To Isacius, Bishop of Jerusalem

Gregory to Isacius, and so on. [a]

Taken as true history, what does it mean that at the time of the flood the human race outside the ark dies, while within the ark it is kept alive, if not what we now plainly see? All the unfaithful perish under the wave of their sin, while the unity of holy church, like the close-fitted frame of the ark, keeps her faithful ones in faith and in love. And this ark is indeed built of timber that does not decay, since it is built of strong souls, souls that persevere in good. When any single person is converted from a worldly life, it is as though timber were still being cut down on the mountains. But when, according to the order of holy church, someone is appointed to have charge of others, it is as though the ark were being built of timber sawn and fitted together to preserve human life. And that ark, when the flood was over, rested on a mountain, because when the corruption of this life is over, when the billows of evil works have passed away, holy church will rest in the heavenly homeland as on a high mountain. We rejoice, then, to find from reading your fraternity’s letter that you lend your aid to the building of this ark in the close fit of a right faith. And we give great thanks to Almighty God, who, though the shepherds of his flock change, keeps unchanged even after them the faith he once delivered to the holy fathers. [b]

Now the excellent preacher says, “Other foundation can no one lay than the one that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” Whoever, then, with love of God and of his neighbor, holds firmly the faith that is in Christ has laid for himself, from the Father, the same Jesus Christ, Son of God and man, as his foundation. It is to be hoped, then, that where Christ is the foundation, the building of good works will follow too. The Truth himself also says in person, “Whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” And a little later he adds, “I am the door.” So the one who enters the sheepfold by the door is the one who enters by Christ. And he enters by Christ who thinks and preaches what is true about the same Creator and Redeemer of the human race, keeps what he preaches, and takes up the highest place of government as a burdensome duty, not out of desire for the glory of a passing dignity. He also watches wisely over the sheepfold he has taken in charge, so that perverse men speaking twisted things do not tear the sheep of God, and evil spirits do not lay them waste by enticing them to sinful pleasures.

But in all these things may he teach us who for our sake became man. May he who was pleased to become what he himself had made pour the spirit of his love into both my weakness and your love, and open the eye of our heart in all care and watchful caution.

That men of a right faith are being advanced to sacred orders is cause for unceasing thanks to the same Almighty God. And prayer should always be made for the life of our most devout and Christian lord the emperor, for his most serene wife, and for his most gentle children. In their times the mouths of heretics are silent. Though their hearts seethe with the madness of perverse opinion, yet in the time of the orthodox emperor they do not dare to speak out the wrong opinions they hold. So we plainly see fulfilled what is written: “Gathering the waters of the sea together as in a bottle.” For the water of the sea is gathered together as in a bottle, because whatever wrong opinions the bitter learning of the heretics holds at present, it keeps within the breast and does not dare to express openly. But your fraternity, being spiritually taught, has set out the right faith in every respect and has fully declared the things that ought to be sought. Your faith, then, is ours. We hold what you say, and we say what you hold. [d]

But since it has come to our ears that in the churches of the East no one reaches sacred orders except by giving bribes, if your fraternity finds this to be so, you should offer to Almighty God, as your first offering, the checking of the error of the simoniac heresy in the churches under you. For, to say nothing of other things, what kind of men can they be in sacred orders who are advanced to them not by merit but by bribes? We know with what severity the prince of the apostles attacked this heresy when he pronounced the first sentence of condemnation against Simon, saying, “May your money go to destruction with you, because you thought the gift of God could be bought with money.” Our Lord God himself, too, the Creator and Redeemer of the human race, made a whip of small cords and overturned and threw out of the temple the seats of those who sold doves. For what else is it to sell doves in the temple than to give for a price, in holy church, that laying on of hands by which the Holy Spirit is given? But the seats of those who sold doves were overturned, because the priesthood of such men is not counted as priesthood. [e]

Moreover, I have been told that in the church called the Nea quarrels often arise with your church in the city of Jerusalem. So your holiness ought to consider everything carefully, correcting some things gently and bearing calmly with others that cannot be corrected. For we plainly see what holy church says through the voice of the psalmist: “Sinners have built upon my back.” Burdens are carried on the back. Sinners, then, build upon our back when we patiently bear with those we cannot correct. For when the steersman of a ship sees that the wind is against him, he rides over some of the waves by steering straight over them, but some, which he foresees cannot be ridden over, he wisely avoids by turning his course aside. In the same way, then, let your holiness soften some evils by checking them and others by bearing them, so as in every way to keep the peace of those who live together in the holy church of Jerusalem. For it is written, “Follow peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see God.” For in quarrels the very light of the soul, the light of good intention, is shut out. That is why the psalmist says, “My eye is troubled because of anger.” And what good is left in us if we lose peace from the heart, without which we cannot see the Lord? So act in such a way that you gather the gain of your reward even from those who through strife might have caused it to be lost. May Almighty God guard your love with heavenly grace, and grant you to carry with you, from those entrusted to you, a manifold harvest and good measure running over into eternal joys. [f]