To Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, on the Chair of Peter and Some Gifts

Gregory to Eulogius, bishop of Alexandria. Your most sweet holiness has said much in your letter to me about the chair of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, saying that he himself now sits on it in the persons of his successors. And indeed I acknowledge that I am unworthy not only of the rank of those who preside, but even of being counted among those who stand. But I gladly accepted all that was said, because the one who has spoken to me about Peter’s chair is one who occupies Peter’s chair. And though special honor for myself in no way delights me, I greatly rejoiced, because you, most holy ones, have given to yourselves what you have bestowed on me. [a]

For who can fail to know that holy church has been made firm in the solidity of the prince of the apostles, who took his name from the firmness of his mind, so as to be called Petrus, from petra? And to him it is said by the voice of the Truth, “To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” And again it is said to him, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And once more, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Feed my sheep.” So, though there are many apostles, yet as to the primacy itself the see of the prince of the apostles alone has grown strong in authority, and it is the see of one man in three places. For he himself raised high the see in which he was pleased even to rest and to end the present life. He himself adorned the see to which he sent his disciple as evangelist. He himself established the see in which he sat for seven years, though he was to leave it. Since, then, it is the see of one man, and one see, over which by divine authority three bishops now preside, whatever good I hear of you, I count as my own. If you believe anything good of me, count it to your own merits, since we are one in him who says, “That they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us.”

Moreover, in paying you the debt of greeting that is owed you, I tell you that I exult with great joy to know that you labor diligently against the barking of heretics. And I pray Almighty God to aid your blessedness with his protection, so that through your tongue he may tear up every root of bitterness from the bosom of holy church, lest it spring up again to the hindrance of many, and through it many be defiled. For having received your talent, you think on the command, “Trade until I come.” So I, though I am unable to trade at all, still rejoice with you in the gains of your trading, since I know this: if my work does not make me a sharer in your labor, yet love does. For I reckon that a neighbor’s good belongs also to one who stands idle, if he knows how to rejoice together with him in what the other does.

Further, I have wished to send you some timber, but your blessedness has not said whether you need it. We could send some of much larger size, but no ship is sent here that is able to hold it, and I am ashamed to send the smaller sort. Even so, let your blessedness tell me by letter what I should do.

I have, however, sent you, as a small blessing from the church of Saint Peter, who loves you, six of the smaller sort of Aquitanian cloaks and two napkins. For since my affection is great, I take it for granted that even little things will be welcome. Affection itself has its own worth, and it is quite certain that there will be no offense in what one has ventured to do out of love. [e]

Moreover, I have received the blessing of the holy evangelist Mark, according to the note attached to your letter. But since I do not enjoy drinking colatum and viritheum, I venture to ask for cognidium, which last year, after a long interval, your holiness made known in this city. For here we get the name of cognidium from the traders, but not the thing itself. Now I beg that the prayers of your holiness may support me against all the bitter things I suffer in this life, and by your intercessions with Almighty God defend me from them. [f]