Letter C, from Emperor Marcian to Pope Leo
Victors Valentinianus and Marcianus, renowned triumphators, ever Augusti, to the holy father and deservedly venerable Bishop Leo. Chapter I: Marcian Celebrates the Victory of the Faith at Chalcedon Divine and human writings agree that the Divinity must above all be venerated, and that Almighty God is propitious where religion is rightly honored. We found therefore […]
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 […]
Letter XCIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian
Leo, bishop, to Marcian, ever Augustus. Leo Commends His Legates to the Emperor and Requires That No Disputation on the Faith Be Admitted I received with heartfelt gladness your clemency’s holy zeal to hold a synod for the restoration of ecclesiastical peace — even though I had requested it be held in Italy, and had […]
Letter XCIII, from Pope Leo to the Synod at Chalcedon
Leo, bishop, to the holy Synod established at Nicaea, most beloved brothers in the Lord, greetings. Chapter I: Leo Notes That Neither Time Nor Custom Permits His Attendance but Declares He Will Be Present in His Legates and Preside Through Them I had desired, most beloved, for the charity of our college, that all bishops […]
Letter XC, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian
Leo, bishop, to Marcian, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Consents to the Council; Ephesus II Cannot Be Called a Council; Marcian Has Annulled It I had requested your most glorious clemency to postpone the synod — which both you and we deemed necessary for restoring the Eastern Church’s peace — to a more opportune time, […]
Letter LXXXVIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Paschasinus of Lilybaeum
Leo, bishop, to Paschasinus, bishop of Lilybaeum. Chapter I: The Tome Sent to Instruct Paschasinus as Legate; The Eutychian Error Refuted Though I do not doubt that your brotherhood fully knows the origins of all the scandals stirred in the Eastern churches concerning the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, lest anything escape your solicitude, […]
Letter LXXXII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian
Leo, bishop, to Marcian, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Thanksgiving for the Catholic Faith and the Peace of the Empire; Leo’s Confidence in Marcian’s Governance How many things there are for which we must give thanks to our God — whose mercy it is that you, most glorious emperor, govern human affairs with such wise providence […]
Letter LXXVII, from Empress Pulcheria to Archbishop Leo
To Leo, most reverend bishop of the Church of the glorious city of Rome — Pulcheria, most venerable Augusta. Anatolius Has Subscribed to the Tome; A Synod to Be Held with Leo as the Authority; Flavian Buried in the Basilica of the Apostles; Exiled Bishops Recalled [Editorial note:] Sacred letters were sent by Pulcheria of […]
Letter LXXV, from Pope Leo to Presbyters Faustus and Martinus
Leo, bishop, to Faustus and Martinus, presbyters and archimandrites. Through Maximinus, count. Chapter I: Leo Declares It Intolerable That Ephesus Acted Against the Faith; By God’s Favor the Liberty of Catholics Has Greatly Increased Embracing every occasion to write, I do not cease to address your charity with episcopal affection — so that from the […]
Letter LXIX, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, to Theodosius, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Suspends Consent to Anatolius’s Ordination; The Catholic Profession Required; To Be Published to the Apostolic See Amid the solicitude we bear for the faith, all your piety’s letters have offered us great hope of security, commending the Nicene council — so that, as you often write, […]
Letter LXVIII, from Bishops Ceretius, Salonius, and Veranus to Pope Leo
To the holy lord, most blessed father, and pope most worthy of the Apostolic See, Leo — Ceretius, Salonius, and Veranus. Chapter I: Thanks for the Tome; Its Doctrine Celebrated Throughout All the Churches; The Primacy of the Apostolic See Established Where the Apostolic Spirit’s Oracles Still Resound Having reviewed the letter of your beatitude […]
Letter LXVII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles
Leo, pope, to his most beloved brother Ravennius. Leo Sends Ravennius His Letter to Flavian and Commissions the Distribution of the Tome Throughout Gaul We long detained our sons Petronius, presbyter, and Regulus, deacon, in the City — as they merited this favor and the cause of the faith, now assailed by the error of […]
Letter LXI, from Pope Leo to Presbyters Martinus and Faustus
Leo, bishop, to Martinus and Faustus, presbyters and archimandrites. Chapter I: Leo Informs Martinus and Faustus of the Letters Sent to Them That God is the author of good works and spiritual zeal — rousing minds and aiding actions — is beyond doubt. This has appeared clearly to us in present experience. For amidst 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 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 […]
Letter XXXV, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos
Note: Passages enclosed in [square brackets] are present in the Latin text of the PL but absent from the parallel Greek version of this letter. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to the most beloved brother Bishop Julian. Chapter I: Eutyches’s Error Destroys the Mysteries of Our Redemption Though we have already sent the […]
