Letter VIII, Libellus of John the Deacon to Pope Symmachus
Libellus of Coelius John, deacon of the Roman Church, presented in his own handwriting to Pope Symmachus on 18 September 506, recanting his temporary separation from the Church during the Laurentian schism, anathematizing Peter of Altinum and Laurentius the antipope, and submitting himself to ecclesiastical retribution should he ever again attempt the like. I, Coelius […]
Letter V, Libellus from the Alexandrian Apocrisiarii to the Roman Legation
To the most glorious and most excellent patrician Festus, and to the venerable bishops Cresconius and Germanus, sent from the city of Rome together with his power in legation to the most clement and Christ-loving Emperor Anastasius — Dioscorus presbyter of the venerable church of Alexandria, and Chaeremon lector, serving as the apocrisiarii of the […]
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 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 CLXVI, from Pope Leo to Neon, Bishop of Ravenna
Leo, bishop, to Neon, bishop of Ravenna. Chapter I: Children Taken Captive Before They Could Remember Whether They Were Baptized May Seek Baptism After Careful Examination We have often strengthened the wavering hearts of our brothers amid the uncertainty of various difficult questions — guided by the Spirit of God, drawing the form of our […]
Letter CLIX, from Pope Leo to Niceta, Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop, to Niceta, bishop of Aquileia, greetings. My son Adeodatus, a deacon of our see, has returned to us and reports that you asked him to obtain from us the authority of the Apostolic See on certain matters which appear to present considerable difficulty of judgment. The care that must be taken in examining […]
Letter XCV, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Recognizes Pulcheria’s Devotion and Reports the Dispatch of His Legates to the Synod Your clemency’s religious solicitude, devoted without ceasing to the Catholic faith, I fully recognize; and I give thanks to God for the great care you show for the universal Church, most glorious Augusta. And […]
Letter LXXXV, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Legates Sent So That Nothing Is Done Sluggishly; Repentant Bishops to Receive Peace Through Satisfaction and Anathema Though I trust your charity is devoted to every good work, to make your diligence more effective I judged it necessary and fitting to send my brothers Lucentius, bishop, and Basilius, […]
Letter LXXXIII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian
Leo, bishop, to Marcian, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo’s Confidence; The Church’s State and the Empire’s Might Strengthened Together; Legates Directed from the Apostolic See Your clemency’s letters, which I reverently received, and my fellow bishops returning from Constantinople have given me great confidence to write — demonstrating not only by words but by the […]
Letter LXXXI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos
Leo, bishop, to Julian, bishop. Leo Encourages Julian; The Lapsed to Receive Communion Once They Condemn Perfidy; Legates Dispatched After Easter I received the letters of your brotherhood through our sons the Constantinopolitan clerics, announcing your salutation and indicating that you were burdened with great tribulations — for there was certainly no lack of cause […]
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 XVIII, from Pope Leo to Januarius, Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Januarius, bishop of Aquileia. Reading the letters of your brotherhood, We recognized the vigor of your faith, known to Us before now, and We rejoice that you vigilantly expend your pastoral care on the flock of Christ, guarding against wolves who enter in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15), […]
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 II, from Pope Leo to Septimus, Bishop of Altinum
Leo, bishop of the Apostolic See, to Septimus, bishop of Altinum, greeting. I. Pelagian Clergy Must Make a Full Public Profession Before Being Received Into Communion Having read your letter, dearest brother, we recognize the strength of your faith — which we knew before — and we rejoice that you are exercising pastoral vigilance to […]
Letter I, from Pope Leo to the Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop of the Apostolic See, to the Bishop of Aquileia. I. Pelagian Clergy Have Been Wrongly Received Into Communion Without Recanting Their Error From the report of our holy brother and fellow bishop Septimus — contained in the letter he attached — we have learned that certain priests, deacons, and clergy of various ranks […]
Acts of the Second Roman Council under Pope Gelasius I (13 May 495), at which Misenus of Cumae was Absolved
The Second Roman Council, in which Misenus is absolved by Gelasius and fifty-five bishops, in the year of the Lord 495, on the third day before the Ides of May. Convocation With Pope Gelasius, a man worthy of veneration, presiding in the synod, together with Bonifacius, Maximinus, Epiphanius, Basilius, Vitalis, Clarus, Irenæus, Decius, Asellus, Euplus, […]
The Constituta of Pope Gelasius I, Which the Bishops Receive at Their Ordination
The Constituta of Pope Gelasius, which the bishops receive at their ordination; in which, among other matters, the ordinations of Africans are prohibited — taken from the Diurnum Pontificum and from other manuscript codices worthy of trust. Pope [name], to the clergy, order, and people residing in [name of city], dearly beloved sons, greetings in […]
The Tome of Pope Gelasius On the Bond of Anathema
The Tome of Pope Gelasius On the Bond of Anathema. That the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon are valid only to the extent that the Apostolic See has approved them; that the things established against Acacius are just; and that Peter of Alexandria could only have been absolved by the Apostolic See. Chapter I: […]
