To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch, on Cyriacus and the Proud Title

Gregory to Anastasius, bishop of Antioch. I have received, by the hands of our common son the deacon Sabinianus, the letter of your most sweet holiness that I had longed for, in which the words have flowed not from your tongue but from your soul. And it is no wonder that one who lives perfectly speaks well. And since you have learned, through the Spirit teaching you in the school of the heart, the precepts of life, to despise all earthly things and to hurry toward the heavenly homeland, the further you have advanced in good, the more good you think of others. But when I heard many things said in praise of me in the letters of your blessedness, I understood your intention: you wanted to describe not what I am, but what I ought to be. As for your saying that I ought to remember my way of life and in no way give place to the malicious spirit who seeks to sift souls, I recall that my way of life has always been bad, and I am hurrying to overcome it and put an end to it, if I can. If, however, as you believe, I have had anything good in me, I trust in the help of Almighty God that I have not forgotten it. But your holiness, as I see, with words of sweetness at the beginning and the words that follow, has wanted your letter to be like a bee, which carries both honey and a sting, filling me with the honey and piercing me with the sting. Meanwhile I turn back to meditating on the words of Solomon, “Better are the wounds of one who loves than the kisses of a flattering enemy” (Proverbs 27, verse 6). So, as to your saying that we ought not to give occasion of offense for no cause at all: this is what your son, our most pious lord, for whose life we ought continually to pray, has already written again and again; and what he says out of power, I know you say out of love. Nor do I wonder that you have used imperial language in your letters, since love and power are very closely related. For both take liberties like princes; both always speak with authority. [a]

And indeed, when I received the synodical letter of our brother and fellow bishop Cyriacus, I did not think it worth making a difficulty over the profane title at the risk of disturbing the unity of the holy church. But all the same I took care to warn him about this same superstitious and proud title, telling him that he could not have peace with us unless he corrected the self-exaltation of that expression, which the first apostate invented. You, however, ought not to say that this is a matter of no consequence. For if we put up with it calmly, we are corrupting the faith of the universal church. You know how many, not only heretics but founders of heresies, have come out of the church of Constantinople. And, not to speak of the injury done to your own dignity, if one bishop is called Universal, the universal church comes to ruin if the one who is universal falls. But far, far be this lightness of mind from my ears. Yet I trust in Almighty God that he will soon fulfill what he has promised: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 14, verse 11). [b]

So much, in the midst of many occupations. I have replied briefly to what you said in your letters, for what I ought not to put in writing just now remains imprinted on my mind. I beg your blessedness always to remember me in your holy prayers, so that your intercessions may rescue me from evils both temporal and eternal. Pray also, earnestly and fervently, for our most serene lord the emperor, for his life is very necessary to the world. I say no more, for I do not doubt that you know.