To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria, on a Matter Left Unwritten and the Timber

Gregory to Eulogius, and so on. [a]

I have received from the bearer of this letter the letter of your most sweet holiness, which speaks to me about bringing your business to a speedy end. But as soon as he arrived, he learned on what terms the property he was seeking from our church was held, and he was soon satisfied about it. The business he had with others he settled without dispute.

But about the matter that you certainly ought to have written to me, your holiness has written nothing, thinking me slow in it too. And indeed, for fear that it might break out into the scandal of division, I have been unwilling to be the author of such a division. For I have chosen that whatever may follow should come about through others. But in time to come, God granting it, you will have proof that in a cause in which I desire to please God, I am not afraid of men. I took care to write to you about this before, even when you went to Constantinople. [b]

As for the timber, I had prepared beams of a larger size, as your blessedness asked in your letter. But the ship sent here is so small that it could not carry them unless they were cut, and I was unwilling to have them cut. So I have left it to your judgment what should be done with them. If you do not need them, we will put them to other uses here. And I beg your holiness to pray earnestly for me, since I am weighed down without rest by the pains of gout, the swords of barbarians, and distressing cares. But if you give me the help of your prayer, I believe you will strongly support me against all adversities. [c]