Letter 50: PELAGIUS AGNELLO <EPISGOPO> RAUENNATI.

Pope Pelagius I to Bishop Agnellus of Ravenna. We charge Your Fraternity to choose a suitable man for the presbyterate — one who is firm in religion, upright in character, and effective in resisting adversaries — and to send him to the glorious John the patrician, instructing him above all that he is to name no other name but mine and yours during the sacred mysteries. The situation in Ravenna requires a reliable and orthodox priest who can withstand the pressures brought to bear by those who favor the schism. Act on this without delay and report to us once the appointment has been made.

PELAGIUS AGNELLO <EPISGOPO> RAUENNATI. Fra¬ ternitati tuae iniungimus ut eligas talem uirum in praesbyterum, qui fixus in religione et bonus in moribus et in resistendo aduersa- riis efficax possit existere, et dirigas ad [prefatum] sanctum uirum, gloriosum Iohannem patricium, hoc ei ante omnia praecipiens, ut nullum alium praeter meum et tuum nomen nominet inter sacra mysteria. pelasius Cg titul. hic om. et transf. ad seq. ep. B fra-] pa- C 2 in praesbyt.] om. B 3 fixus in] fixus ex fixum sive fixum i(n) B 4 -riis] -rius Cg ad sanctum uirum] C: ad prefat. uir. B 5 glorios. iohann. patrie.] om. B ei] enim B . 6 aliud Baluze nominet nom. Baluze 7 misteria codd. Tit. Agnello <episcopo> Rauennati: Cf. ep. 37 in titulum, p. 106. in resistendo aduersariis efficax: Nam Aquileiam, ubi degisse videtur loannes patricius (cf. adnotationes in titulum ep, 24, p. 73), petere debebat, ibique schismatici multi et validi aderant. Presbyter ille catho¬ licae Ecclesiae consilia et subsidia patricio loanni praebere debebat. nullum alium ... nomen: Alinm pro alind. P^I^AGII I PAPAE Episcopus Hostilius facultatem procedendi contra clericos, qui vasa sacra subtraxerant, sollicitaverat. Pelagius hac epistula petitioni accedit.