(Around the middle of A.D. 382, Theodosius, following the recommendation of Damasus, summoned a new synod of Eastern bishops to meet at Constantinople in an attempt to heal the schism that had been made worse by the election of Flavian at Antioch. As soon as Gregory heard that this synod had been called, he wrote to several of his influential friends at court, asking them to do everything they could to promote peace.)
(About the middle of a.d. 382 Theodosius, on the recommendation of S. Damasus, summoned a new Synod of Eastern Bishops to meet at Constantinople, to try and heal the schism which had been embittered by the election of Flavian at Antioch. As soon as Gregory heard of the convocation of this Synod he wrote to several of his influential friends at Court, to beg them to do their utmost for the promotion of peace.)
I am spending my time in quiet reflection. That is the harm my enemies have done me, and I would be glad if they would do more of the same, so I might regard them even more as benefactors. For it often happens that those who are wronged receive a benefit, while those we would treat well suffer harm. That is how things stand with me. But if I cannot make everyone believe this, I am very eager that at least you—to whom above all others I most willingly give an account of my affairs—should know it, or rather I am certain that you do know it and can persuade those who do not. However, I beg you to make every effort, now at least if you have not done so before, to bring together into one voice and one mind the factions of the world that are so unhappily divided, especially if you perceive, as I have observed, that they are divided not on account of the Faith but by petty private interests. To succeed in doing this would earn you a reward, and my retirement would have less to grieve over if I could see that I did not pursue it for no purpose, but was like Jonah, willingly casting myself into the sea so the storm might cease and the sailors be saved. If, however, they are still as storm-tossed as ever, I at least have done what I could.
I am philosophizing at leisure. That is the injury my enemies have done me, and I should be glad if they would do more of the same sort, that I might look upon them still more as benefactors. For it often happens that those who are wronged get a benefit, while they, whom we would treat well, suffer injury. That is the state of my affairs. But if I cannot make every one believe this, I am very anxious, that at all events you, for them all, to whom I most willingly give an account of my affairs, should know, or rather I feel certain that you do know it, and can persuade those who do not. You, however, I beg to give all diligence, now at any rate, if you have not done so before, to bring together to one voice and mind the sections of the world that are so unhappily divided; and above all if you should perceive, as I have observed, that they are divided not on account of the Faith, but by petty private interests. To succeed in doing this would earn you a reward; and my retirement would have less to grieve over if I could see that I did not grasp at it to no purpose, but was like a Jonas, willingly casting myself into the sea, that the storm might cease and the sailors be saved. If, however, they are still as storm-tost as ever, I at all events have done what I could.