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 VI, from Pope Anastasius II to the Bishops of Gaul
To the most beloved brothers, all the bishops established throughout Gaul, Anastasius pope. Chapter I: The Communion of Catholic Bishops; The Heresy Reported by Aeonius of Arles 1. Good and pleasant is the Davidic word: For brethren to dwell together in unity (Ps. 132:1). For although spaces of lands separate us in distance, yet by […]
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 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 CXXIX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Proterius of Alexandria
Leo, bishop, to Proterius, Bishop of Alexandria. Chapter I: Alexandria’s Obligation to Send Letters to the Apostolic See Grounded in the Petrine-Markan Derivation of Its Faith Your letters — delivered by our brother and fellow bishop Nestorius with devoted care — have brought me great joy. It is fitting that the leader of the Church […]
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 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 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 LXXIX, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Pulcheria’s Twofold Victory Over Nestorius and Eutyches What we always presumed of your holy piety’s mind we have confirmed fully by experience: the Christian faith — though assailed by the diverse snares of the perverse — cannot be disturbed, with you present and […]
Letter LXVI, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Arles
Leo, pope, to his most beloved brothers: Constantinus, Armentarius, Audientius, Severianus, Valerianus, Ursus, Stephanus, Nectarius, Constantius, Maximus, Asclepius, Theodorus, Justus Ingenuus, Augustalis, Superventor, Ynantius, Fonteius, Palladius. Chapter I: Both Petitions Heard; Justice Must Preserve the Privileges of Both Churches From reading the letters of your beloved, delivered by our sons the presbyter Petronius and the […]
Letter LXV, from the Bishops of the Province of Arles to Pope Leo
To the most blessed lord, Pope Leo: the prayers sent by all the comprovincial bishops of the metropolis of Arles. Chapter I: The Bishops Report Ravennius’s Election and Request the Restoration of Arles’s Ancient Privileges Mindful of how much honor and reverence is always due to the most blessed Apostolic See, over which our Lord […]
Letter XLII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ravennius. Petronianus the Fraud Is to Be Expelled from All Churches’ Communion We desire you to be vigilant and solicitous, lest any blameworthy presumption claim what it may — gaining entry through false pretenses and then extending to greater temerity under the guise of a usurped dignity. Through […]
Letter XLI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ravennius. Leo Congratulates Ravennius on His Elevation; Urges Episcopal Virtues; Asks for Regular Reports Know that your beloved’s advancement to the dignity of the highest priesthood pleases us so greatly that we rejoice not only for your honor’s increase but also for the Church of Arles, over which […]
Letter XL, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Arles
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brothers Constantinus, Audentius, Rusticus, Auspicius, Nicetas, Nectarius, Florus, Asclepius, Justus, Augustalis, Ynantius, and Chrysaphius. Leo Confirms the Election of Ravennius with His Judgment We have just and reasonable cause for rejoicing when we learn of deeds by the Lord’s priests that accord with the rules of the Fathers’ canons […]
Letter XIV, from Pope Leo to Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Anastasius, bishop of Thessalonica. How great the things entrusted to your brotherhood by the authority of the most blessed Apostle Peter, and how many also committed to you by Our own favor — if you were truly to weigh these with right reason and just judgment, we […]
Letter XIII, from Pope Leo to the Metropolitan Bishops of Illyricum
Leo, to the most beloved brothers Senecio, Carosus, Theodulus, Lucus, Antiochus, and Vigilantius, metropolitans established throughout the provinces of Illyricum. Chapter I: Leo’s Solicitude for the Churches; The Illyrian Churches Belong to the Care of Anastasius We receive with a grateful heart the testimony of your letters that Our writings — sent out of solicitude […]
Letter XII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of Mauretania Caesariensis
Leo, bishop of Rome, to all the bishops constituted throughout Mauretania Caesariensis, greetings in the Lord. Chapter I: Illicit Ordinations Through Tumult; Leo’s Solicitude Owed by Divine Institution Repeated reports brought to Us by travelers, attesting that illicit ordinations have been usurped among you, have compelled Our duty of piety to investigate the truth — […]
Letter X, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Vienne
Leo, bishop of Rome, to the most beloved brothers, all the bishops established throughout the province of Vienne. Chapter I: The Church Is Built on Peter’s Rock; Whoever Attempts to Infringe Its Power Acts with Impious Presumption Our Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, so established the observance of the divine religion that […]
Letter VI, from Pope Leo to Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica
Leo to our most beloved brother Anastasius. I. Leo Explains the Purpose of Fraternal Correspondence and the Duty of Pastoral Vigilance The charity of our fraternal fellowship makes us receive all priests’ letters with a grateful heart, embracing through the grace of the Spirit those with whom we are united by mutual correspondence. Yet our […]
Letter V, from Pope Leo to the Metropolitan Bishops of Illyricum
Leo to the most beloved brother bishops established as metropolitans throughout Illyricum. I. Illicit Attempts Against the Canons Must Be Prudently Forestalled Before They Are Made Every salutary admonition that we believe comes with the Lord’s inspiration benefits both the one who gives it and the one who receives it — and so we undertake […]
