Epistle
V.
To Cyriacus, Bishop.
Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople.
When in time past I represented the Apostolic See
in the royal city, I became acquainted with the good qualities of your
Holiness. And I greatly rejoice that the care of souls has been
committed to you. And though unworthy, I beseech Almighty
God
with all the prayers in my power that He
would even increase His grace in you, and cause you to gather gain of
souls for the eternal country. But, whereas you say that you are
weak for this work that has been put upon you, we know that the first
virtue is acknowledgment of infirmity; and from this we gather that you
can fulfil well the ministry you have undertaken, that we see how, out
of humility, you acknowledge your own infirmity. For we are all
infirm; but he is more infirm who has not strength to consider his
infirmity. But you, most blessed brethren, are for this reason
strong, that, distrusting your own strength, you trust in the power of
Almighty
God
.
I cannot, however, express by the words of a
letter how much my heart is bound to your Charity. But I pray
that Almighty
God
may by the gift of His grace
multiply the same charity that is between us, and may take away all
occasion of offence, lest the holy Church, united by the profession of
the true faith, and compacted by conjunction of the hearts of the
faithful, should suffer any damage from priests disputing with each
other, which
God
forbid. I at any rate,
in all that I speak, in all that I say, against the proud conduct of
certain persons, still, through the bounty of Almighty
God
, never relinquish custody of inward charity; but so
execute outwardly what belongs to justice as by no means to disregard
inwardly what belongs to love and kindness. And do you also ever
return my love, and guard what belongs to peace and kindness; that,
remaining of one mind, so as to allow no dissension to come in between
us, we may be better able from the very unity of our hearts to obtain
what we seek from the
Lord
.
Furthermore, I commend to your Holiness John, presbyter
of Chalcedon, and Athanasius of Isauria, that no one may set you
against them by underhand misrepresentations; for I have thoroughly
examined their faith, and have found them sound in their confessions,
which have also been given in writing.
Now may the Holy Trinity protect you with His hand, and
render you always vigilant and careful in the custody of souls, to the
end that in the eternal retribution you may be counted worthy to be
crowned, not only for your own work, but also for the amelioration of
your subjects.