E06028: Pope Pelagius II, in a letter written in Latin at Rome in 586, sends contact relics (sanctuaria) probably of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008), to Bishop Aunacharius of Auxerre (northern Gaul).

Letter of Pope Pelagius II to Aunacharius, bishop of Auxerre ('Quantum Deo', JK 1057/JH 2051).

This passage comes from Pelagius' reply to a letter from Aunacharius which does not survive, but in which Aunacharius had evidently expressed his reverence for the See of Rome, and made a request for relics. Pelagius' letter is dated 31 October 586.

Nec aliter unam solamque Dei confitemur aecclesiam, nisi omnes ad petram super quam fundata est fides catholica construamur. Propter quod dilectionis tue desideriis successit effectus et celer et facilis, quia eorum sanctuaria queruntur, a quibus principibus sumpsit predicatio ueriatis exordium.

'We confess nothing other than the one and unique church of God, as long as we are all built upon the rock on which the catholic faith is founded. Because of this, fulfilment of the wishes of Your Kindness follows both quickly and easily, because you sought contact relics (sanctuaria) of those from whom as founders the preaching of the truth received its beginning.'

Text: Sot et al. 2002, 69. Translation: David Lambert.