The Early Church and Peter's Primacy

Letter CXVIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Leo, bishop, to Julian, Bishop of Cos. Chapter I: Leo Affirms That Nothing Has Been Omitted in Defending the Faith and the Universal Church I received your letters, sent through our son the illustrious Esychius, when I had already replied to the renewed occasion of your recent letters. Since you rightly lament these most impious […]

Letter CXVII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Leo, bishop, to Julian, Bishop of Cos. Chapter I: Leo Confirms Sending the Formal Consent to All Chalcedonian Bishops, and Directs Julian to Press the Emperor for Broader Circulation Your letters’ text shows how vigilantly and devotedly your brotherhood strives for the Catholic faith — greatly relieving my solicitude with their instruction. The most religious […]

Letter CXVI, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria

Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Thanks Pulcheria for Her Sanctions Against the Rebellious Monks Although I have received no letters from your piety at this time, the writing of the most glorious prince brought me no less joy than if the words of your serenity had been addressed to me. Upholding my […]

Letter CXV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian

Leo, bishop, to Marcian Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Thanks Marcian, Explains Why a New Letter Was Necessary, and Names Anatolius’s Deliberate Concealment Your clemency’s letters give me much cause for joy — as I experience, through the great mercy of divine providence, that you deign to aid ecclesiastical peace with most pious zeal, glorious Augustus: […]

Letter CXIV, from Pope Leo to the Bishops at the Chalcedon Synod

Leo, bishop, to the bishops gathered at the holy Synod of Chalcedon. Chapter I: Leo Formally Confirms His Agreement With Chalcedon’s Faith Definition, and Explains Why He Is Writing Directly to the Bishops I have no doubt that your entire brotherhood knows that I embraced with my whole heart the definition of the holy synod […]

Letter CXIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Leo, bishop of Rome, to Julian, Bishop of Cos. Chapter I: Leo Laments the Aetius Situation and Explains His Deferred Action Against Anatolius I recognize in your letters the affection of brotherly charity — that you share our pious sorrow for the many and grievous evils we have endured. May these trials, which the Lord […]

Letter CXII, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria

Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Laments Anatolius’s Appointment of Andrew Over Aetius With the many proofs by which your piety’s love for God’s Church has been made manifest, your aid is rightly sought whenever scandals arise — so that the faith, defended by your efforts against the inventions of heretics, may hold […]

Letter CXI, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian

Leo, bishop, to Marcian Augustus. Chapter I: Leo’s Initial Suspicion of Anatolius’s Ordination Overcome by Marcian’s Testimony and Anatolius’s Profession of Faith The whole world recognizes how excellently the glorious zeal of your clemency has in our time restored the integrity of the Christian faith — securing through you, by the Lord, a singular protection […]

Letter CX, from Emperor Marcian to Pope Leo

Victors Valentinianus and Marcianus, glorious triumphators, ever Augusti, to the most holy and truly venerable Leo, Archbishop. Marcian Reports Doubt About Leo’s Confirmation of Chalcedon and Requests a Definitive Public Statement We earnestly pray with the serenity of our words that Your Beatitude prospers, requesting that you impart the favor of your prayers’ intercession for […]

Letter CVIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Theodore of Forum Julii

Leo, bishop, to Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii. Chapter I: Bishops in Doubt Should First Consult Their Metropolitan Your solicitude should first have consulted your metropolitan on matters that required inquiry — and if he too were uncertain, then together you should have sought instruction. In causes that concern the general observance of all the […]

Letter CVII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Leo, pope, to Julian, Bishop of Cos. Chapter I: Leo Marvels That Julian Has Interceded for Anatolius’s Illicit Claims Your charity has often demonstrated, through steadfast and resolute commitment, how faithfully you guard the sacred canons of the Nicene Fathers — judging all ecclesiastical discipline dissolved if anything should violate their holy decrees. I marvel, […]

Letter CVI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Praises Anatolius’s Recovery From Disorderly Beginnings but Reproves His Ambition With the light of evangelical truth disclosed, as We had hoped, through God’s grace, and the universal Church freed from the night of most pernicious error, We rejoice beyond all telling in the Lord that the labor […]

Letter CV, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria

Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices That Both Those Who Stood Firm and Those Who Were Led Astray Have Overcome the Enemy We rejoice beyond all telling in the holy and God-pleasing efforts of your clemency — defending the Catholic faith against heretics and restoring peace to the universal Church. We give […]

Letter CIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian

Leo, bishop, to Marcian Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices in the Victory of the Faith and the Utility of Error in the Church The joys of the entire Catholic Church multiplied beyond telling through God’s great mercy — its most pernicious error extinguished through the holy and glorious zeal of your clemency. With your principate’s […]

Letter CIII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of Gaul

Leo, to his most beloved brothers Rusticus, Ravennium, Venerius, Constantianus, Maximus, Armentarius, and the other bishops throughout Gaul. Leo Announces the Return of His Legates and Transmits the Exemplar of the Sentence Against Dioscorus With our common vows fulfilled through God’s mercy, it is fitting that your brotherhood share in the joys of these holy […]

Letter CII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of Gaul

Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Ravennium, Rusticus, Venerius, Constantianus, Maximus, Armentarius, Florus, Sabinus, Valerianus, Constantius, Maximus, Asclepius, Nectarius, Maximus, Ursus, Ingenuus, Justus, Valerius, Superventor, Chrysaphius, Fonteius, Petronius, Idatius, Ætherius, Eulalius, Eustathius, Fraternus, Victurus, Eugenius, Hilarus, Verus, Amandus, Gerontius, Proculeianus, Julianus, Helladius, Armentarius, Honoratus, Eparchius, Anemius, Dynamius, Maximinus, Ynantius, and Palladius, bishops throughout […]

Letter CI, from Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople to Pope Leo

To the most holy and most blessed father and fellow minister, archbishop of ancient Rome, Leo: Anatolius, in the Lord, greetings. Chapter I: Anatolius Reports That the Proceedings Have Been Sent to Rome and Praises Leo’s Solicitude for the Faith The zeal of your holiness for piety, and your solicitude for the right faith — […]

Letter XCIX, from Bishop Ravennium and Other Gallic Bishops to Pope Leo

To the truly holy lord, and venerable pope Leo with apostolic honor most blessed in Christ: from Ravennium, Rusticus, Venerius, Constantianus, Maximus, Armentarius, Florus, Sabinus, Valerianus, Constantius, Nectarius, Maximus, Asclepius, Maximus, Ursus, Ingenuus, Justus, Valerius, Superventor, Chrysaphius, Fonteius, Petronius, Idatius, Ætherius, Eulalius, Eustathius, Fraternus, Victurus, Eugenius, Hilarus, Verus, Amandus, Gerontius, Proculeianus, Julianus, Helladius, Armentarius, Honoratus, […]

Letter XCVIII, from the Chalcedon Synod to Pope Leo

The holy, great, and universal Synod, gathered by the grace of God and the sanction of our most pious and Christ-loving emperors in Chalcedon, metropolis of the province of Bithynia, to the most holy and most blessed Leo, Archbishop of the Romans. Chapter I: The Synod Declares Leo Established as the Interpreter of the Voice […]

Letter XCVII, from Bishop Eusebius of Milan to Pope Leo

To the holy and most blessed Father Leo, Eusebius, bishop of Milan. Chapter I: Eusebius Rejoices at the Legates’ Return and Acknowledges That God Has Placed Leo as Bishop in the See of His Apostle With the Lord’s favor, our brothers have returned — those whom your provident Beatitude diligently sent to the East for […]

The Early Church and Peter's Primacy