E06411: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 9.233) of 599, to Decius, bishop of Lilybaeum, asks him to consecrate a female monastery dedicated to *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), *Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S01229), *Hermes (martyr of Rome, buried on the via Salaria vetus, S00404), *Pancratius (martyr of Rome, S00307), *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00400), and *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097), inside the city of Lilybaeum (Sicily). Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.233


Full text of the letter:

GREGORIVS DECIO EPISCOPO LILLIBITANO
Adeodata gloriosissima femina petitorii nobis insinuatione suggessit, quod habetur in subditis, in domo siquidem iuris sui intra ciuitatem Lillibitanam monasterium ancillarum dei a solo se pro sua deuotione fundasse, quod in honore beati Petri principis apostolorum atque sanctorum christi martyrum Laurentii, Ermetis, Pancratii, Sebastiani et Agnes desiderat consecrari. Et ideo, frater carissime, quippe quia in ciuitatis tuae commemorata constructio iure consistit et, si nullum corpus ibidem constat humatum, percepta primitus donatione legitima, id est in reditu praestantes liberos a tributis fiscalibus solidos x, pueros tres, boues paria tria, mancipia alia, quae seruiant in ipso monasterio numero u, equas numero x, uaccas numero x, hastulas uinearum numero iiii, oues numero xl, et cetera secundum morem.


‘Gregory to Decius, bishop of Lilybaeum
Adeodata, a most glorious woman, has suggested to us with the notification of a declaration, which is held in the appendix, that she has founded a monastery for nuns in a house legally hers, inside the city of Lilybaeum, as proof of her devotion. And she wants it to be consecrated in honour of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, and of Saints Laurence, Hermes, Pancratius, Sebastianus and Agnes, martyrs of Christ. And for that reason, my very dear brother, [do so]. For the construction just mentioned is subject to the control of your city. Provided it is certain that no human body has been buried there, receive all the donation set out by law, that is for income, gold solidi, free from taxes, ten, and slave-boys, three, oxen of the same age, three, other servants to serve in that convent, five in number, mares, ten in number, cows, ten in number, vine plantations, four in number, sheep, forty in number, and the rest according to what is normal.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 815-16. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 2, 706-7, modified.