E06387: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 9.45) of 598, to Bishops Iohannes of Sorrento, Agnellus of Terracina, Felix of Portua, Fortunatus of Naples, Primen of Nocera, Gloriosus of Ostia and Albinus of Formia (all near Rome or in Campania, southern Italy), encourages the building of sanctuaries for the relics of martyrs. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.45


Full text of the letter (omitting only the long list of addressees):

Gloriosus filius noster Gregorius expraefectus sanctuaria beatorum martyrum in diocesis uestrae locis quiescentium sibi postulat debere concedi, in quorum honorem basilicam propriis sumptibus aedificari desiderat. Et ideo, fratres carissimi, praefati desideriis ex nostra uos praeceptione conuenit oboedire, ut deuotionis suae in consecratione quam postulat potiatur effectum.

‘Our glorious son, Gregory, the ex-prefect, asks that sanctuaries should be built for the relics of the blessed martyrs, which are resting in places of your diocese, and he wants you to fund [for each] the building of a church in their honour. And for that reason, my very dear brethren, I should direct you to obey the desires of the aforesaid ex-prefect, as is appropriate, so that his demand for the consecration of his devotions might be brought to fruition.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 604. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 2, 573.