Letter LVII, from Empress Licinia Eudoxia to Emperor Theodosius
To the lord Theodosius, renowned, ever Augustus and father — Licinia Eudoxia, most pious and perpetual Augusta and daughter. Licinia Eudoxia’s Visit to Rome; Leo’s Preaching Moves Her to Tears; She Urges an Italian Council That We desire to come frequently to Rome is for Us a matter of the love of religion — in […]
Letter LVI, from Empress Galla Placidia to Emperor Theodosius
To the lord Theodosius, victorious and triumphant, ever Augustus and son — Galla Placidia, most pious and flourishing, ever Augusta and mother. Leo at Peter’s Altar, Weeping for the Faith, Surrounded by Bishops He Has Gathered Throughout Italy When upon entering the ancient city We had given Our veneration to the most blessed Apostle Peter, […]
Letter LV, from Emperor Valentinian to Emperor Theodosius
To the lord Theodosius, victorious and triumphant, ever Augustus and son — Valentinian, glorious, victorious and triumphant, the senior Augustus and father. Valentinian’s Visit to Rome and Leo’s Petition; The Bishop of Rome Holds the Primacy of the Priesthood Over All by Antiquity When We had come to the city of Rome to propitiate the […]
Letter XLIV, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, and the holy synod convened in the city of Rome, to Emperor Theodosius. Chapter I: The Ephesine Pseudo-Synod Favored Private Enmities and Disrupted the Church; Apostolic Letters Were Rejected; Actions Were Coerced; Hilarius Barely Escaped; The Synod Is Never to Be Accepted by the Apostolic See From your clemency’s letters, sent to the […]
Letter XXXVII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, to the most religious Emperor Theodosius. The Unity of Faith Must Be Preserved; Leo Sends Those Who Fulfill His Presence’s Role, for the Matter Admits No Doubt Having received Your Clemency’s letters, I perceive great cause for the universal Church to rejoice — that you wish the Christian faith, by which the divine […]
Letter XXXIII, from Pope Leo to the Second Synod of Ephesus
Leo, bishop, to the holy synod convened at Ephesus. Chapter I: The Emperor Brings to Bear the Authority of the Apostolic See; The Faith of the Incarnation Proven from Peter’s Confession The devout faith of the most clement emperor, knowing it to pertain principally to his glory that no seed of error should rise within […]
Letter XXX, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria, Empress. Chapter I: Eutyches Has Erred Against the Truth of Christ’s Human Nature; His Error Must Be Removed Before It Spreads The Church of God has great cause for confidence in the faith of Your Clemency, proven so many times and by so many examples: taught by the Holy Spirit, you […]
Letter XXIX, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop of the Catholic Church of the city of Rome, to the most religious and pious emperor Theodosius. The solicitude of Your Clemency, moved by the inspiration of God’s Spirit, shows how divine providence deigns to govern human affairs — desiring that nothing unpeaceful or divergent exist in the Catholic Church, since faith, being […]
Letter XXIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, to Theodosius Augustus. Chapter I: The Emperor’s Praise; Eutyches’s Complaint to the Apostolic See From the letters which your clemency has sent to Us, the Lord’s provision for His Church through your faith shines forth; and We rejoice that you possess not only royal but truly priestly zeal. Beyond the imperial and public […]
Letter XI, from Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian III to Aetius
Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian, Augusti, to Aetius, illustrious man, count, master of both armies, and patrician. The Primacy of the Apostolic See Is Confirmed; The Sentence Against Hilary Was Valid Without Imperial Backing It is certain that the sole defense of Our empire and Our rule lies in the favor of the supernal Divinity, to […]
Letter VIII, from Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian III to Albinus
Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian, Augusti, to Albinus, Praetorian Prefect, for the second time. The Emperors Issue Perpetual Legislation Against the Manichaeans on the Basis of Pope Leo’s Tribunal The condemned superstition of the pagans — an enemy of public order and an adversary of the Christian faith — has not undeservedly stirred Our clemency to […]
Letter X, from Pope Symmachus to the Emperor Anastasius
The Apologetic of Symmachus, Bishop of Rome, against Anastasius the Emperor. Chapter I: The Precedent of Ambrose’s Response to Gratian; The Christian Prince Must Patiently Hear the Apostolic Prelate’s Voice To a letter of the emperor Gratian of august memory, blessed Ambrose responded in eight books, since on behalf of the Catholic faith it did […]
Letter XI, from Pope Hilarius to the Bishops Judging Mamertus’s Case
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brothers — Victurus, Ingenuus, Ydatius, Eustasius, Fonteius, Viventius, Eulalius, Veranus, Faustus, Auxanius, Proculus, Ausonius, Paulus, Memorialis, Coelestius, Projectus, Eutropius, Avitianus, Ursus, and Leontius. With Us most solicitous, and suspended in much expectation by those things which the recent and certain report had brought to Us, the letters of your […]
