E06388: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 9.49) of 598, to Bishop Chrysantus, asks him to consecrate relics of *Hermes (martyr of Rome, buried on the via Salaria vetus, S00404), *Hyacinthus (companion of Protus, and martyr of Rome, S01556) and *Maximus (martyr of Rome, buried on the via Salaria vetus, S00173) at a font within a church dedicated to *Mary (the mother of Christ, S00033) in Rieti (central Italy). Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.49


Full text of the letter:

GREGORIVS CHRYSANTO EPISCOPO
Paulus ecclesiae Reatinae diaconus petitoria nobis insinuatione poposcit ut ad fontes in basilica beatae Mariae semper uirginis genetricis Dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi, quae est intra ciuitatem Reatinam posita, reliquiae beatorum martyrum Hermes, Hyacinthi et Maximi debeant collocari. Et ideo, frater carissime, si in eodem loco nullum corpus constat humatum, sanctuaria praedictorum martyrum cum reuerentia sine ambiguitate suscepta diligenter consecrabis.

‘GREGORY TO BISHOP CHRYSANTUS
Paul, deacon of the church of Rieti, requested in a petition to us that relics of the blessed martyrs Hermes, Hyacinthus and Maximus should be located at the fonts of the church of Saint Mary, ever virgin and mother of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, which lies inside the city of Rieti. And so, dearest brother, if it is established that no human body has been buried in the same place, you will diligently consecrate the relics of the aforesaid martyrs with reverence and without any equivocation.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 608. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 2, 575, lightly modified.