To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna, on Capritana and the Case of Maximus

Gregory to Marinianus, and so on.

The bearers of this letter, the most distinguished men Vicedominus and Defensor, came to us and stated that a certain bishop named John, who came from Pannonia, had been established in the fort called Novae, to which their island, called Capritana, had been joined as its diocese. They add that after this bishop had been forcibly removed and driven out of the fort, another was ordained there; about him, however, they say it was decided that he ought not to have lived in the fort, but on his own island. They say further that while he stayed with them there he was unwilling to remain in the error of schism, and together with all his people presented a petition to our most excellent son Callinicus the exarch, asking to be united, with all who were with him, to the catholic church, as we have already said. But they say that afterward, persuaded by the schismatics, he went back on it, and that now all the people of the island are without the protection of a bishop, since, wishing as they do to be united to holy church, they cannot now receive one who has turned to the error of the schismatics; and they want another ordained for them. [a]

But since everything must be investigated strictly and thoroughly, we have taken the precaution of ordering as follows. Your fraternity is to send to the bishop and admonish him to return to the unity of the catholic church and to his own people. If after admonition he scorns to return, the flock of God ought not to be deceived in its pastor’s error. In that case, then, let your holiness ordain a bishop there, and let him have the island for his diocese until the Istrian bishops return to the catholic faith. In this way each church will keep the rights of its own diocese, and a people without a pastor will not be left without the protection and oversight of government. In all these things, however, your fraternity must take watchful care that this people now coming back to the church be very carefully admonished, so that it may be firmly fixed in its return, and may not fall back through wavering thoughts into the pit of error. But be sure to ask the most excellent exarch to report these same things in his dispatches to the most pious ears of the emperors. For although the order conveyed to him appears to have been obtained from them, he is not forbidden by that order to let those who wish it return to the church, but only, at the present time, to compel the unwilling. Let our son, then, take charge of this business, and frame his reports so that whatever he arranges may not be left in doubt. We ourselves have also written to our common son Anatolius, telling him to explain these things fully to the most pious princes.

I have received repeated and urgent letters from my most excellent son, the lord exarch Callinicus, on behalf of Maximus. Overcome by his insistence, I see nothing further to do but to commit the case of Maximus to your fraternity. If, then, Maximus comes to your fraternity, let Honoratus, archdeacon of his church, appear as well, so that your holiness may find out whether he was rightly ordained, whether he fell into no simoniacal heresy, whether there was nothing against him in the way of sins of the body, and whether he did not know himself to be excommunicated when he presumed to celebrate mass. Whatever seems right to you in the fear of God, decide it, so that we, under God, may give our assent to your arrangement. But if our son should regard your fraternity with suspicion, let our most reverend brother Constantius, bishop of Milan, also come to Ravenna and sit with you, and decide the case together. And whatever seems good to both of you, be sure that it will seem good to me. For as we ought not to be stubborn toward the humble, so we ought to show ourselves strict toward the proud. So let your fraternity, as you have learned in the pages of Holy Scripture, decide in this business whatever you consider just. [d]