Letter 1010: The Hebrews dwelling in Terracina have petitioned us for licence to hold, under our authority, the site of their synagogue which they have held hitherto. But, inasmuch as we have been informed that the same site is so near to the church that even the sound of their psalmody reaches it, we have written to our brother and fellow bishop Peter that,...
Pope Gregory the Great→Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops|c. 590 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|To Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops (recipient)|Human translated
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Travel & mobility; Slavery or captivity; Jewish-Christian relations
Gregory to Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops.
The Jewish community residing in Terracina has petitioned us for permission to continue using their synagogue site, which they have occupied up to now under our authority. However, we have been informed that the site is so close to the church that the sound of their worship can be heard inside it. We have therefore written to our brother and fellow bishop Peter: if it is true that voices from the synagogue carry into the church, the Jews must stop holding services there.
Your Brotherhood, together with our above-named brother bishop, should carefully inspect the location. If you find that the church has indeed been disturbed, then provide another site within the fortress where the Jewish community may gather and conduct their religious observances without interference. Should they need to be relocated from their current site, make sure the alternative is suitable enough that there will be no grounds for complaint in the future.
We forbid any unreasonable harassment or mistreatment of the Jewish community. They are permitted by law to live under the protection of the Roman legal system, and they should be allowed to maintain their religious practices as they have known them, with no one interfering. They may not, however, hold Christian slaves.
Book I, Letter 10
To Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops.
Gregory to Bacauda, etc.
The Hebrews dwelling in Terracina have petitioned us for licence to hold, under our authority, the site of their synagogue which they have held hitherto. But, inasmuch as we have been informed that the same site is so near to the church that even the sound of their psalmody reaches it, we have written to our brother and fellow bishop Peter that, if it is the case that the voices from the said place are heard in the church, the Jews must cease to worship there. Therefore let your Fraternity, with our above-named brother and fellow bishop, diligently inspect this place, and if you find that there has been any annoyance to the church, provide another place within the fortress, where the aforesaid Hebrews may assemble, so that they may be able to celebrate their ceremonies without impediment. But let your Fraternity provide such a place, in case of their being deprived of this one, that there be no cause of complaint in future. But we forbid the aforesaid Hebrews to be oppressed or vexed unreasonably; but, as they are permitted, in accordance with justice, to live under the protection of the Roman laws, let them keep their observances as they have learned them, no one hindering them: yet let it not be allowed them to have Christian slaves.
Gregorius episcopus Þ servus servorum Dei Petro
gum, cunclam ssimul Ecclesiam in consilio hujus di-
sceplationis adhibeo, et quidquid omnibus fieri salu=
briter placet, ego in nullo contradico, sed quod in
commune decernitur, Ietus impleo, et £ubscribo.
Implentem qua monui gratia te divina custodiat.
(Cf. Joan. Diac. lib. m1, c. 44 et 48.)
EPISTOLA XXAXY.
AD PETRUM EPISCOPUM TERRACINENSEM.
Concessum prius Judwis locum restituat. A Christiana
religione discordes benigne alliciendi.
Gregorius Petro episcopo ® Terracinensi.
Joseph (Ivo part. 1, cap. 28:), prisentium lator,
Juda'us nobis insinuavit quod de loco quodam, in
quo ad celebrandas festivitates snas Y Judzi in Ter-
racinensi 5QH castro consistentes convenire consue-
yerant, tua eos fraternitas expulerit, et in alium lo-
cum pro colendis similiter festivitatibus suis, te
quoque noscente et consentiente migraverint, et nunc
de eodem loco expulsos se denuo conqueruntur. Sed
8 ita esl, volumus tua ſraternitas ab hujusmodi se
querela suspendat, et ad locum quem, sicut predixi-
mus, cum tua conscientia, quo congregentur adepti
sunl, eos, Sicut mos ſuit, ibidem liceat convenire. Eos
enim qui a religione Christiana discordant, mansue-
tudine, benignitate, adinonendo, suadendo, ad uni-
tatem fidei necesse est congregare, ne quos dulcedo
predicationis et preventus futuri judicis terror-ad
credendum invitare polerat, minis et terroribus re-
pellantur, Oportel ergo ut ad audiendum de vobis
verbum Dei benigne conveniant, quam austeritatem
quz Supra modum exlenditur expavescant.
«
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Gregory to Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops.
The Jewish community residing in Terracina has petitioned us for permission to continue using their synagogue site, which they have occupied up to now under our authority. However, we have been informed that the site is so close to the church that the sound of their worship can be heard inside it. We have therefore written to our brother and fellow bishop Peter: if it is true that voices from the synagogue carry into the church, the Jews must stop holding services there.
Your Brotherhood, together with our above-named brother bishop, should carefully inspect the location. If you find that the church has indeed been disturbed, then provide another site within the fortress where the Jewish community may gather and conduct their religious observances without interference. Should they need to be relocated from their current site, make sure the alternative is suitable enough that there will be no grounds for complaint in the future.
We forbid any unreasonable harassment or mistreatment of the Jewish community. They are permitted by law to live under the protection of the Roman legal system, and they should be allowed to maintain their religious practices as they have known them, with no one interfering. They may not, however, hold Christian slaves.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius episcopus Þ servus servorum Dei Petro
gum, cunclam ssimul Ecclesiam in consilio hujus di- sceplationis adhibeo, et quidquid omnibus fieri salu= briter placet, ego in nullo contradico, sed quod in commune decernitur, Ietus impleo, et £ubscribo. Implentem qua monui gratia te divina custodiat. (Cf. Joan. Diac. lib. m1, c. 44 et 48.)
EPISTOLA XXAXY.
AD PETRUM EPISCOPUM TERRACINENSEM.
Concessum prius Judwis locum restituat. A Christiana religione discordes benigne alliciendi.
Gregorius Petro episcopo ® Terracinensi.
Joseph (Ivo part. 1, cap. 28:), prisentium lator, Juda'us nobis insinuavit quod de loco quodam, in quo ad celebrandas festivitates snas Y Judzi in Ter- racinensi 5QH castro consistentes convenire consue- yerant, tua eos fraternitas expulerit, et in alium lo- cum pro colendis similiter festivitatibus suis, te quoque noscente et consentiente migraverint, et nunc de eodem loco expulsos se denuo conqueruntur. Sed 8 ita esl, volumus tua ſraternitas ab hujusmodi se querela suspendat, et ad locum quem, sicut predixi- mus, cum tua conscientia, quo congregentur adepti sunl, eos, Sicut mos ſuit, ibidem liceat convenire. Eos enim qui a religione Christiana discordant, mansue- tudine, benignitate, adinonendo, suadendo, ad uni- tatem fidei necesse est congregare, ne quos dulcedo predicationis et preventus futuri judicis terror-ad credendum invitare polerat, minis et terroribus re- pellantur, Oportel ergo ut ad audiendum de vobis verbum Dei benigne conveniant, quam austeritatem quz Supra modum exlenditur expavescant.