Letter LVIII, from Empress Galla Placidia to Empress Pulcheria
Galla Placidia, most pious, ever Augusta — to Aelia Pulcheria, most pious, ever Augusta and daughter. The Faith Has Been Disturbed by One Man’s Will; Galla Placidia Urges Pulcheria to Move Theodosius to Command an Italian Council Knowing that to come to Rome frequently for the sight of this ancient city is for you as […]
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 LIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, Bishop of the City of Rome, to Theodosius, ever Augustus. Leo Holds the Nicene Faith; Eutyches Is to Be Condemned No Less Than Nestorius; A Council Within Italy Is Requested It is fitting that the most Christian prince be solicitous for the integrity of the Catholic faith, and for this I ask the divine […]
Letter LII, from Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus to Pope Leo
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, to Leo, Bishop of Rome. Chapter I: It Is Fitting That the Apostolic See Hold First Place in All Things; Peter and Paul’s Tombs Have Made It the Apex of All Good If Paul, the herald of the truth, the trumpet of the Holy Spirit, betook himself to the great Peter […]
Letter LI, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to the Archimandrites of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, and the holy Synod convened in the city of Rome, to Faustus, Martinus, Petrus, and Emmanuel, presbyters and archimandrites of Constantinople, most beloved sons in the Lord. Urge to Hold Firm in Faith and with Flavian; Ephesus II’s Acts Are Invalid Though the things we wrote regarding solicitude for the Constantinopolitan Church might […]
Letter L, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to the People of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, and the holy Synod convened in the city of Rome, to the clergy, honorable men, and people of Constantinople, most beloved sons in the Lord. Chapter I: The Report of Hilarus; The Presumption of One Man Wounded the Universal Church The things done contrary to all expectation at Ephesus have come to our […]
Letter XLVII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anastasius of Thessalonica
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to the most beloved brother Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica. Chapter I: Providence Kept Anastasius from Ephesus II From the report of our deacon Hilarus we have learned how great a crime was committed at the instance and execution of the Alexandrian bishop — so that while long-standing jealousies […]
Letter XLVI, from Deacon Hilarius to Empress Pulcheria
Hilarus, deacon, to the most glorious and most pious Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Dioscorus Attempted to Prevent Hilarus from Reaching Rome That it was my purpose, after the synod, to come to Constantinople, I need not say — for it was a manifest necessity that compelled me to deliver to Your Clemency and to the […]
Letter XLV, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop, and the holy Synod convened in the city of Rome, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Sends Copies of the Suppressed Letters; The Integrity of the Catholic Faith Must Not Be Violated If the letters directed to your piety for the cause of the faith through our clergy had reached you, it is […]
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 XLIII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, to the most glorious and clement Emperor Theodosius. Chapter I: Leo Complains of the Ephesine Robbery From the beginning, in councils held, we have received such confidence from the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, that we have authority to defend the truth for our peace, so none may disturb it, fortified as […]
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 XXXIX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to Bishop Flavian. Leo’s Solicitude Grows at Flavian’s Silence; He Urges an Immediate Full Report Your prolonged silence increases our solicitude. We have long received no letters from your beloved, though, solicitous for the defense of the faith, we have frequently sent letters to you through suitable opportunities, to support you with the […]
Letter XXXVIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople
Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople. Encouragement After the Legates’ Departure; The Letters Already Sent as Doctrinal Standard; Mercy for Those Who Repent After our representatives, sent to you for the cause of the faith, had already departed, we received the writings of your beloved through our son the deacon Basilius — who rightly provided […]
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 XXXVI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Flavian. The Legates Follow; The Matter Requires No Synodal Treatment I have received your beloved’s letters along with the acts completed among you concerning the question of the faith. And since the most clement emperor, solicitous for the Church’s peace, wished a synod to be convened — though […]
