Ep. CLVII. To
Theodore, Archbishop of Tyana.
(S. Gregory succeeded at the end of
a.d.
382 in convincing the Metropolitan and his
Comprovincials of his sincerity in desiring to retire; and so they
began to cast about for a Successor. Gregory desired that his
cousin the
Chorepiscopus
Eulalius should be nominated, but the Bishops felt some jealousy at
what they took to be an attempt on his part to dictate to them, and
refused to allow him to take any part in the election, on the ground
that he either never had been, or at any rate had ceased to be one of
the Bishops of the Province. He protested, but finding that he
could not convince them he withdrew his claim to a vote and wrote to
Theodore, as follows:—)
Our spiritual affairs have reached their limit: I
will not trouble you any further. Join together: take your
precautions: take counsel against us: let our enemies have
the victory: let the canons be accurately observed, beginning
with us, the most ignorant of men. There is no ill-will in
accuracy; only do not let the rights of friendship be impeded.
The children of my very honoured son Nicobulus have come to the city to
learn shorthand. Be kind enough to look upon them with a fatherly
and kindly eye (for the canons do not forbid this), but especially take
care that they live near the Church. For I desire that they
should be moulded in character to virtue by continual association with
Your Perfectness.