To the Bishops of Epirus, on Andrew of Nicopolis and the Sale of Orders

Gregory to Theodore, Demetrius, Philip, Zeno and Alcissonus, bishops of Epirus. [a]

Your letter, dearest brothers, has let us know that our brother Andrew has, by the favor of God, been solemnly ordained bishop of the city of Nicopolis. And since you tell us that his consecration took place with the consent of the clergy and the people of the province, we rejoice. We pray that the good you testify of him may remain in him and, by the working of God’s grace together with him, may increase, since the goodness of those who preside is the safety of those beneath them. It is your duty, then, to make haste and study to imitate what your praises show you find pleasing in him. For it is a fault before men, and a thing deserving punishment before God, for anyone to be unwilling to imitate the good that pleases him. So let your obedience lend credit to your testimony. Let no one oppose him in whatever he may order, with integrity preserved, for the common good of the church. Let each one of you show his devotion willingly, so that, while there is among you a harmony of priests that is pleasing to God and lasting, no ill feeling may be able to loosen the bond of your love for one another, and no disagreement may disturb you. For then the crafty enemy will find no way into your hearts either, since he knows he can in no way be admitted or received where sincere love has its place.

Be watchful, too, dearest brothers, and give to the flock entrusted to you the vigilance you have taken upon yourselves and which you owe. Meet the enemy’s deceits with watchfulness and prayer. Hand over to our God, with faith unstained, the people over whom you are set, so that your priestly office may bring you not a penalty but a crown in the sight of the eternal Judge.

Know, then, that we have sent a pallium to Andrew, our brother and fellow bishop named above, and have granted him all the privileges that our predecessors gave to his predecessors.

Furthermore, it has come to our ears that in your parts sacred orders are conferred in return for a payment. If this is so, I say it with tears, I declare it with groans: when the priestly order has fallen inwardly, it will not be able to stand outwardly for long either. For we know from the Gospel what our Redeemer did in person: how he went into the temple and overturned the seats of those who sold doves. For to sell doves is to take a payment in this world for the Holy Spirit, who is of one substance with Almighty God himself, and whom God gives to people through the laying on of hands. What follows from this evil is already hinted at: the seats of those who presumed to sell doves in the temple of God fell by God’s judgment. And indeed this offense spreads and grows among those below. For he who is promoted to any sacred order for a price is already corrupted at the very root of his advancement, and he is all the readier to sell to others what he has bought. And where then is what is written, “Freely you have received, freely give”? And since the heresy of simony was the first to arise against the holy church, why is it not considered, why is it not seen, that whoever ordains anyone for money, in advancing him, makes him a heretic? For this reason I warn you and solemnly charge you to take the greatest care in this matter. Let no payment, no favor, no pleading of any person whatever, put in any claim where sacred orders are concerned. Let that man be promoted to this office whom seriousness of character and conduct commends. For if we should find anything of the kind being done, as we do not believe will happen, we will correct it, as is right, with the severity of the canons. Now may Almighty God, who orders all things wonderfully by the power of his wisdom and guards what he has ordered, grant you both to will and to do what he commands. [b]