Letters of Leo the Great

Letters. ———————————— Letter I. To the Bishop of Aquileia. I. Through the negligence of the authorities the Pelagian heresy has been spreading in his province.

To the Bishop of Aquileia — To the Bishop of Aquileia. (¶1)

Letter IV. To the Bishops appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and all the Provinces. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to all the bishops appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and all the provinces, greeting in…

To the Bishops appointed — To the Bishops appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and (¶2)

Letter VII. To the Bishops throughout Italy. Leo to all the bishops set over the provinces of Italy greeting. I. Many Manichæans have been discovered in Rome.

To the Bishops throughout — To the Bishops throughout Italy. (¶3)

Letter X. To the Bishops of the Province of Vienne. In the matter of Hilary, Bishop of Arles [1] . To the beloved brothers, the whole body of bishops of the province of Vienne, Leo, bishop of Rome. I.

To the Bishops of the Pro — To the Bishops of the Province of Vienne. In the matter of H (¶4)

Letter XIII. To the Metropolitan Bishops in the Provinces of Illyricum. Leo congratulates them on accepting the authority of Anastasius over them (given in Lett. IV.). Letter XIV. To Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica.

To the Metropolitan Bisho — To the Metropolitan Bishops in the Provinces of Illyricum. (¶5)

Letter XVI. To the Bishops of Sicily. Leo the bishop to all the bishops throughout Sicily greeting in the Lord. I. Introductory. By God’s precepts and the Apostle’s admonitions we are incited to keep a careful watch…

To the Bishops of Sicily. — To the Bishops of Sicily. (¶6)

Letter XIX. To Dorus, Bishop of Beneventum. Leo, bishop, to Dorus his well-beloved brother. I. He rebukes Dorus for allowing a junior presbyter to be promoted over the heads of the seniors, and the first and second in…

To Dorus, Bishop of Benev — To Dorus, Bishop of Beneventum. (¶7)

Letter XXII [1] . The first from Flavian, Bp. of Constantinople to Pope Leo. To the most holy and God-loving father and fellow-bishop, Leo, Flavian greeting in the Lord . I.

The first from Flavian, B — The first from Flavian, Bp. of Constantinople to Pope Leo. (¶8)

Letter XXV. From Peter Chrysologus, Bishop of Ravenna, to Eutyches, the Presbyter. [In answer to a letter from Eutyches, he urges him to accept the decisions of the Church on the Faith in fear and without too close…

From Peter Chrysologus, B — From Peter Chrysologus, Bishop of Ravenna, to Eutyches, the (¶9)

Letter XXVIII. To Flavian commonly called “the Tome.” I. Eutyches has been driven into his error by presumption and ignorance [1] . Having read your letter, beloved, at the late arrival of which we are surprised [1] ,…

To Flavian commonly calle — To Flavian commonly called “the Tome.” (¶10)

Letter XXXI. To Pulcheria Augusta [1] . Leo to Pulcheria Augusta. I. He reminds Pulcheria of her former services to the Church, and suggests her interference in the Eutychian controversy.

To Pulcheria Augusta. — To Pulcheria Augusta. (¶11)

Letter XXXIV. To Julian, Bishop of Cos. Leo, the bishop, to Julian, the bishop, his well-beloved brother. I. Eutyches is now clearly seen to have deviated from the Faith.

To Julian, Bishop of Cos. — To Julian, Bishop of Cos. (¶12)

Letter XXXVII [1] . To Theodosius Augustus. Leo to Theodosius Augustus. Unity of Faith is essential but the point at issue hardly required a general council, it is so clear.

To Theodosius Augustus. — To Theodosius Augustus. (¶13)

Letter XL. To the Bishops of the Province of Arles in Gaul. To his well-beloved brethren Constantinus Audentius, Rusticus, Auspicius, Nicetas, Nectarius, Florus, Asclepius, Justus, Augustalis, Ynantius, and Chrysaphius…

To the Bishops of the Pro — To the Bishops of the Province of Arles in Gaul. (¶14)

Letter XLIII [1] . To Theodosius Augustus. To the most glorious and serene Emperor Theodosius, Leo the bishop. I. He complains of the conduct of Dioscorus at the Council of Ephesus .

To Theodosius Augustus. — To Theodosius Augustus. (¶15)

Letter XLVI. From Hilary, then Deacon (afterwards Bishop of Rome) to Pulcheria Augusta. (Describing his ill-treatment, as Leo’s delegate, by Dioscorus.) Letter XLVII. To Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica.

From Hilary, then Deacon — From Hilary, then Deacon (afterwards Bishop of Rome) to Pulc (¶16)

Letter XLIX. To Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople. (Whose death he is unaware of, promising him all the support in his power.) Letter L.

To Flavian, Bishop of Con — To Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople. (¶17)

Letter LII. From Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Leo. (See vol. iii. of this Series, p. 293.) To Leo, bishop of Rome. I. If Paul appealed to Peter how much more must ordinary folk have recourse to his successor.

From Theodoret, Bishop of — From Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Leo. (See vol. iii. of t (¶18)

Letters LV. to LVIII. A series of Letters. (1) From Valentinian the Emperor to Theodosius Augustus. (2) From Galla Placidia Augusta to Theodosius Augustus. (3) From Licinia Eudoxia Augusta to Theodosius Augustus.

A Series of Letters. — A Series of Letters. (¶19)

Letter LXI. To Martinus and Faustus, Presbyters. (Reminding them of a former letter he has written to them, viz. Lett. LI.) (Letters LXII., LXIII., LXIV., are the Emperor Theodosius’ answers (a) to Valentinian, (b) to…

To Martinus and Faustus, — To Martinus and Faustus, Presbyters. (¶20)

Letter LXVI. Leo’s Reply to Letter LXV. Leo, the pope, to the dearly-beloved brethren Constantinus, Armentarius, Audientius, Severianus, Valerianus, Ursus, Stephanus, Nectarius, Constantius, Maximus, Asclepius,…

Leo's Reply to Letter LXV — Leo's Reply to Letter LXV. (¶21)

Letter LXIX. (To Theodosius Augustus.) Leo, the bishop, to Theodosius ever Augustus. I. He suspends his opinion on the appointment of Anatolius till he has made open confession of the catholic Faith.

To Theodosius Augustus. — To Theodosius Augustus. (¶22)

Letter LXXII. To Faustus, One of the Archimandrites at Constantinople. (Commending his faith and exhorting him to steadfastness.) Letter LXXIII. From Valentinian and Marcian.

To Faustus, One of the Ar — To Faustus, One of the Archimandrites at Constantinople. (¶23)

Letter LXXV. To Faustus and Martinus Together. (Condemning the Latrocinium and maintaining that Eutyches equally with Nestorius promotes the cause of Antichrist.) Letter LXXVI. From Marcianus Augustus to Leo.

To Faustus and Martinus T — To Faustus and Martinus Together. (¶24)

Letter LXXVIII. Leo’s Answer to Marcianus. (Briefly thanking him.) Letter LXXIX. To Pulcheria Augusta. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome to Pulcheria Augusta. I.

Leo's Answer to Marcianus — Leo's Answer to Marcianus. (¶25)

Letter LXXXI. To Bishop Julian. (Warning him to be circumspect in receiving the lapsed.) Letter LXXXII. To Marcian Augustus. I. After congratulating the Emperor on his noble conduct, he deprecates random inquiries into…

To Bishop Julian. — To Bishop Julian. (¶26)

Letter LXXXIV. To Pulcheria Augusta. (Announcing the despatch of his legates to deal with the lapsed, and asking that Eutyches should be superseded in his monastery by a catholic, and dismissed from Constantinople.)…

To Pulcheria Augusta. — To Pulcheria Augusta. (¶27)

Letter LXXXVII. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (Commending to him two presbyters, Basil and John, who being accused of heresy had come to Rome, and quite convinced Leo of their orthodoxy.) Letter LXXXVIII.

To Anatolius, Bishop of C — To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (¶28)

Letter XC. To Marcian Augustus. (Assenting perforce to the meeting of the Synod, but begging him to see that the Faith be not discussed as doubtful.) Letter XCI. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople.

To Marcian Augustus. — To Marcian Augustus. (¶29)

70 Letter XCIII. To the Synod of Chalcedon. Leo, the bishop of the city of Rome, to the holy Synod, assembled at Nicæa [1] . I. He excuses his absence from the Synod, and introduces his representatives.

To the Synod of Chalcedon — To the Synod of Chalcedon. (¶30)

Letter XCVI. To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles. (Requesting him to keep Easter on March 23 in 452.) Letter XCVII. From Eusebius, Bishop of Milan, to Leo.

To Ravennius, Bishop of A — To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles. (¶31)

Letter XCIX. From Ravennus and Other Gallic Bishops. (Announcing that the Tome has been accepted in Gaul also as a definitive statement of the Faith, with the bishops’ subscriptions.) 74 Letter C.

From Ravennus and Other G — From Ravennus and Other Gallic Bishops. (¶32)

Letter CII. To the Gallic Bishops. (Thanking them for their letter (viz. XCIX.) to him, and announcing the result of the Synod of Chalcedon.) Letter CIII. To the Gallic Bishops.

To the Gallic Bishops. — To the Gallic Bishops. (¶33)

Letter CV. (To Pulcheria Augusta about the self-seeking of Anatolius.) Leo the bishop to Pulcheria Augusta. I. He congratulates the Empress on the triumph of the Faith, but regrets the introduction of a new controversy…

To Pulcheria Augusta abou — To Pulcheria Augusta about the self-seeking of Anatolius. (¶34)

Letter CVIII. To Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii. Leo, the bishop, to Theodore, bishop of Forum Julii. I. Theodorus should not have approached him except through his metropolitan.

To Theodore, Bishop of Fo — To Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii. (¶35)

Letter CXI. To Marcian Augustus. (About Anatolius’ mistake in deposing Actions from the office of archdeacon and putting in Andrew instead.) Letter CXII. To Pulcheria Augusta.

To Marcian Augustus. — To Marcian Augustus. (¶36)

84 Letter CXIV. To the Bishops Assembled in Synod at Chalcedon. (In answer to their Letter (XCVIII.), approving of their acts in the general so long as nothing is contrary to the canons of Nicæa.) Letter CXV.

To the Bishops Assembled — To the Bishops Assembled in Synod at Chalcedon. (¶37)

Letter CXVII. To Julian, Bishop of Cos. Leo to Julian the bishop. I. He wishes his assent to the acts of Chalcedon to be widely known.

To Julian, Bishop of Cos. — To Julian, Bishop of Cos. (¶38)

Letter CXX. To Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, on Perseverance in the Faith. Leo, the bishop, to his beloved brother Theodoret, the bishop. I.

To Theodoret, Bishop of C — To Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, on Perseverance in the Faith. (¶39)

Letter CXXIV. To the Monks of Palestine. Leo, the bishop, to the whole body of monks settled throughout Palestine. I. They have possibly been misled by a wrong translation of his letter on the Incarnation to Flavian.

To the Monks of Palestine — To the Monks of Palestine. (¶40)

Letter CXXVII. To Julian, Bishop of Cos. (About (1) affairs in Palestine, (2) a letter from Proterius, (3) the date of Easter, (4) his reply to the Synod of Chalcedon, (5) the deposition of Aetius.) Letter CXXVIII.

To Julian, Bishop of Cos. — To Julian, Bishop of Cos. (¶41)

Letter CXXX. To Marcian Augustus. (Praising the orthodoxy of Proterius, advocating the public recital by him of passages bearing on the present controversy from the writings of Athanasius and others, and also of the…

To Marcian Augustus. — To Marcian Augustus. (¶42)

Letter CXXXIII. From Proterius, Bishop of Alexandria, to Leo. (Upon the Easter difficulty of 455.) Letter CXXXIV. To Marcian Augustus.

From Proterius, Bishop of — From Proterius, Bishop of Alexandria, to Leo. (¶43)

Letter CXXXVI. To Marcian Augustus. (Simultaneously with CXXXV., on the subject of his reconciliation with Anatolius.) Letter CXXXVII. To the same, and on the same day.

To Marcian Augustus. — To Marcian Augustus. (¶44)

Letter CXXXIX. To Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Juvenal, bishop of Jerusalem. I. He rejoices over Juvenal’s return to orthodoxy, though chiding him for having gone astray.

To Juvenal, Bishop of Jer — To Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem. (¶45)

Letter CXLII. To Marcian Augustus. ( Inter alia thanking him for the trouble he has taken about the Easter of 455.) Letter CXLIII. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople.

To Marcian Augustus. — To Marcian Augustus. (¶46)

Letter CXLV. To Leo Augustus [1] . (Asking him to help the church of Alexandria in appointing a good bishop in place of the murdered Proterius [1] .) Letter CXLVI. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople.

To Leo Augustus. — To Leo Augustus. (¶47)

Letter CXLVIII. To Leo Augustus. (Thanking him for assurances made that he would guard the interests of the Church.) Letter CXLIX. To Basil, Bishop of Antioch.

To Leo Augustus. — To Leo Augustus. (¶48)

Letter CLI. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (He is to keep the church of Constantinople free from all heresy.) Letter CLII. To Julian, Bishop of Cos.

To Anatolius, Bishop of C — To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (¶49)

Letter CLIV. To the Egyptian Bishops. (See Letter CLVIII.) Letter CLV. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (In which he incites him to watchfulness, and complains that certain of the clergy in Constantinople are in…

To the Egyptian Bishops. — To the Egyptian Bishops. (¶50)

102 Letter CLVII. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (Urging him to active measures in certain specified matters.) Letter CLVIII [1] . To the Catholic Bishops of Egypt Sojourning in Constantinople.

To Anatolius, Bishop of C — To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. (¶51)

Letter CLX. (See Letter CLVIII.) Letter CLXI. To the Presbyters, Deacons and Clergy of the Church of Constantinople. (Exhorting them to remain stedfast in the Faith as fixed at Chalcedon, and to have no dealings with…

See Letter CLVIII. — See Letter CLVIII. (¶52)

Letter CLXIII. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. By Patritius the Deacon the Deacon. (Glorying over the harshness of his former letter, to which Anatolius had objected, but persisting that he is not satisfied with…

To Anatolius, Bishop of C — To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople. By Patritius the Dea (¶53)

Letter CLXVI. To Neo, Bishop of Ravenna. Leo, the bishop, to Neo, bishop of Ravenna, greeting. I. Those, who being taken captives in infancy cannot remember or bring witnesses of their baptism, must not be denied this…

To Neo, Bishop of Ravenna — To Neo, Bishop of Ravenna. (¶54)

Letter CLXIX. To Leo Augustus. Leo, the bishop, to Leo Augustus. I. He heartily thanks the Emperor for what he has done, and asks him to complete the work in any way he can.

To Leo Augustus. — To Leo Augustus. (¶55)

Letter CLXXII. To the Presbyters and Deacons of the Church of Alexandria. (Inviting them to aid in confirming the peace of the Church, and in winning those who had given way to heresy.) Letter CLXXIII.

To the Presbyters and Dea — To the Presbyters and Deacons of the Church of Alexandria. (¶56)