Letter I, Roman Synod of 1 March 499
Acta of the Roman Synod of 1 March 499, in the basilica of the blessed Apostle Peter, presided by the venerable Pope Symmachus. Suggestio of the Archdeacon Fulgentius and Interlocutio of Pope Symmachus 1. After the consulship of Paulinus, the most distinguished man, on the day of the Kalends of March, in the basilica of […]
Letter V, Libellus from the Alexandrian Apocrisiarii to the Roman Legation
To the most glorious and most excellent patrician Festus, and to the venerable bishops Cresconius and Germanus, sent from the city of Rome together with his power in legation to the most clement and Christ-loving Emperor Anastasius — Dioscorus presbyter of the venerable church of Alexandria, and Chaeremon lector, serving as the apocrisiarii of the […]
Letter III, from Pope Anastasius II to Laurentius, Bishop of Lychnidos
Anastasius, bishop, to Laurentius of Lychnidos. Chapter I: The Eastern Reception of Felix III’s Letter on Acacius; The Roman Custom of Sending the Formula of Faith 1. In the lengthy letter of your charity you have filled Us with great joy in the part where you say that, when the letter of Our predecessor concerning […]
Letter I, from Pope Anastasius II to the Emperor Anastasius I
Bishop Anastasius to the Most Glorious and Most Clement Son Anastasius Augustus. Exordium: The See of the Most Blessed Peter Holds in the Universal Church the Primacy Assigned to It by the Lord God At the beginning of my pontificate I bear, as my first announcement, the peace offered to the peoples. I therefore come […]
Letter CLXX, from Pope Leo to Gennadius, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to Gennadius, bishop of Constantinople. Chapter I: Leo Complains of Aelurus’s Presence at Constantinople and Directs That He Be Denied All Contact From the letters of your charity, and from the account of our brother co-bishops Domitianus and Germinianus, I have learned that Timothy — after being expelled from the city of the […]
Letter CLXIX, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop, to Leo, Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices Over the Expulsion of Aelurus and Urges That a Worthy Catholic Bishop Be Elected Without Delay If we wished to pursue the honor of your glory’s proposal in the defense of the faith with praise as great as the magnitude of the events themselves demands, we […]
Letter CLXVIII, from Pope Leo to All Bishops Established Throughout Campania, Samnium, and Picenum
Leo to all bishops established throughout Campania, Samnium, and Picenum. Chapter I: Baptism Is to Be Conferred Only at Easter and Pentecost, Except in Cases of Urgent Mortal Necessity I am moved with great indignation, and deeply grieved, that some among you have so far forgotten the apostolic tradition and — bent on the license […]
Letter CLXVII, from Pope Leo to Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne
Leo, bishop, to Rusticus, bishop of Narbonne. Leo’s Preface: On Pastoral Perseverance, and the Method of Responding to the Inquiries I have gladly received the letters of your brotherhood, which your archdeacon Hermes delivered, and I have read them with careful attention. Having taken in the substance of your whole account and reviewed what took […]
Letter CLXVI, from Pope Leo to Neon, Bishop of Ravenna
Leo, bishop, to Neon, bishop of Ravenna. Chapter I: Children Taken Captive Before They Could Remember Whether They Were Baptized May Seek Baptism After Careful Examination We have often strengthened the wavering hearts of our brothers amid the uncertainty of various difficult questions — guided by the Spirit of God, drawing the form of our […]
Letter CLXIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop, to Leo, Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Sends His Legates to Petition for the Church’s Liberty and Insists That the Chalcedonian Definition Not Be Reopened Rejoicing that it has been made clear by many plain proofs how deeply you care for the welfare of the universal Church, I have complied, as soon as I […]
Letter CLXIII, from Pope Leo to Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Rebukes Anatolius for His Displeasure, Exposes Atticus’s Evasion, and Prescribes the Exact Terms of Valid Recantation Having read the letter you sent through our son Patritius the deacon, I can see that you are displeased with the diligence of my solicitude, which, as countless experiences of your […]
Letter CLXII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop, to Leo, Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices in the Emperor’s Faith and Urges That the Chalcedonian Definition, Confirmed from the Rock on Which the City of God Is Built, Never Be Reopened My heart rejoices greatly in the Lord, and I have ample reason for gratitude, knowing that the most excellent faith of […]
Letter CLX, from Pope Leo to the Catholic Bishops and Clergy of Egypt Residing at Constantinople
Leo to his most dear brothers Nestorius, Athanasius, Paul, Peter, Theonas, Isaiah, Apollonius, Arpocras, Isidore, Isaac, Apollonius, Maximus, Marion, Poemenius, and Helpidius — bishops and Catholic clergy from Egypt residing at Constantinople. Chapter I: Leo Consoles the Exiled Clergy and Urges Patient Endurance, With Confidence in God’s Help and the Emperor’s Support The tribulation which […]
Letter CLIX, from Pope Leo to Niceta, Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop, to Niceta, bishop of Aquileia, greetings. My son Adeodatus, a deacon of our see, has returned to us and reports that you asked him to obtain from us the authority of the Apostolic See on certain matters which appear to present considerable difficulty of judgment. The care that must be taken in examining […]
Letter CLVI, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop, to Leo, Augustus. Chapter I: No Reopening of the Faith After Chalcedon — To Do So Would Be to Overthrow What the Universal Church Has Received I have received with reverence the letters of your clemency, full of the strength of faith and the light of truth — and I would wish, in […]
Letter CLV, from Pope Leo to Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Commends Anatolius’s Diligence and Urges Continued Vigilance, Having Again Addressed the Emperor on the Church’s Behalf We approve the diligence of the necessary solicitude which your brotherhood employs in directing letters to us, and from the pages received through our son Olympius we perceive that a priestly care […]
Letter CLIII, from Pope Leo to Aetius, Presbyter of Constantinople
Leo to Aetius, presbyter. Chapter I: Leo Acknowledges Aetius’s Diligence and Directs Him to Deliver the Letters to the Eastern Metropolitans We have received the letters of your charity, which testified to your diligence in the cause of the Church; and briefly for now we exhort you to press on watchfully with what you have […]
Letter CLI, from Pope Leo to Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Acknowledges Anatolius’s Steadfastness and Commends His Diligence in Keeping Rome Informed We acknowledge with gratitude the faith and steadfastness of your charity, by which you have withstood the snares of the heretics; and therefore we exhort you with all the greater confidence to stand firm also in […]
Letter CL, from Pope Leo to Euxitheus, Bishop of Thessalonica, and Equally to Juvenal of Jerusalem, Peter of Corinth, and Lucas of Dyrrachium
Leo to Euxitheus, bishop of Thessalonica, and equally to the same. Chapter I: Leo Writes by Virtue of His Solicitude for All the Churches, and Commends the Emperor’s Catholic Resolve Having learned of what has been committed at Alexandria by the fury of the Eutychians — of which I do not doubt your brotherhood has […]
Letter CXLIX, from Pope Leo to Basil, Bishop of Antioch
Leo to Basil, bishop of Antioch. Chapter I: Leo Admonishes Basil Concerning the Alexandrian Crisis, and Urges Steadfast Resistance to the Eutychians We should indeed have learned of your charity’s ordination in the proper ecclesiastical manner, whether through your own account or that of our provincial brothers the bishops. But since there was no lack […]
