Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIII/Gregory the Great/Book IX/Letter 16

Epistle XXIII.

To John, Bishop of Syracuse.

Gregory to John, &amp;c.

Our son the glorious exconsul Leontius has made a serious complaint to us of our brother and fellow-bishop Leo; and his complaint has altogether disturbed us, since a bishop ought not to have acted so precipitately and lightly.&#160; This case we have committed, to be thoroughly enquired into, to our Guardian (defensoris) Romanus when he comes to you.&#160; Further, the messenger who was sent by him (i.e. by Leontius) complains of your Fraternity, that in the defence of the illustrious physician Archelaus the interests of our brother and fellow-bishop, the Metropolitan Domitian, suffer damage .&#160; And indeed your Fraternity ought justly to protect your sons, or it may be in this case the interests of holy Church, and to give no occasion for evil-speaking to adversaries.&#160; I doubt not, however, even while thus speaking, that you do take heed to this:&#160; yet we have enjoined on the same Romanus, when he comes to you, to arrange with you what is right with regard to this case also.