Letter 11047: Your Love has written to me that our most pious lord orders a successor to be appointed to my most reverend brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana, on account of the ailment of the head from which he suffers, lest perchance that city, while without the jurisdiction of a bishop, should be ruined by its enemies, which God forbid. And yet the can...
Pope Gregory the Great→Anatolius, Constantinopolitan|c. 601 AD|gregory great
illnessimperial politics
Imperial politics
Gregory to Anatolius, Deacon in Constantinople.
Your Love has written to me that our most pious lord the Emperor orders a successor to be appointed for my most reverend brother John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana, on account of a head ailment he suffers -- the concern being that the city, left without a functioning bishop, might be overrun by enemies, God forbid.
But the canons nowhere prescribe that a bishop should be removed from office because of illness. It is entirely unjust to strip a sick person of his dignity because his body fails him. This cannot be done through us -- I will not have the sin of his deposition on my soul.
Here is what I suggest instead: if the bishop who holds the office is ill, let an administrator be found to take on all his responsibilities -- governing the church and guarding the city in his place -- without deposing him. That way, neither is Almighty God offended nor the city neglected.
If, however, the most reverend John should himself wish, on account of his ailments, to be relieved of the episcopate, that can be arranged -- but only if he presents a written petition of his own free will.
Otherwise, I am entirely unable, with due regard for the fear of Almighty God, to do this. If he refuses to petition, then whatever the most pious Emperor commands is within his power. Let him decide and provide. But do not involve me in the deposition of a man in this condition. If what the Emperor does is canonical, I will follow it. If it is not canonical, I will bear it -- as far as I can without sin of my own.
Book XI, Letter 47
To Anatolius, Deacon at Constantinople.
Gregory to Anatolius, etc.
Your Love has written to me that our most pious lord orders a successor to be appointed to my most reverend brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana, on account of the ailment of the head from which he suffers, lest perchance that city, while without the jurisdiction of a bishop, should be ruined by its enemies, which God forbid. And yet the canons nowhere enjoin that a bishop should be superseded on account of sickness. And it is altogether unjust that, if bodily ailments come on, the sick person should be deprived of his dignity . Accordingly this thing can by no means be done through us, lest sin should come upon my soul from his deposition. But it is to be suggested that, if he who bears rule is sick, an administrator may be found, to undertake all his charge, and maintain and fill his place, without his being deposed, in the government of the Church and custody of the city; so that neither may Almighty God be offended nor the city be found to be neglected. If, however, the same most reverend John should haply on account of his ailments request to be relieved from the dignity of the episcopate, it should be conceded on his presenting a petition in writing. But otherwise we are altogether unable, with due regard to the fear of Almighty God, to do this thing. But, if he should be unwilling thus to make petition, what pleases the most pious Emperor, whatever he commands to be done, is in his power. As he determines, so let him provide. Only let him not cause us to be mixed up in the deposition of one so situated. Still, what he does, if it is canonical, we will follow. But, if it is not canonical, we will bear it, so far as we can without sin of our own.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360211047.htm>.
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Gregory to Anatolius, Deacon in Constantinople.
Your Love has written to me that our most pious lord the Emperor orders a successor to be appointed for my most reverend brother John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana, on account of a head ailment he suffers -- the concern being that the city, left without a functioning bishop, might be overrun by enemies, God forbid.
But the canons nowhere prescribe that a bishop should be removed from office because of illness. It is entirely unjust to strip a sick person of his dignity because his body fails him. This cannot be done through us -- I will not have the sin of his deposition on my soul.
Here is what I suggest instead: if the bishop who holds the office is ill, let an administrator be found to take on all his responsibilities -- governing the church and guarding the city in his place -- without deposing him. That way, neither is Almighty God offended nor the city neglected.
If, however, the most reverend John should himself wish, on account of his ailments, to be relieved of the episcopate, that can be arranged -- but only if he presents a written petition of his own free will.
Otherwise, I am entirely unable, with due regard for the fear of Almighty God, to do this. If he refuses to petition, then whatever the most pious Emperor commands is within his power. Let him decide and provide. But do not involve me in the deposition of a man in this condition. If what the Emperor does is canonical, I will follow it. If it is not canonical, I will bear it -- as far as I can without sin of my own.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.