Letter 14006: **From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome
The abbot Fortunatus has been unjustly burdened by accusations that, upon examination, do not hold. I ask you to look into this matter yourself and ensure that he is treated fairly. Men in religious life are particularly vulnerable to slander from those who resent their authority or their discipline. Don't let him be worn down by a process that has no legitimate basis. If you find the accusations groundless — as I believe you will — clear his name and let him return to his work in peace.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
AD MARINIANUM RAVENNATEM EPISCOPUM.
Fortunatum abbalem injusle depozitum reslituat, ef
episcopum reprehendat quod a pradecessore ordinala
absque causa mulaverit.
Gregorius Mariniano episcopo Ravennz.
Quia incongruum valde est a suscepto officio ola
quemquam voluntate suspendi, quem culpa non re-
movet, $0llicite disponendum est ut nec prior ordi-
natjo irrationabiliter des(ruatur, nec sine emenda-
tione quz male secuta fuerint relinquantur. Fortu-
natus itaque, lator przsentium, in monasterio 8an-
ctorum Laurentii et Zenonis, quod ® in Czsenati
castro est constitutum, a Natali quondam episcopo
officium $iÞbi abbatis asserens esse commissum, nune
R $2 a Successore ejus Concordio Þ nujla existente
culpa exinde remotum, atque aliuin in loco 8uo que-
ritur ordinatum. Quod etiam coram quibusdam dia-
conis nostris, presente diacono przedicti Concordii
episcopi sui causas allegante, ex parte ita esse per-
. Claruit, Sed quoniam © certior in partibus illis ubi
res acta est potest esse probatio, ſraternitas tua di-
ligenter atque sollicite hoc studeat perscrutari. Ft si
nulla maniſesta causa depositionis exstitit, quz pre
dictum Fortunatum abbatis officio removeret, eum
in suum locum reformare ſestinet, atque ejus episco-
pum digna reprehensione increpare non desinat, cur
decesgo0ris sui, nullis provocatas excessibus, destruere
ordinationem molitus sit. Si vero aliter quam edocti
SUMUS Causam esse pars altera dixerit, subtili veritas
C invesligatione quzrenda est; et ita quidquid canoni-
cus ordo poposcerit terminandum, ut nulla ea de re
denuo querela remaneat. 4 Data mense Octobri, in-
dictione 7. |
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