Pope Gregory the Great was Pope from 590 till 604. He is most known today for the “Gregorian” chants, although the chants were not developed until the 8th/9th century and are merely attributed to him. However, he was also known for Church reforms as well as the multitude of letters he wrote and which have been preserved (most recent edition The letters of Gregory the Great, translated, with introduction and notes, by John R.C. Martyn, 2004). Among these letters there are two that mention the Slavs.
Letter to Callinicus Exarch of Italy
(May 599)
Book IX Letter 154
“In addition to the news of your victory over the Slavs, truly great joy was brought to me by the fact that Your Excellency sent to Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, the deliverers of this letter from the island of Caprea [Capritana?], desiring to return to the Holy Church. For if you bring under the yoke of the true Lord those of whom you know that they are enemies of God, the easier you will be able to defeat your [own] enemies; and the more honestly and piously you guard God’s matters amongst men, the more successful you shall be in your daily dealings with them. Now as to your having desired that a copy should be shown me of he order that has been sent to you for the defense of the schismatic…”*
* The Exarch was a Byzantine administrator. This particular exarch was Callinicus or Gallicinus, the Exarch of Italy resident at Ravenna. The reference to “Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles” is, of course, a reference to the seat of the Pope, i.e., the Vatican. Insula Capreae was either a place between Tergeste and Piranum (see Ravenna Geography, Book 4, 31 and Book 5, 14) in Istria or an island at the mouth of the Piave river where Venice lies.
Letter to Maximus Bishop of Salona*
(July 600)
Book X Letter 15
“Venerable Brother, our common son, presbyter Veteranus, coming to Rome found me so weakened by attacks of the gout that I was in unable to find the strength to answer Your letter. Nevertheless, I suffer much and fear [too] by reason of the pending threat to you from the tribe of the Slavs; I suffer for I am personally affected by what befalls you, and I fear, for by way of Istria they are beginning to make their way to Italy. Furthermore, what shall I say of Julian the scribe, seeing that see everywhere how our sins find us out, so as to cause us to be distributed by the nations from without any judges from within? But be not at all saddened by such things, since those who shall live after us will see worse times…”
* Salona, nearby today’s Solin is about 2 miles from Split, Croatia on the Dalmatian coast.
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