Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Chapter 30

On July 18, 600 CE, Pope Gregory writes a letter to Abbot Mellitus, one of the men who was sent to help Augustine, on the subject of pagan temples and customs. Careful to avoid alienating pagans, Gregory's attitude is liberal, moderate and practical; temples may be preserved and reconsecrated as Christian places of worship, but idols are to be destroyed. In addition, customary sacrifices made to pagan gods can be modified to serve the Christian God. Instead of offering sacrificial cattle to their old gods, worshipers should slaughter them for their own food and give thanks to God. Gregory's plan preserves peace within an established religious community and attracts new members to the faith by blurring the line between new ideas and ancient traditions. Pope Gregory hopes that the familiarity of pagan sites and similarity of rituals will help to inculcate the new Christian faith into the hearts and minds of the early Britons.

Points Noted:

• Why is Gregory telling Abbot Mellitus to tell Augustine instead of just directly communicating with Augustine himself? Is he someone close to Pope Gregory and is he closer to the Pope than Augustine? Did Augustine receive a letter with similar instructions?