To John, Archbishop of Corinth

Gregory to John, archbishop of Corinth. The fairness and care of our brother and fellow bishop Secundinus, which we have long known well, are shown also by what your letters say. In this matter he has greatly pleased us and made us glad, for in the case of Anastasius, formerly bishop, which we charged him to look into, he both kept careful watch and judged the crimes that came to light as justice required and as was right. But in all these things we give thanks to Almighty God, because, when certain accusers held back, he brought the truth to his knowledge, so that the author of such great crimes might not escape detection. In the sentence by which it is clear that Anastasius has been justly condemned and deposed, however, our brother and fellow bishop dealt with the offenses of certain persons in such a way as to reserve them for our judgment. So we have seen fit to make known by this present letter what is to be held and observed about them. [a]

As for Paul the deacon, then, who brings this letter: his fault brings him great shame and discredit, for, misled by promises, he held back from accusing his late bishop, who has lately been deposed, and in the eagerness of greed he consented, against his own soul, to keep silent rather than declare the truth. Yet since it befits us to be kind rather than strict, we pardon him this fault and decide that he is to be received back into his rank and position. For we believe that the affliction he has endured since the sentence was pronounced may be enough to punish this fault. But as for Euphemius and Thomas, who received sacred orders as the price of dropping their accusation, it is our will that they be deprived of those sacred orders and remain deposed from them, and we decree that they are never, on any pretext or excuse, to be restored to sacred orders. For it is in the highest degree improper, and contrary to the rule of church discipline, that they should enjoy a dignity they received not for their merits but as the wages of wickedness. Yet since it is right for us to lean toward mercy rather than strict justice, it is our will that Euphemius and Thomas be restored to the rank and position, and to that only, from which they had been promoted to sacred orders, and that for all the days of their life they receive the stipends of those positions, as they used to before. Further, as to Clematius the reader, I direct, from a like motive of kindness, that he be restored to his rank and position. [b]

To all of these, that is, to Paul the deacon, Euphemius, Thomas and Clematius, let your fraternity take care to pay their allowances, according to the rank and position each of them holds and as each has been accustomed to receive them, from this present thirteenth indiction onward, without any reduction. Paul the deacon also declares that he spent a great deal for the good of your church, and he wishes to be helped by your fraternity to recover it. We urge you, if this is so, to work with him in every way you can and support him with your help in recovering what he has given, since no reason allows that he should suffer unjust loss in what he spent for the good of all. Moreover, let your fraternity return without delay the roughly two pounds of gold which, it appears, Paul the deacon gave for the benefit of your church at the urging of our brother and fellow bishop Secundinus, so that you may not seem, which God forbid, to burden him not reasonably but out of mere whim.