Letter XXII, from Ennodius of Pavia to Pope Symmachus
Ennodius to Pope Symmachus. Chapter I: While the Apostolic See Is Moderated by the Care of Symmachus’s Crown and the Summit of the Heavenly Empire Is Governed; Ennodius Recalls His Past Services While the Apostolic See is moderated by the care of Your Crown, and the summit of the heavenly empire is governed [by you], […]
Letter XVII, from King Sigismund of the Burgundians to Pope Symmachus
To Pope Symmachus. Chapter I: Sigismund Acknowledges the Sacred Relics Received Through the Deacon Julianus and Requests the Patronage of the Saints from the Apostolic Fountain While You enriched our Gaul with the spiritual reward of sacred pledges of relics through me, I do not presume to deny the petitioners; therefore it is necessary that […]
Letter IX, from Ennodius of Ticinum to Pope Symmachus
Ennodius, bishop of Ticinum, to Pope Symmachus. It is the nature of things that even a man capable in speech or thought may be blamed for presumption — because every aptness of words, when it has gone beyond the limits of humility, is trampled on; and just as the things demanded are held in value, […]
Letter I, from Pope Anastasius II to the Emperor Anastasius I
Bishop Anastasius to the Most Glorious and Most Clement Son Anastasius Augustus. Exordium: The See of the Most Blessed Peter Holds in the Universal Church the Primacy Assigned to It by the Lord God At the beginning of my pontificate I bear, as my first announcement, the peace offered to the peoples. I therefore come […]
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 CXLVIII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop of Rome, to Leo, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Gives Thanks for the Emperor’s Defense of Chalcedon, Learned Through the Report of Anatolius Although I have recently directed two letters to your clemency — one of which was to fulfill the duty of greeting, the other to make supplication on behalf of the […]
Letter CXLVII, from Pope Leo to Julian, Bishop of Cos, and Aetius the Presbyter
Leo to Julian, bishop, and Aetius, presbyter, equally. Chapter I: Leo Rebukes Their Silence and Reports His Petition to the Emperor Although I received a letter from your charity some time ago, I am nonetheless surprised that you allowed to pass in silence that opportunity for a reply which our brother Anatolius necessarily made use […]
Letter CXLV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Leo
Leo, bishop of Rome, to Leo, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Reports the Crisis in Alexandria and Urges That Chalcedon’s Definitions Not Be Reopened Having discharged the duties that belong to the congratulation of Your Imperial Majesty, I have added this page of necessary supplication as well, by which I seek the protection of your […]
Letter CXX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus
Leo, bishop, to Theodoret, most beloved brother and bishop. Chapter I: The Victory of the Faith at Chalcedon Demonstrates That What the First of All Sees Defined Was Received by the Universal Church With our brothers and fellow bishops — who were sent by the see of blessed Peter to the holy council — now […]
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 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 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 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 VI, Fifth Roman Synod of 6 November 502 (Constitutum on the Preservation of Church Property)
Acta of the Roman Synod held in the basilica of the blessed Apostle Peter on 6 November 502, presided by Pope Symmachus. With the venerable Pope Symmachus presiding, more than seventy Italian bishops were in attendance — among them Laurentius of Milan, Petrus of Ravenna, and Eulalius of Syracuse, whose names are preserved with the […]
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 XVI, from Pope Symmachus to Caesarius, Bishop of Arles
Symmachus to the most beloved brother Caesarius. Chapter I: Symmachus Confirms the Privileges of the Church of Arles and Grants Caesarius Vicariate Authority over the Gallican and Hispanic Regions, Reserving Matters of Higher Difficulty to the Apostolic See He who guards the venerable statutes of the fathers shows himself a friend of religion in its […]
Letter XII, from the Eastern Bishops to Pope Symmachus
The Eastern Church to Symmachus, Bishop of Rome. Chapter I: Christ the Good Shepherd Seeks the Lost Sheep; The Chair of the Prince of the Apostles Christ Entrusted to Your Beatitude That good Lord and lover of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of His kindness toward us bowed the heavens and descended to […]
Letter, from Leontius, Bishop of Arles, to Pope Hilarius
Letter of Leontius, bishop of Arles, to Pope Hilarius. That death has taken away your most holy predecessor Leo — who kept watch against heresies and uprooted the tares that were sprouting all too thickly, alas, in the Lord’s field — we grieve; that he has repaired the loss through Your Holiness, we rejoice. For […]
