VITALIANUS.
VITALIANUS was chosen Bishop of Rome, August 29th. 656. and governed that Church fourteen Years and six Months. He hath left us some Letters. * 1.1
The 1st. is directed to the Archbishop of Creet, upon the Bishop of Lappa's Complaint against the Judgment which that Bishop had given against him. Vitalianus saith, He hath examined that Matter in a Council, where the Acts of that Process were exhibited, and that the Bishops acknowledged the Cause had been illegally managed, and that the Bishop of Lappa had been wrongfully condemned: That they were greatly troubled that he had put that Bishop into Prison, and hindred him from coming to Rome, to clear himself: Therefore he declareth null and void all the Proceedings of the Council of the Archbishop of Creet, against John Bishop of Lappa: and at the same Time pronounceth that Bishop to be innocent, and, as such, absolveth him. In the 2d. he intreats Vaanus, the Emperor's Officer, to procure that Bishop's Restauration. In the 3d. he orders Paul, Archbishop of Creet, to cause his Churches to be given him again. He complains, That a Deacon had married a Wife, since the Time of his being in Orders; and that he did minister in two Churches: He prays him to put a stop to that Disorder, and to follow no longer Eulampius's Counsel, he being a wicked Man, sowing Divisions among them for his own Profit. In the 4th. Letter he desires George, Bishop of Syracuse, to be favourable to John of Lappa, and to endeavour his re-establishment.
The 5th. Letter, alledged by Bede, is directed to the King of Northumberland, in England. He commends his Zeal, and answers him about the Time of keeping Easter. He promises him to send him a Bishop, when he hath met with one fit for it, and willing to go over into England. He thanks him for his Prayers, and sends him some Relicks.
The 6th. is directed to the Benedictine Monks of Sicily: He acquaints them how grievous it is to him, that their Monasteries and Estates have been spoiled by the Incursions of the Bar∣barians. He tells them, He sends them some Monks of the Congregation of Mount-cassin, and exhorts them to obey them, and to labour with them for the resettling of their Monasteries and Lands.