Letter 5043: Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the excellent preacher says, As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles I will honour my ministry Romans 11:13; saying again in another place, We became as babes among you 1 Thessalonians 2:7, he undoubtedly shows an example to us who come after him, that we shou...

Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the great preacher says, "As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry," and then says elsewhere, "We became like little children among you," he clearly sets an example for those who follow: we should preserve humility in our hearts while upholding the dignity of our office, so that our humility is never timid and our authority never proud. Eight years ago, during the time of my predecessor Pelagius of holy memory, our brother and fellow bishop John in Constantinople seized on a pretext from another case to convene a synod in which he attempted to call himself "Universal Bishop." As soon as my predecessor learned of this, he dispatched letters annulling the acts of that synod by the authority of the holy apostle Peter -- copies of which I have sent to your Holiness. He also forbade the deacon who represented us at the court of our most pious Lords from celebrating Mass with our said brother bishop. I, holding the same position, have sent similar letters to our brother bishop, and I have thought it right to forward copies to your Blessedness with this particular aim: that we may first apply moderate pressure to our brother's mind on this matter, by which a new act of pride has shaken the entire universal Church to its core. But if he utterly refuses to bend from the rigidity of his arrogance, then with the help of Almighty God we will consider more carefully what must be done. As your venerable Holiness knows, this title of "Universal" was offered by the holy Council of Chalcedon to the pontiff of the Apostolic See that I serve by God's providence. But none of my predecessors ever consented to use so profane a title, since if one patriarch is called "Universal," the title of patriarch is stripped from all the rest. Far be it -- far be it from any Christian mind -- that anyone should try to seize for himself something that would diminish, even in the slightest degree, the honor of his brothers. Since we ourselves are unwilling to accept this honor even when it is offered, consider how disgraceful it is that someone should try to usurp it by force. Therefore, let your Holiness never address anyone as "Universal" in your letters, lest you diminish the honor owed to yourself by granting another what is not his due. And let no dark suspicion trouble your mind regarding our most serene Lords, for the Emperor fears Almighty God and will in no way consent to act against the commandments of the Gospel or the sacred canons. As for me, though separated from you by vast stretches of land and sea, I am nevertheless entirely united with you in heart. I trust it is the same with your Blessedness toward me -- for when you return my love, you are not far from me. Let us give thanks all the more to that grain of mustard seed, which from what seemed a small and despised beginning has spread everywhere, its branches rising and extending from one root so that all the birds of heaven make their nests in them. Thanks be to that leaven which, in three measures of flour, has leavened the whole human race into unity. And thanks to that small stone, cut from the mountain without hands, which has covered the whole face of the earth and extends itself everywhere so that, from the human race brought into unity, the body of the whole Church might be made complete, and the diversity among its members might serve the good of the united whole. We are therefore not far from you, since in him who is everywhere we are one. Let us give thanks to him who has abolished enmity and brought it about that in his flesh there should be in the whole world one flock and one sheepfold under one shepherd. Let us always remember how the preacher of truth warns us: "Be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," and "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see God." And to other disciples he says: "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." He saw that the good cannot always have peace with the wicked, and so he added the qualifier: "If it is possible." But when peace cannot be established from both sides -- when the wicked flee from it -- the good should still preserve it in their inmost hearts. That is why he says so precisely: "So far as it depends on you" -- meaning that peace should endure in us even when it is rejected by the hearts of wicked men. And we truly keep this peace when we address the faults of the proud with both charity and firm justice, when we love the people and hate their vices. For the person is God's work, but the vice is the person's own. Let us distinguish between what God has made and what the person has made, and neither hate the person because of the error nor love the error because of the person. Let us therefore unite in attacking the evil of pride in this man, so that the man himself may first be freed from his enemy -- that is, his error. Our almighty Redeemer will supply strength to charity and justice. He will supply to us, though far apart, the unity of his Spirit -- he by whose craftsmanship the Church was built like an ark from the four corners of the world, bound together with incorruptible timbers and the pitch of love, undisturbed by any opposing wind or any wave from without. But since, with his grace at the helm, we must ensure that no external wave throws us into confusion, so too we must pray with all our hearts, dearest brothers, that by his providential hand he may drain the bilge water accumulating within us. For our adversary the devil, raging against the humble, "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." He no longer merely circles the sheepfold -- he has sunk his teeth firmly into certain vital members of the Church. Unless the watchful company of shepherds unanimously rushes to the rescue with the Lord's favor, no one can doubt that he will soon tear apart the entire flock. God forbid. Consider, dearest brothers, who it is that draws near, whose approach produces such perverse beginnings even among priests. He is near -- the one of whom it is written: "He is king over all the children of pride." I am compelled to say it, though not without deep grief: our brother and fellow bishop John, scorning the Lord's commands, the apostles' teaching, and the rules of the Fathers, is attempting through his arrogance to be that one's forerunner in name. May Almighty God reveal to your Blessedness the anguished groaning this causes me -- that the man who was once so modest, who was beloved by all, who seemed devoted to alms, prayer, and fasting, has risen from the ashes he sat in and the humility he preached to such presumption that he attempts to claim everything for himself, and through one pompous expression to subjugate to himself all the members of Christ, who are joined to one Head alone -- Christ himself. Nor is it surprising that the tempter who knows pride to be the origin of all sin, and who wielded it first of all against the first man, should now also deploy it at the summit of other men's virtues -- laying it as a trap for those who seemed to some extent to be escaping his cruel grasp through the good aims of their lives, catching them at the very finish line of good works, at the very threshold of perfection. We must therefore pray earnestly and implore Almighty God with constant supplications to remove this error from that man's soul and to deliver the Church's unity and humility from this plague of pride and disorder. With the Lord's favor we must act together and apply all our powers to prevent the living members of Christ's body from perishing through the poison of one expression. It falls to you, then, firmly and without compromise, to keep the churches as you received them and to give no support to this diabolical usurpation. Stand firm. Stand secure. Never issue or accept any document containing the false title of "Universal." Instruct all the bishops under your authority to avoid the contamination of this arrogance, so that the universal Church may recognize you as patriarchs not only for your good works but also for your defense of the truth. If adversity results, we must stand together and show -- even at the cost of our lives -- that when the common good is at stake, we do not cling to anything of our own. Let us say with Paul: "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Let us hear what the first of all shepherds says: "If you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed." Believe me: the office we received for the preaching of truth, we shall more safely lay down than keep, if the truth demands it and necessity requires it. Finally, pray for me, as befits your most dear Blessedness, that I may demonstrate in action what I am bold enough to say to you in words.

Book V, Letter 43 To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops. Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the excellent preacher says, As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles I will honour my ministry Romans 11:13; saying again in another place, We became as babes among you 1 Thessalonians 2:7, he undoubtedly shows an example to us who come after him, that we should retain humility in our minds, and yet keep in honour the dignity of our order, so that neither should our humility be timid nor our elevation proud. Now eight years ago, in the time of my predecessor of holy memory Pelagius, our brother and fellow bishop John in the city of Constantinople, seeking occasion from another cause, held a synod in which he attempted to call himself Universal Bishop. Which as soon as my said predecessor knew, he dispatched letters annulling by the authority of the holy apostle Peter the acts of the said synod; of which letters I have taken care to send copies to your Holiness. Moreover he forbade the deacon who attended us the most pious Lords for the business of the Church to celebrate the solemnities of mass with our aforesaid fellow priest. I also, being of the same mind with him, have sent similar letters to our aforesaid fellow priest, copies of which I have thought it right to send to your Blessedness, with this special purpose, that we may first assail with moderate force the mind of our before-named brother concerning this matter, wherein by a new act of pride, all the bowels of the Universal Church are disturbed. But, if he should altogether refuse to be bent from the stiffness of his elation, then, with the succour of Almighty God, we may consider more particularly what ought to be done. For, as your venerable Holiness knows, this name of Universality was offered by the holy synod of Chalcedon to the pontiff of the Apostolic See which by the providence of God I serve. But no one of my predecessors has ever consented to use this so profane a title; since, forsooth, if one Patriarch is called Universal, the name of Patriarch in the case of the rest is derogated. But far be this, far be it from the mind of a Christian, that any one should wish to seize for himself that whereby he might seem in the least degree to lessen the honour of his brethren. While, then, we are unwilling to receive this honour when offered to us, think how disgraceful it is for any one to have wished to usurp it to himself perforce. Wherefore let not your Holiness in your epistles ever call any one Universal, lest you detract from the honour due to yourself in offering to another what is not due. Nor let any sinister suspicion make your mind uneasy with regard to our most serene lords, inasmuch as he fears Almighty God, and will in no way consent to do anything against the evangelical ordinances, against the most sacred canons. As for me, though separated from you by long spaces of land and sea, I am nevertheless entirely conjoined with you in heart. And I trust that it is so in all respects with your Blessedness towards me; since, when you love me in return, you are not far from me. Hence we give thanks the more to that grain of mustard seed Matthew 13:31-32, for that from what appeared a small and despicable seed it has been so spread abroad everywhere by branches rising and extending themselves from the same root that all the birds of heaven may make their nests in them. And thanks be to that leaven which, in three measures of meal, has leavened in unity the mass of the whole human race Matthew 13:33; and to the little stone, which, cut out of the mountain without hands, has occupied the whole face of the earth Daniel 2:35, and which to this end everywhere distends itself, that from the human race reduced to unity the body of the whole Church might be perfected, and so this distinction between the several members might serve for the benefit of the compacted whole. Hence also we are not far from you, since in Him who is everywhere we are one. Let us then give thanks to Him who, having abolished enmities, has caused that in His flesh there should be in the whole world one flock, and one sheepfold under Himself the one shepherd; and let us be ever mindful how the preacher of truth admonishes us, saying, Be careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Ephesians 4:3, and, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God Hebrews 12:14. And he says also to other disciples, If it be possible, as much as lies in you, having peace with all men Romans 12:18. For he sees that the good cannot have peace with the bad; and therefore, as you know, he premised, If it be possible. But, because peace cannot be established except on two sides, when the bad fly from it, the good ought to keep it in their inmost hearts. Whence also it is admirably said, As much as lies in you; meaning that it should remain in us even when it is repelled from the hearts of evil men. And such peace we truly keep, when we treat the faults of the proud at once with charity and with persistent justice, when we love them and hate their vices. For man is the work of God; but vice is the work of man. Let us then distinguish between what God and what man has made, and neither hate the man on account of his error nor love the error on account of the man. Let us then with united mind attack the evil of pride in the man, that from his enemy, that is to say his error, the man himself may first be freed. Our Almighty Redeemer will supply strength to charity and justice; He will supply to us, though placed far from each other, the unity of His Spirit; even He by whose workmanship the Church, having been constructed as it were after the manner of the ark with the four sides of the world, and bound together with the compacture of incorruptible planks and the pitch of charity, is disturbed by no opposing winds, by the swelling of no billow coming from without. But inasmuch as, with His grace steering us, we ought to seek that no wave coming upon us from without may throw us into confusion, so ought we to pray with all our hearts, dearest brethren, that the right hand of His providence may draw out the accumulation of internal bilgewater within us. For indeed our adversary the devil, who, in his rage against the humble, as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8, no longer, as we perceive, walks about the folds but so resolutely fixes his teeth in certain necessary members of the Church that, unless with the favour of the Lord, the heedful crowd of shepherds unanimously run to the rescue, no one can doubt that he will soon tear all the sheepfold; which God forbid. Consider, dearest brethren, who it is that follows close at hand, of whose approach such perverse beginnings are breaking out even in priests. For it is because he is near of whom it is written, He is king over all the sons of pride Job 41:25— not without sore grief I am compelled to say it — that our brother and fellow bishop John, despising the Lord's commands, apostolic precepts, and rules of Fathers, attempts through elation to be his forerunner in name. But may Almighty God make known to your Blessedness with what sore groaning I am tormented by this consideration; that he, the once to me most modest man, he who was beloved of all, he who seemed to be occupied in alms, deeds, prayers, and fastings, out of the ashes he sat in, out of the humility he preached, has grown so boastful as to attempt to claim all to himself, and through the elation of a pompous expression to aim at subjugating to himself all the members of Christ, which cohere to one Head only, that is to Christ. Nor is it surprising that the same tempter who knows pride to be the beginning of all sin, who used it formerly before all else in the case of the first man, should now also put it before some men at the end of virtues, so as to lay it as a snare for those who to some extent seemed to be escaping his most cruel hands by the good aims of their life, at the very goal of good work, and as it were in the very conclusion of perfection. Wherefore we ought to pray earnestly, and implore Almighty God with continual supplications, that He would avert this error from that man's soul, and remove this mischief of pride and confusion from the unity and humility of the Church. And with the favour of the Lord we ought to concur, and make provision with all our powers, lest in the poison of one expression the living members in the body of Christ should die. For, if this expression is suffered to be allowably used, the honour of all patriarchs is denied: and while he that is called Universal perishes per chance in his error, no bishop will be found to have remained in a state of truth. It is for you then, firmly and without prejudice, to keep the Churches as you have received them, and not to let this attempt at a diabolical usurpation have any countenance from you. Stand firm; stand secure; presume not ever to issue or to receive writings with the falsity of the name Universal in them. Bid all the bishops subject to your care abstain from the defilement of this elation, that the Universal Church may acknowledge you as Patriarchs not only in good works but also in the authority of truth. But, if perchance adversity is the consequence, we ought to persist unanimously, and show even by dying that in case of harm to the generality we do not love anything of our own especially. Let us say with Paul, To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain Philippians 1:21. Let us hear what the first of all pastors says; If you suffer anything for righteousness' sake, happy are you 1 Peter 3:14. For believe me that the dignity which we have received for the preaching of the truth we shall more safely relinquish than retain in behalf of the same truth, should case of necessity require it. Finally, pray for me, as becomes your most dear Blessedness, that I may show forth in works what I am thus bold to say to you. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360205043.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. 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