Letter 2.26 to scribe Stephen of Sicily (19 May 592)
Gregory to Stephen, scribe (cartarius) in Sicily, on the restoration of monks
Gregory was informed by the abbot of the monastery of Saint George in the domain of Maratodis (massa maratodis) that two monks there follow a secular way of life. Stephen should bring them to order.
The aforesaid abbot also asserted us that a presbyter from the domain mentioned above wanted to introduce new customs into the monastery itself, which were thus far not observed since the time the monastery was founded thirty years ago. For if anything had been offered there by the faithful as a generous gift, the abbot said he should receive a portion of it. Your Greatness should strive to investigate this matter carefully, and if this custom did not exist from the beginning, it should not become seemly for some new custom to be imposed (even if indeed some time has passed). Especially as we have learnt that the monastery is poor, with very little property, and we have learnt that the abbot himself is extremely hospitable, according to the attestation of many.
Dated to the fourteenth kalends of June, tenth indiction.
(trans. Martyn 2004: 206-207, altered by J. Szafranowski)