The Early Church and Peter's Primacy

Letter CLXXIII, from Pope Leo to Certain Bishops of Egypt

Leo, bishop, to Theophilus, John, Athanasius, Abraham, Daniel, Paphnutius, Musaeus, Panulvius, and Peter, bishops of Egypt. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices With the Egyptian Bishops Over the Expulsion of Aelurus and the Election of a Worthy Successor From the letters of your brotherhood, which our sons Daniel the presbyter and Timotheus the deacon delivered, I rejoice […]

Letter CLXXI, from Pope Leo to Timothy, Catholic Bishop of Alexandria

Leo, bishop, to Timothy, Catholic bishop of the Church of Alexandria. Chapter I: Leo Congratulates Timothy on His Election and Urges Him to Reconcile the Strayed With Gentleness It is clearly apparent under the splendor of the apostolic sentence that for those who love God, all things cooperate toward the good (Rom. 8:28); and by […]

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 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 CXXXV, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anatolius

Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. Chapter I: Anatolius’s Own Silence Separated Him From Leo’s Fellowship; Marcian Pressed the Matter to Its Fulfillment Had your charity held firm and unwavering in the care of our common grace, nothing would have arisen to cause you any anxiety. Reason did not permit me to spurn the […]

Letter CXXXII, from Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople to Pope Leo

Anatolius, bishop of Constantinople, to the most holy and blessed fellow bishop, Pope Leo, greetings in the Lord. Chapter I: Anatolius Reports Immediate Compliance With Leo’s Letters, and Expresses His Desire to Obey Leo’s Commands in All Things I had hoped that all the comfort and support required by a life filled with labors and […]

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 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 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 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 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 […]

Letter LXXX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices in Anatolius’s Proven Faith; The Acts Are Approved; Leo’s Emissaries Returned After Easter We rejoice in the Lord and glory in the gift of His grace — which, as we learned from the letters of your charity and from the report of our brothers whom we […]

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 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 XXVI, from Flavian to Pope Leo

Flavian, bishop of Constantinople, to the most holy and most blessed father and fellow minister, Leo, greetings in the Lord. Nothing is more precious to priests, as Your Holiness knows, than piety and the right distribution of the word of truth. All our hope, our salvation, and the reward of the promised goods depend on […]

Letter XXIII, from Pope Leo to Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Flavian. Chapter I: Flavian’s Silence Is Reproved; Flavian Should Have Reported to Rome First The most Christian and clement emperor, zealous for the peace of the Catholic Church with holy and praiseworthy faith, sent us letters about the disturbances that have arisen among you. We marvel that your […]

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 — […]

The Early Church and Peter's Primacy