, a qua usque ad indict. 15 octy numerantur anni. mordeat sinis!ra $Suspicio, quia omnipotentem Domi- num metuit, et contra slatuia evangelica, contra | S$acratissimos canones agere aliquid nullo mudo | consentit. -Ego vero quamvis a vohis per longa ter= rarum alque maris intervalla disjunctus sim, $suwm tamen omnino vohis corde conjunctus. Idque de ves!ra beatitudine erga me modis omnibus conlido, quia cum me vicissim diligitis, a me non longe eslis. B rinz satis totius humani generis massam in unitate cons$persit (Matth. x11, 35), Atque parvo lapidi, qui abscissus de monte sine manibus, occupavit univer- sam ſaciem orbis lerr# (Dan. 11, 35). Qui ad hoc $e usquequaque distendit, f ut ex humano genere in unjiatem redacto, Llotius corpus perficeretur Eccl's $i, atque ita ad totius & compaginis pertineret com- motum membrorum partiialis ista distinctio. Unde nos quoque a vobis non longe sumus, quia in illo qui ubique est unum sumus. Agamus ergo ei gratias qui solultis inimicitiis, in carne $'a fecit ut in omni orbe terrarum unus esset' grex, el unum ovile $ub se uno pastore, memores Semper quid nos predicator verilatis admoneat, dicens : Solliciti * | scrvale unitalem 8piritus in vinculo pacis (Ephes. v1, 0), Et: Pacem 8ectamini cum omnibus, et ganctimo- niam, 8ine qua nemo videbit Deum (Hebr. xn, 14). Qui aliis quoque discipulis dicit : Si fieri potest, quod ex vobis esl, cum omnibus hominibus pacem habentes (Rom. xn, 18). Vidit enim pacem bonos cum malis habere non posse ; et idcirco, sicut noslis, premisit, Si ſfieri potest. Sed quia pax nisi in duabus partibus firmari non valet, cum hane mali ſugiunt, boni tenere medullitus debent. Unde et mire dicitur, Quod ex vobis ex, ut videlicet in nobis maneat, etiam cum a pravorum hominum mente repellitur. Quam videlicet pacem tlunc veraciter tenemus, cum -Superborum culpas charitale $imul et juslilia insislente proscequimur, cum eos dilizimus et corum vitia odio habemus. D Opus quippe Dei homo est, sed opus howinis vitium, Nos ergo discernamus quid Deus, quid item homo. titulum novell. 42, quem Binius indicat, ejusdem- que collectoris notam, act. 3 cone. Chalced., ubi contendit repugnante multis in locis sancto Grego- riv hanc universalis appellativnem a $ummis ponti- ficibus non vemel uSurvatam, it a $Sanclo Leone epist. 54, nunc 78, quod ſ.lsum et : 8c quidein dicit episcopum Romanum et universalis Ecclesize, ut ie Sanctus . Gregorius vocat Eulogium et AnaslaSium univers+ Ecclesiz palriarchas. Gu>Sanv. Elrum Jomie Onilra : modo © | leF=. Sun [uia 3 ei - ut um uid culd © 0 - my od m1, ww is ©» © $$ 24 ſecerit, neque propler errorem odio habeamus homi- A eis in ipsa meta boni operis, et in ipsa quodammodo nem , neque propter hominem diligamus errorem. Unita ergo mente insequamur in homine malum super biz, ut ab hosle $uo, videlicet errore, prius ipse homo liberetur. Przstabit vires omnipotens Redemptor noster charitati atque justitiz, prestabit nolis longe a nobis positis unitalem Spiritus ui, ipse Cujus arlilicio quasi in arce modum quatuor mundi constructa lateribus, atque - impulribilium lignorum compage, et bitumine* charitatis astricta , nullius adversilale Spiritus, nullius venientis extrin- SeCus Lumore fluctus perturbatur Ecclesia. Sed quemadmodum illius gubernante gratia pe- tendum est ut nulla nos superveniens exlerius unda conturbet, ita ex tolis orandum est visceribus, ſra- apponat perſectionis conclusione tendiculum. Unde magnopere orandum est , et omnipotens Deus assiduis precibus implorandus, ut bunc a mente Illius avertat errorem, hoc ab unitale atque humili» tate Ecclesiz malum $superbiz et confusionis amo- veat. Et favente Domino omnibus viribus concur- rendum atque providendum, ne in unius veneno Sermonis viventia in Christi corpore membra mo- riantur. Si enim boc dici licenter permittitur, honor palriarcharum omnium nezatur. Et cum fortasse is in errore perit, qui universalis dicitur, nullus jam episcopus remansisse in Statu veritatis invevitur. Servelis, $icut accepistis, Ecclesias , et nihil sibi in tres charissimi, ut $uz providentize dextera cumu- B vobis hc tentatio diabolicz usurpationis azcribats lum $sentine in nobis interioris exhauriat. Adversa- rius quippe diabolus qui contra JJZ bumiles $x- viens, sicut leo rugiens circuit quarens quem devo- ret (1 Petr. v, 8), non jam, ut cernimus, caulas cir- cuit, sed ita valide in quibusdam Ecclesiz necessa- riis membris dentes fizit, ut nulli sit dubium quia nisi unanimiter, ſavente Domino, cunctorum provida pasturum tarba concurrat, omne, quod absit, ci:ius ovile dilaniet. Perpendite, fratres charissimi, ® quis Vestrz autem beatitudini indicet omnipotens Deus quam gravi considerationis hujus gemitu torqueor, quod ille quondam mihi modestissimus, ille omnibus dilectus, ille qui in eleemosynis, orationibus, atque Jejuniis videbatur occupatus, ex eo in quo Sedebat cinere, ex ea | quam praedicabat humilitate, jactan- tiam $umpsil, ita ut universa $ihi tentet ascribere, et omnia qui * $0li uni capiti cohzremt, videlicet Chri- $t0, per elationem pompatici sermonis* ejusdem Christi sibi studeat membra $ubjugare. Nec mirum, quod ille tentator, qui initium omnis peccati 8cit esse Superbiain, 2 et lunc ea in primo homine ante om» nia usus est, et nunc eam quibusdam hominibus po- nit in fine virtutum , ut qui aliquatenus bonis vitz Stludiis ejus videbantur crudelissimas manus effugere, & Caput essentiale intelligit, 2 quo omnis gratia in Singula corporis membra deflvit. Est tamen ipse SUmmus pont:ſex alio modo caput totins Ecclesiz, ut minister primarius, et unitatis ecclesiaslice cen- lrum visihule, Cui ones corjungi et coherere de- bent t.nquam capiti. De Christo Ecclesize capite, epist. 58, nuance 18. Gussaxv. | Vatic. : Et tunc eam primo homini suadere ante omnia ausus es, et nunc eam quibusdam hominibus in fine virtutum intendere. Et qui. = jta cum Valic. D, quinque Anglic., omnibus FR y Slate fortes, state securi : 8cripta cum universalis nominis ſals.late nec dare unquam, nec guscipere priesumatis. Omnes episcopos cure vVesIrz $ubjectos ab hujus elationis inquinatione prohibete, ut uni- versa vos E.cclesia patriarchas, non solum in bois operibus, sed eliam in veritatis auctoritate cognoscal. Si qua autew forsan adversa Subsequunlur, unanimi- ler persistentes, etiam moriendo debemus ostendere, 77h * quia in damno generalilatis nostrum $pecia- liter aliquid non amamus. Dicamus cum Paul» : Miki vivere Christus es, et mori lucrum (Philip. 1, 21). Awe diamus quod primus omnium pastorum dicit : Si quid palimini propter juslitiam, beati eritis (I Petr. mi, 14). Mibi enim credite, quia honorem , quem pro priedi- C canda verilate SUSCepimus, $i necessilalis causa exigat, Securius pro cadem veritate reliaquimus, quam lenemus. Pro me aulem, sicut vesiram charissimam beatitudinem deecet, orale, ut hoc quod yobis logui au= deo, operibvus oslendam,