Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 13
Gregory the Great, Ephraim Syrus & Aphrahat
SECTION 1
A SELECT LIBRARY
Title: NPNF-213. Gregory the Great (II), Ephraim Syrus, Aphrahat Creator(s): Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor) Rights: Public Domain CCEL Subjects: All; Proofed; Early Church LC Call no: BR60 LC Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature. Fathers of the Church, etc. A SELECT LIBRARY OF THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE F…
2,216 wordsSECTION 2Book IX.
Ewald (P.), Studien zur Ausgabe des Registers Gregors I. (Neues Archiv, iii., 1878, pp. 433-625.) Hartmann (L. M.), Ueber zwei Gregorbriefe. (Neues Archiv, xvii., 1892, p. 193.) --------Zur Chronologie der Briefe Gregors I. (--------xv., 1890, p. 411.) --------Zur Orthographie Papst Gregors I. (--------xv., 1890, p. 529.) Ja…
708 wordsSECTION 3Epistle II.
Epistle II. To Vitalis, Guardian (Defensorem) of Sardinia. Gregory to Vitalis, &c. What we have learnt about our brother the bishop Januarius the bearers of these presents, as well as the copies of our letters, will sufficiently inform you; and so let thy Experience judiciously carry into effect the excommunication which we h…
1,333 wordsSECTION 4Epistle V.
Epistle V. To Marcellus, Pro-Consul of Dalmatia [7] . Gregory to Marcellus, &c. We have received the letter of your Greatness, in which you speak of having incurred our displeasure, and of your wish to be in favour with us through direct satisfaction. And indeed we have heard such things of your Greatness as ought never to ha…
865 wordsSECTION 5Epistle VII.
Epistle VII. To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. It has been laid down by the plain definition of the law that those who go into a monastery for the purpose of entering on monastic life are no longer at liberty to make wills, but that their property passes into possession of the same monaster…
901 wordsSECTION 6Epistle IX.
Epistle IX. To Callinicus, Exarch of Italy [11] . Gregory to Callinicus, &c. In the midst of what you have announced to me of your victories over the Sclaves, know that I have been refreshed with great joy that the bearers of these presents, hastening to be joined to the unity of holy Church from the island of Capritana [12] …
743 wordsSECTION 7Epistle X.
Epistle X. To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. The bearers of these presents, the most distinguished men, Vicedominus and Defensor [15] , came to us asserting that a certain bishop, by name John, coming from Pannonia, had been constituted in the castle which is called Novæ, to which castle their islan…
859 wordsSECTION 8Epistle XI.
Epistle XI. To Brunichild, Queen. Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks [19] . With what firmness the mind of your Excellency is settled in the fear of Almighty God you shew in a praiseworthy manner, among the other good things that you do, by your love also of His priests; and great joy for your Christianity is caused u…
1,972 wordsSECTION 9Epistle XII.
Epistle XII. To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, &c. One coming from Sicily has told me that some friends of his, whether Greeks or Latins I know not, as though moved by zeal for the holy Roman Church, murmur about my arrangements [i.e. of divine service], saying, How can he be arranging so as to keep the Constantin…
1,249 wordsSECTION 10Epistle XVII.
Epistle XVII. To Demetrian and Valerian. Gregory to Demetrian and Valerian, clerks of Firmum (Fermo). Both the ordinances of the sacred canons and legal authority permit that ecclesiastical property may be lawfully expended for the redemption of captives. And so, since we are informed by you that, nearly eighteen years ago, t…
876 wordsSECTION 11Epistle XXIV.
Epistle XXIV. To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. Our son Theodosius, abbot of the Monastery founded by the late Patrician Liberius in Campania, is known to have intimated to us that the late illustrious lady Rustica about one and twenty years ago, in the will that she made, appointed in the first place…
722 wordsSECTION 12Epistle XXVII.
Epistle XXVII. To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. It has come to our ears that certain men, having altogether too little discernment, desire us to become implicated in their risks, and wish to be so defended by ecclesiastical persons, that the ecclesiastical persons themselves may be bound by their gui…
1,032 wordsSECTION 13Epistle XLI.
Epistle XLI. To Julianus, Scribo [33] . Gregory to Julianus, &c. If in secular offices order and the discipline handed down by our ancestors is observed, who may bear to see ecclesiastical order confounded, to disregard such things when heard of, and postpone their amendment by improperly condoning them? And indeed you do wel…
834 wordsSECTION 14Epistle XLIX.
Epistle XLIX. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch [35] . Gregory to Anastasius, &c. I received the letters of thy Fraternity, rightly holding fast the profession of the faith; and I returned great thanks to Almighty God, who, when the shepherds of His flock are changed, still, even after such change, guards the faith which He on…
894 wordsSECTION 15Epistle LV.
Epistle LV. To Fantinus, Guardian (Defensorem), of Panormus (Palermo). Gregory to Fantinus, &c. A little time ago we wrote to Victor, our brother and fellow-bishop, that--inasmuch as certain of the Jews have complained in a petition presented to us that synagogues with their guest-chambers, situated in the city of Panormus, h…
875 wordsSECTION 16Epistle LIX.
Epistle LIX. To John, Bishop of Syracuse [39] . Gregory to John, &c. I have received your Fraternity's letter, wherein you inform me that the most eloquent Martin has come from the African province and communicated something to you privately. And indeed your Fraternity, as often as you find occasion, ceases not to shew your l…
902 wordsSECTION 17Epistle LXI.
Epistle LXI. Here begins the epistle of Rechared, King of the Goths, addressed to the blessed Gregory, Bishop of Rome [42] . Rechared to the holy lord and most blessed pope, the bishop Gregory. At the time when the Lord in His compassion caused us to be dissociated from the impious Arian heresy, and the holy Catholic Church g…
960 wordsSECTION 18Epistle LXV.
Epistle LXV. To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Sardinia. It has come to our ears that some of your clerics, inflated with a spirit of elation (which is a serious thing to be said), neglect obedience to the commands of your Fraternity, and occupying themselves rather in the services an…
710 wordsSECTION 19Epistle LXVII.
Epistle LXVII. To Constantius, Bishop of Milan [46] . Gregory to Constantius, &c. Maximus, the prevaricator of the Church of Salona, after he had failed to obtain anything through the greater powers of the world, has betaken himself to the lesser ones; and by a superfluity of prayers and by attestation to his good works he st…
1,193 wordsSECTION 20Epistle LXXVIII.
Epistle LXXVIII. To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria. Gregory to Eulogius, &c. I have received at the hands of the bearer of these presents the letter of your most sweet Holiness, speaking to me about your cause being terminated speedily. But, as soon as he had come, he learnt how the possession which he sought from our Chur…
848 wordsSECTION 21Epistle LXXXI.
Epistle LXXXI. To Maximus, Bishop of Salona [53] . Gregory to Maximus, &c. Although to what was faulty in thy ordination at the first thou hast added serious evil through the fault of disobedience, yet we, tempering with becoming moderation the authority of the Apostolic See, have never been incensed against thee to the exten…
862 wordsSECTION 22Epistle XCI.
Epistle XCI. To Fortunatus, Bishop of Neapolis (Naples). Gregory to Fortunatus, &c. Inasmuch as the Father of God's servants whom I had sent to the city of Naples has, by the ordering of God as it hath pleased Him, departed this life, it has seemed good to me to send the bearer of these presents, the monk Barbatianus, for the…
977 wordsSECTION 23Epistle XCVIII.
Epistle XCVIII. To Theodore, Curator [59] of Ravenna. Gregory to Theodore, &c. Although from the report of our responsalis we have long heard many things of you to rejoice our heart, yet now our son the abbot Probus, who has returned to us, has reported still further such things of the charity of your Glory as it is becoming …
761 wordsSECTION 24Epistle CV.
Epistle CV. To Serenus Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles). Gregory to Serenus, &c. That we have been so long in sending a letter to your Fraternity attribute not to sluggishness, but to press of business. We now commend to you in all respects the bearer of these presents, our most beloved son Cyriacus, the Father of our Monaster…
2,200 wordsSECTION 25For hence also medical men, whose care is for the body, do not offer certain remedies to him that needs them while recently concocted, but l
For hence also medical men, whose care is for the body, do not offer certain remedies to him that needs them while recently concocted, but leave them to be macerated for some time. For, should any one give them immaturely, there is no doubt that the means of health become a cause of danger. Let them learn, therefore, let priests…
1,035 wordsSECTION 26Epistle CVII.
Epistle CVII. To Aregius, Bishop of Vapincum [67] . Gregory to Aregius, Bishop in Gaul. The affliction of your Fraternity, which we have learnt that you have had for the loss of your people, has given us such cause of grief that, since charity makes us two one, we feel our heart to be especially in your tribulations. But in t…
858 wordsSECTION 27Epistle CVIII.
Epistle CVIII. To Syagrius, Bishop. Gregory to Syagrius, Bishop of Augustodunum (Autun). Mistress of all good things is charity, which savours of nothing extraneous, nothing rough, nothing confused; which so exercises and strengthens hearts that nothing is heavy, nothing difficult, but all that is done becomes sweet. Since, t…
1,595 wordsSECTION 28Epistle CX.
Epistle CX. To Theoderic and Theodebert, Kings of the Franks [72] . Gregory to Theoderic, &c. Since the renown of your kingdom has been resplendent of old among all others by the grace of the Christian religion, great pains should be taken that, wherein you stand out more glorious than other nations, you should therein please…
1,191 wordsSECTION 29Epistle CXI.
Epistle CXI. To Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles). Gregory to Virgilius, &c. Inasmuch as the desire of a pious purpose and the bent of a laudable devotion ought always to be aided by the earnest endeavours of priests, anxious care should be taken that neither remissness, neglect nor presumption disturb whatever has been or…
1,047 wordsSECTION 30Epistle CXV.
Epistle CXV. To Syagrius, Bishop of Augustodunum (Autun). Gregory to Syagrius, &c. If in secular affairs every man should have his right and his proper rank preserved to him, how much more in ecclesiastical arrangements ought no confusion to be let in; lest discord should find place there, whence the blessings of peace should…
973 wordsSECTION 31Epistle CXVII.
Epistle CXVII. To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. Whereas for the government of a kingdom valour stands in need of justice, and power of equity, nor for this purpose can one suffice without the other, with what great love your care for these things is resplendent is shewn plainly enough by the fact…
792 wordsSECTION 32Epistle CXXI.
Epistle CXXI. To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Spain. I have the epistle of thy Holiness, written with the pen of charity alone. For what the tongue transferred to the paper had got its tincture from the heart. Good and wise men were present when it was read, and at once their bowels wer…
940 wordsSECTION 33Epistle CXXII.
Epistle CXXII. To Rechared, King of the Visigoths [82] . Gregory to Rechared, &c. I cannot express in words, most excellent son, how much I am delighted with thy work and thy life. For on hearing of the power of a new miracle in our days, to wit that the whole nation of the Goths has through thy Excellency been brought over f…
2,328 wordsSECTION 34Epistle CXXIII.
[83] In English Bible, lxxvii. 10, differently. [84] See IX. 61. [85] What follows is preceded by "Item in anagnostico." (The word is thus explained in D'Arnis' Lexicon Manuale; "Græcis id omne est quod legitur aut recitatur. Unde Gregorius Magnus pro epistola aut quovis scripto vocem hanc usurpat.") The whole is absent from m…
1,227 wordsSECTION 35Epistle CXXVII.
Epistle CXXVII. From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory [89] . To the holy lord, and father in Christ, the Roman [pope], most fair ornament of the Church, a certain most august flower, as it were, of the whole of withering Europe, distinguished speculator, as enjoying a divine contemplation of purity (?) [90] . I, Bargoma [91] , po…
2,474 wordsSECTION 36[89] This epistle of the Irish saint Columbanus to Gregory was added to the Registrum Epistolarum by the Benedictine editors, having been fi
[89] This epistle of the Irish saint Columbanus to Gregory was added to the Registrum Epistolarum by the Benedictine editors, having been first published, with other writings of S. Columban, by Patrick Fleming in Collectanea sacra; Lovan. a.d. 1667. (See Galland. Bibliotheca veterum patrum. Sæc. VI. circ. a.d. 589.) It is assign…
2,211 wordsSECTION 37Book X.
[104] Candidus had been sent by Gregory to Gaul as rector patrimonii there. See previous Epistles. Book X. Epistle X. To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, our guardian in Sicily. It has been reported to us that our most reverend brother the bishop Basilius is occupied in legal suits as though he were one o…
961 wordsSECTION 38Epistle XIX.
Epistle XIX. To Anthemius, Subdeacon. Gregory to Anthemius, Subdeacon of Campania. After he who had been elected to the episcopate of the city of Surrentum had appeared to us to be unfit, they elected Amandus, presbyter of the oratory of Saint Severinus, which is in the Lucullan camp. Wherefore we enjoin on thy Experience, la…
867 wordsSECTION 39Epistle XXXI.
Epistle XXXI. To Libertinus, Ex-Prætor. Gregory to Libertinus, &c. What straits you are in with regard to the things of this world is not unknown to us. But, since to those who are placed in the utmost tribulation the only comfort is the mercy of the Creator, rest your hope on Him, and turn to Him with your whole heart, Who b…
1,132 wordsSECTION 40Epistle XXXVI.
Epistle XXXVI. To Maximus, Bishop of Salona [113] . Gregory to Maximus, &c. When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the Roman city, he found me so weak from the pains of gout as to be quite unable to answer thy Fraternity's letters myself. And indeed with regard to the nation of the Sclaves [114] , from which you …
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Source & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.