Two Churches One Bishop

Letter 2,42 - to John, bishop. July 592

"Now that our impious enemies have brought desolation to the churches of various cities, because of their sins, in such a way that no hope remains of repairing them, with shrinking populations, we are constrained by a far greater concern, in case, with the death of their bishops, the people left there are ruled by no pastoral guidance, and are dragged away through a lack of faith, trapped (Heaven forbid!) by our cunning enemy.
And so, often warned by our concern over this matter, we are resolved in our heart to entrust their government to neighboring bishops. And for that reason we have seen to it that the care and government of the church of the Three Taverns should be entrusted to your Fraternity. It must be attached to your church and united with it, so that with Christ's help you van rightly serve as bishop of both churches.
Our present permission will give you, indeed, as its own bishop, a free license to settle whatever you decide concerning its patrimony and the ordination or promotion of clergy, with vigilant care and according to canon law."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 221.