E02816: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register, Appendix 1) of 591, to Petrus, sub-deacon and papal agent in Sicily, suggests that bishops in Sicily should assemble for the feast of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), instead of on the anniversary of Gregory's ordination. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters, Appendix 1


Extract from a letter with instructions on how things should be managed in Sicily:

Praeterea sicut moris fuit, ut ad natalem pontificis episcopi conuenirent, ad ordinationis meae diem uenire eos prohibe, quia ista me uana superfluitas non delectat. Sed si eos conuenire necesse est, in beati Petri apostolorum principis natalem conueniant, ut ei, ex cuius largitate pastores sunt, gratiarum actiones soluant.

'Furthermore, as it was customary for them to come together for the anniversary of the pontiff, prohibit them from doing so on the day of my ordination, because that unnecessary vanity gives me no pleasure. But if it is necessary for them to come together, let them meet for the feast of Peter, the prince of the apostles, so that they can discharge their acts of gratitude to him, through whose bounty they are priests.'


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 3, 1092. Translation: Martyn, vol. 1, 158, lightly modified.