Letter 8021: Felix, the bearer of these presents, has complained to us that, being born of Christian parents, he was given (i.e. as a slave) by a certain Christian to a Samaræan , which is an atrocious thing to be said. And, though neither order of law nor reverence for religion allow men of such like superstition in any way whatever to possess Christian sla...

Gregory to John, Bishop of Syracuse. Felix, who carries this letter, has brought a disturbing case to my attention. Born to Christian parents, he was given as a slave by a Christian to a Samaritan [a member of the Samaritan religious community] -- which is outrageous. Neither law nor basic religious decency allows people of such a sect to own Christian slaves. Yet Felix says he remained in that man's service for eighteen years. When your predecessor, Bishop Maximianus of holy memory, learned of the situation, he rightly freed Felix from the Samaritan's service out of proper priestly concern. But now, five years later, the Samaritan's son -- who has since become a Christian -- and certain others are trying to reclaim Felix as a slave. Your Holiness should investigate the facts carefully. If they are as reported, protect Felix. Do not allow anyone to harass him under any pretext. The law plainly forbids slaves of that sect who come to the faith before their masters from being reclaimed. How much less should this man -- born Christian, raised Christian -- be subjected to any such claim? His former owner's father was the one who should have faced legal punishment for the outrage of enslaving a Christian in the first place.

Book VIII, Letter 21 To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, etc. Felix, the bearer of these presents, has complained to us that, being born of Christian parents, he was given (i.e. as a slave) by a certain Christian to a Samaræan , which is an atrocious thing to be said. And, though neither order of law nor reverence for religion allow men of such like superstition in any way whatever to possess Christian slaves, yet he asserts that he remained for eighteen years in that man's service. But he says that, when your predecessor Maximianus of holy memory became aware of the fact, he was freed by him, moved, as was becoming, by priestly zeal, from the service of that Samaræan. But, inasmuch as the son of the said Samaræan is said after five years to have become a Christian, and certain persons are trying to reclaim the aforesaid Felix, according to his own account, to his service, let your Holiness enquire diligently into the facts that we have been informed of, and, if they should be found true, study to protect him, and allow him on no pretext whatever to be aggrieved by any one, seeing that, while the laws plainly forbid slaves of that superstitious sect who are before their masters in coming to the faith being reclaimed to their service, how much more ought not this man — born of Christian parents, and a Christian from his childhood — to be subjected in any wise to this contention; especially as neither could be the slave of that other man's father, who it is clear was rather liable to punishment by law for his wicked presumption? And so, as we have said, let the defense of your Holiness so protect him reasonably that no one may be at liberty, under any pretence whatever, in any degree to afflict him. 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/360208021.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.