To Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra, on the Fortress of Cassiopus

Gregory to Alcyson, and so on. [a]

It is not without reason that the ambition of a swollen heart needs to be put down, when, in disregard of the force of the sacred canons, rash presumption goes so far in unlawfully coveting what belongs to others that it proves not only harmful by the expense it causes, but also opposed to the peace of the church. Having read your fraternity’s letters, then, we have learned what has been done, both earlier and lately, by the bishop of the city of Euria with regard to the fortress of Cassiopus, which lies in your diocese. We are grieved that those who ought to have been in your church’s debt for the love shown them have instead become its enemies, with no shame to hold them back; and that, in the end, against church order, against the moderation proper to priests, and against the decrees of the sacred canons, they should try to take that fortress out of your jurisdiction and bring it under their own power, so as to become masters, as it were, where they had earlier been received as strangers. In this matter, Andrew, our brother of venerable memory, metropolitan of Nicopolis, who also had the support of an imperial order charging him to hear this case, is known to have decided, by a sentence he issued and which has been shown to us, that the fortress of Cassiopus should remain under the jurisdiction of your church, as it always has. We approve the form of that sentence. We confirm it, as justice approves, by the authority of the Apostolic See, and we decree that it stand firm in every respect. For no rule of fairness and no order of the canons allows one man in any way to take over the diocese of another. [b]

So, although the guilt of this quarrelsomeness seems to call for no small severity, since they have returned evil for good, care must still be taken that kindness is not overcome by excess, and that what is owed to brothers from elsewhere is not refused them when they too are suffering hardship. Otherwise it might be judged that love has no working in the minds of bishops, if those to whom great compassion is owed were left without the remedy of comfort. It is right, then, that the priests and clergy of the city of Euria should not be driven out of their lodging in the fortress of Cassiopus, and that they should also be allowed to lay the holy and venerable body of the blessed Donatus, which they have brought with them, with due reverence in whichever church of that place they choose. But this on condition that your love, in whose diocese the fortress lies, is protected by a written guarantee, in which the bishop of Euria promises not to claim for himself any power there, or any privilege, or any jurisdiction, or any authority in the future, as though he were its permanent bishop; and promises that once peace has been restored by the favor of God, they will by all means return to their own places, taking with them, if they wish, the venerable body of Saint Donatus. So, with this promise kept in mind, they may not dare on any pretext whatever to claim any further right of rule there for themselves, but must acknowledge themselves guests there at all times; and the church of your fraternity may not suffer any loss whatever to its rights and privileges.