Letter 8050: A man named Felix has come to my attention.

To John, Bishop of Syracuse. That he may free Felix, born of Christian parents, from servitude to a Samaritan. Gregory to John, Bishop of Syracuse. Felix, the bearer of these present letters, has complained to us that, although born of Christian parents, he was handed over to a certain Christian by a Samaritan [a member of the Samaritan sect] -- which it is a crime even to say. And while neither the principle of the law nor reverence for religion permits men of this superstition to possess Christian slaves in any manner whatsoever, he nevertheless asserts that he remained in that man's servitude for eighteen years; but, when your predecessor Maximian of holy memory came to know of this, he says that, with the priestly zeal aroused as was fitting, he was freed by him from the wicked servitude of the Samaritan. But because the son of this same Samaritan is said to have become a Christian five years afterward, and because certain persons are striving to reduce the aforesaid Felix back into his servitude -- so far as he himself says -- let your Holiness diligently inquire into these things of which we have been informed; and if it turns out to be so, let it take pains to protect him, and let it permit him to be burdened by no one under any pretext whatever. For since the laws openly forbid that the slaves of a superstitious sect be reduced [back] to their masters when their prior servitude precedes them to the faith, how much more ought this man, born of Christian parents and made a Christian from his earliest childhood, in no way to endure such a question -- especially since he could not even have been the slave of that man's father, who, it is clear, can rather, on account of his wicked presumption, suffer the penalty coming to him from the laws? And therefore, as we have said, let the protection of your Holiness so reasonably shield him that no one shall have any license whatsoever, under any pretext, to afflict him. (Compare John the Deacon, book IV, no. 47. See book VI, letter 55, indiction 14.)

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,)