Letter 1119: Gregory to Peter, subdeacon, of the church of Taormina [a city in eastern Sicily].

Gregory to Peter, subdeacon, of the church of Taormina [a city in eastern Sicily]. It has come to my attention that properties and funds belonging to the church of Taormina have been improperly withheld or diverted. This is not acceptable. Church property exists for the service of God and the support of the poor, clergy, and the general work of the church; it is not available for private appropriation, however the appropriation may have occurred. You are to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that whatever belongs to the church of Taormina is restored to it. Where legal instruments are needed, obtain them. Where persuasion is sufficient, use it first. But the outcome must be that the church receives what is rightfully its. Report to me when the properties and funds have been restored, noting what was recovered and from whom. Gregory

AD PETRUM SUBDIACONUM. De relituendis T aurominitane Ecclesi@ possessionibus alque pecunits. | Gregoris Petro 8ubdiacono. Quanto apostolice sedi ab Ecclesiis reverentia c#leris exhibetur, tanto eam in earum decet esse twitione $01l citam. Et quia domus vel lines atque possessiones * Tauromimnitanz juri Ecclesiz perti- nentes ab actionariis dicuntur nostre Ecclesiz con- © Panormus, vulgo Palermo, urbs marilima, hodie archiepiscopalis, et Siciliz caput. Gussanv. cimi, ex quibus patet illos episcopos, saltem Grego- rium et Victorem, Romam ut $se purgaren!, venire ju>$0s., Gussanv. Observaudum in Ms. Bigotiano, Vite sancii Gregorii auct. Joanne Diacono, pro nativitas legi salivi/as vel satio, lib. 11, cap. 60, ubi hac epist. re- fertur. | Eersr, LXXITIT (AL. 71). — * Taurominium, vulgo Taormina, urbs olim episcopalis Siciliz maritima in ora Urientali vallis Demon, inter MessSanaim ad Boream, et Catanam ad Austrum. GussaNv. Þ Hoe es, auxilium, adjutorium. Reg. sancti Be- nedicti, cap. 51, de cellerario, solatia ei dentur, Su- pr +, epist. 65, vobts solatianiibus, hoc est juvantibus. Infra, spe vox isLa codem SensSu uSurpatlur. EersT. LXX1V (Al. 72). —* De exarchis,jam dictum esl supra, ad episl. 35.Inter episcopos, n: unulliolim dic} $u4t exarchi, qui tanguann primates pluribus sentis hujus precepti pagina deputamus, quatenus, cogni!a verilate, si ita es!, cuncta-quz occupata di- diceris in ante ſatz Ecclesiz pristina jura restiluas. Quia vero pervenit ad nos, vivente adhuc Victorino episcopo , ejusdem Ecclesiz perisse pecunias, ad earum requisitionem te Secundino ſratri et coepiscopo nostro volumus przbere Þ solatia , et utilitatibus ejusdem Ecclesiz in quo neces8arium fuerit salva Z2quitate concurrere. [ta elenim cuncla que in hujus przcepii pagina continentur effectui mancipare ſesti- na , ut de z#quitate servata przeſati episcopi relatio- nibus ipse lauderis.