PL 54 · cols. 1078–1081

Leo the Great, Letters

Letters CXXX–CXXXI

illos ab hac obedientia debeat revocare, cum talis nobis et fide et moribus innotuerit fraternitas tua, ut tibi de auctoritate praecedentium decessorum tuorum nihil patiamur imminui, aut te impune contemni.

[…] ought to recall them from this obedience, since your fraternity has become known to us as such, both in faith and in conduct, that we will allow nothing of the authority of your predecessors who went before you to be diminished in your case, nor you to be despised with impunity.

Data sexto idus Martii, Aetio et Studio viris clarissimis cos.

Given on the sixth day before the Ides of March, in the consulship of Aetius and Studius, most distinguished men.

EPISTOLA CXXX.

LETTER CXXX.

AD MARCIANUM AUGUSTUM.

To Marcian Augustus.

Leo episcopus Marciano Augusto.

Bishop Leo to Marcian Augustus.

CAP. I. — Puritatem fidei Christianae, qua clementia vestra praefulget, etiam his litteris quas frater et coepiscopus meus Nestorius detulit, demonstratis, justissimum fratri meo Proterio Alexandrinae urbis antistiti impendentes favorem, quo mihi per omnia esset acceptior. Nam cui vestra pietas testimonium perhibere dignatur, indubitanter esset probandus, etiamsi taceret. Sed accedit ad gratiam, quod proprio quoque sermone cognoscitur, et quam sincerus sit catholici dogmatis praedicator, ipsius professione clarescit. Unde plenissimo affectu dilectionem orthodoxi fratris amplector, et Deo gratias ago, quod amoto eo qui Evangelio Christi voluit contraire et a sanctorum Patrum intelligentia dissidere, talem prospexit Alexandrinae Ecclesiae sacerdotem, qui praecedentibus rectoribus et fide concordaret et vita. Nam cum amplecti se epistolam meam, quam ad beatae memoriae Flavianum contra Eutychen impium misi, toto corde profitetur, quid aliud quam apostolorum se ostendit esse discipulum? Quoniam doctrina veritatis in lumine suo permanet, et non potest esse diversum, quod unum est atque individuum.

CHAP. I. — The purity of the Christian faith, in which your clemency shines forth, you show in this letter too, which my brother and fellow bishop Nestorius brought, bestowing a most just favour on my brother Proterius, prelate of the city of Alexandria, whereby he should be the more acceptable to me in all things. For one to whom your piety deigns to bear witness would without doubt deserve approval, even if he were silent. But it adds to the favour that he is known also by his own words, and how sincere a preacher of the catholic dogma he is becomes clear from his own profession. Hence with the fullest affection I embrace the love of our orthodox brother, and I give thanks to God that, having removed him who chose to oppose the Gospel of Christ and to dissent from the understanding of the holy Fathers, He has provided for the Church of Alexandria such a priest as agrees with its former rulers both in faith and in life. For when he professes with his whole heart that he embraces my letter, which I sent to Flavian of blessed memory against the impious Eutyches, what else does he show but that he is a disciple of the apostles? For the teaching of truth abides in its own light, and what is one and indivisible cannot be diverse.

Editors' notes and page, col. 1078

Footnotes

(j) ‹EPISTOLA› (heading of Letter CXXX) · printed under col 1077

Alias 104. Quae autem antea 130 erat, nunc 160. Scripta 10 Martii an. 454.

Formerly 104. The one that was formerly 130 is now 160. Written 10 March in the year 454.

(k) ‹AD MARCIANUM AUGUSTUM› · printed under col 1078

Exstat in mss. collect. Hisp., Isid. 11, 12, 18, 19 et 21 usque ad 24, ac in exemplo Sichardi.

It is extant in the mss. of the collections: the Spanish, Isidore, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 21 to 24, and in Sichardus's copy.

(l) ‹SYNOPSIS› (call before the synopsis) · printed under col 1078

In Hisp. hic titulus legitur: I. De Proterio Alexandrino episcopo, ut priorum suorum decreta conservet. II. Ubi postulat imperatorem ut epistolam quam ad Flavianum Constantinopolitanum miserat in Graeco translatam Alexandrinae Ecclesiae destinet.

In the Spanish [collection] this title is read: I. On Proterius, bishop of Alexandria, that he should preserve the decrees of his predecessors. II. Where he asks the emperor to send to the Church of Alexandria, translated into Greek, the letter which he had sent to Flavian of Constantinople.

(m) ‹coepiscopus meus› · printed under col 1078

Vulg. antiqui cum mss. collect. 24 et Sichardo perperam, Nestorianus. Confer annot. 3 (Col. 1075, n. d) in epist. praecedentem.

The old printed editions, with the mss. of collection 24 and Sichardus, wrongly, Nestorianus. Compare annot. 3 (Col. 1075, n. d) on the preceding letter.

(n) ‹vestra pietas testimonium› · printed under col 1078

Ms. Ratisp, praebere. Mox probatus in mss. Vat. collect. Hisp. et Isid. 11 et 21.

The Regensburg ms., praebere. Just after, probatus in the Vat. mss. of the collections: the Spanish, Isidore, 11 and 21.

(o) ‹sermone cognoscitur› (no call printed in the text; the note answers cognoscitur ... clarescit) · printed under col 1078

Editi anteriores Quesn. cum mss. collect. 11 et 21, cognoscatur, et dein clarescat. Postea Inde pro Unde in Ratisp.

The editions before Quesnel, with the mss. of collections 11 and 21, cognoscatur, and then clarescat. Afterwards Inde for Unde in the Regensburg ms.

(p) ‹quod amoto› · printed under col 1078

Cod. Grim., damnato. Dein dissentire pro dissidere in antiquis Vulg. cum mss. collect 24 et Sichardo.

Cod. Grim., damnato. Then dissentire for dissidere in the old printed editions, with the mss. of collection 24 and Sichardus.

(q) ‹talem prospexit› · printed under col 1078

Codd. Vat. Hisp., Isid.. et collect 11 et 21, alterum prospexit; et dein amplexus esset epistolam meam.

The Vat. codd. of the Spanish [collection], of Isidore, and of collections 11 and 21, alterum prospexit; and then amplexus esset epistolam meam.

(r) ‹contra Eutychen› · printed under col 1078

Iidem codices, quae cum impium in toto corde profitetur, misi, quid aliud, etc.

The same codices, quae cum impium in toto corde profitetur, misi, quid aliud, etc.

(s) ‹se ostendit› · printed under col 1078

Verbum esse ignorant veteres editiones, et codd. Ratisp. Vat. collect. 24 atque Sichardus.

The old editions do not have the word esse, nor do the codd. Regensburg and Vat. of collection 24, and Sichardus.

(t) ‹quod unum est› · printed under col 1078, running over under col 1079

Vulg. ante Quesn. cum Vindebon. Hisp., Ratisp et mss. collect. 24 ac Sichardo, atque divinum. Emendationem Quesnelli ex Grim. et Barber. collect. 11 inductam confirmant caeteri nostri codices.

The printed editions before Quesnel, with the Vienna, Spanish and Regensburg mss. and the mss. of collection 24 and Sichardus, atque divinum. Quesnel's correction, introduced from the Grimani and the Barberini of collection 11, is confirmed by the rest of our codices.

Editors' prose

Synopsis. — I. De fide Proterii Alexandrini episcopi gratulatur. — II. Alexandrinos ex suae Ecclesiae traditione ab illo esse edocendos. — III. Ut epistola Leonis ad Flavianum ab haereticis falsata in Graecum transferatur de novo, et Alexandrinis publice recitetur.

Synopsis. — I. He rejoices over the faith of Proterius, bishop of Alexandria. — II. That the Alexandrians are to be taught by him from the tradition of their own Church. — III. That Leo's letter to Flavian, falsified by the heretics, be translated into Greek anew and read publicly to the Alexandrians.

Page

running head: 1077 EPISTOLA CXXX. 1078 (printed across the page with col 1077)
marginal letters: A ‹illos ab hac obedientia› (first line); B ‹CAP. I. — Puritatem fidei›; C ‹cordaret et vita›; D beside the footnotes, at note (n) ‹Ms. Ratisp, praebere›
old-edition numerals: 1256 after ‹debeat revocare,›; 1257 after ‹Nam cum›
signature: none
other: the column opens with the end of Letter CXXIX (from col 1077) and its date; then the heading, synopsis and CAP. I of Letter CXXX, ending "atque individuum." about three-fifths down (no hyphen at the foot); the rest is footnotes (k)-(t); (j), whose call is here, is printed under col 1077; (t) runs over into the footnotes of col 1079.

PL 54:1079

CAP. II. — Rescripsi itaque praedicto fratri quod debui, atque in sancto studio ut perseveraret admonui. Qui sine dubio constantior erit, si etiam clementiae vestrae cohortationibus adjuvetur. Nec in aliquo eum terreat quorumdam imperita dissensio, quos paucorum haereticorum instigationibus ignorantia facit obnoxios. Quod ergo sua diligentia assequi nequeunt, opportune eorum insinuetur auditui.

CHAP. II. — I have therefore written back to the aforesaid brother what I ought, and have admonished him to persevere in his holy zeal. And he will without doubt be the more steadfast if he is helped also by the exhortations of your Clemency. Nor let the unlearned dissent of certain people frighten him in anything, whom ignorance makes liable to the instigations of a few heretics. What, then, they cannot attain by their own diligence, let it be conveyed opportunely to their hearing.

Et ne memoratus nova inferre, et propria videatur astruere, venerabilium Patrum qui eidem Ecclesiae praefuerunt, scripta relegantur; et quid B. Athanasius, quid Theophilus, quid Cyrillus, quid etiam alii Orientales magistri de incarnatione Domini senserint, recognoscant; nec repullulantibus decipiantur erroribus, qui olim evangelici sermonis sunt virtute prostrati: quoniam omnes fere haereses quae diversis temporibus exstiterunt, dum sacramentum corporeae nativitatis et passionis ac resurrectionis Christi non intelligunt, ab Evangelio deviarunt. Et possemus minus laborare in haereticis repellendis, si rudes animos ea non turbarent mendacia quae peremit antiquitas. Sed nunc, ut dixi, hic docendi optimus modus est, ut paternorum sensuum lineae Alexandrinae plebis et cleri auribus innotescant; ac si qui sunt qui nostra scripta despiciant, illis saltem qui nobiscum apostolicis sensibus congruunt acquiescant.

And lest the aforementioned [brother] seem to be bringing in novelties and building up his own [views], let the writings of the venerable Fathers who presided over that same Church be read again; and let them recognize what blessed Athanasius, what Theophilus, what Cyril, what the other Eastern teachers too thought about the Incarnation of the Lord; and let them not be deceived by errors sprouting up again, which were long ago laid low by the power of the Gospel word: for almost all the heresies that have arisen at various times have strayed from the Gospel while they do not understand the mystery of Christ's bodily birth and passion and resurrection. And we could labour less in repelling heretics if those lies which antiquity destroyed did not disturb untaught minds. But now, as I have said, this is the best way of teaching: that the lines of the Fathers' thought be made known to the ears of the Alexandrian people and clergy; and if there are any who despise our writings, let them at least acquiesce in those who agree with us in apostolic understanding.

Editors' notes and page, col. 1079

Footnotes

(t) continued from col 1078, set in n1078

(a) ‹quod debui, atque› · printed under col 1079

Mss. Vat. Hisp. et Isid., ut in sancto studio perseveret. Ratisp. utque in sancto studio perseveraret.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian manuscripts, ut in sancto studio perseveret. The Regensburg, utque in sancto studio perseveraret.

(b) ‹instigationibus ignorantia› · printed under col 1079

Al., fecit in mss. collect. 21.

Elsewhere, fecit, in the manuscripts of collection 21.

Vulgati antiqui cum mss. Vat. Hisp., Isid. et aliis inde profiscentibus, negligentia. Mss. vero Grim., Ratisp., Vindebon., Hisp. et Vat, collect. 24 cum Sichardo, diligentia.

The old printed editions, with the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian manuscripts and others deriving from them, negligentia. But the Grimani, Regensburg, Vienna and Hispana manuscripts and the Vatican of collection 24, with Sichard, diligentia.

(d) ‹praefuerunt, scripta› · printed under col 1079

Vat. Hisp., Isid. et alius collect. 11, legantur. Ex hoc Leonis testimonio profecisse videtur imperator Marcianus, cum in epistola ad monachos Alexandrinos edita tom. IV Concilior. Ven. editionis pag 1794, nec non in lege ad Palladium praefectum praetorio pro Aegyptiis praecipue data anno 455, pag. 1832, Athanasii, Theophili ac Cyrilli doctrinae Chalcedonensem fidem cohaerentem pronuntiavit.

The Vatican Hispana, the Isidorian and another of collection 11, legantur. The emperor Marcian seems to have drawn on this testimony of Leo when, in the letter to the monks of Alexandria published in vol. IV of the Councils, Venice edition, p. 1794, and also in the law to Palladius, praetorian prefect, given chiefly for the Egyptians in the year 455, p. 1832, he declared the faith of Chalcedon consistent with the doctrine of Athanasius, Theophilus and Cyril.

(e) ‹quid etiam› · printed under col 1079

Adjecimus alii ex Ratisp. utrisque Hisp., Vat., Isid. et alio collect. 11. Quesnellus in postilla explicat, id est, antistites Antiocheni Orientalis dioecesis primates, vel episcopi ex eadem dioecesi, qualis Theodoretus. Sed Orientalium nomen hic late, non autem stricte sumi de solis episcopis Antiochenis, vel Antiocheno subjectis colligi potest ex epist. 119, c. 2, in quam vide annot. 10 (Col. 1042, n. k). Enimvero inter testimonia Patrum subjecta epistolae 165 ad Leonem Augustum praeter tres laudatos Alexandrinos antistites ex Orientalibus laudat tantum Joannem Chrysostomum, Basilium et Gregorium Nazianzenum, quorum nemo ad Antiochenam dioecesim pertinet.

We have added alii from the Regensburg, both Hispana, the Vatican, the Isidorian and another of collection 11. Quesnel explains in a marginal gloss: that is, the bishops of Antioch, primates of the diocese of the East, or bishops from that same diocese, such as Theodoret. But that the name of Easterners is taken here broadly, and not strictly of the bishops of Antioch alone or of those subject to the bishop of Antioch, can be gathered from Letter 119, ch. 2, on which see note 10 (col. 1042, n. k). Indeed, among the testimonies of the Fathers appended to Letter 165 to Leo Augustus, besides the three Alexandrian bishops mentioned, he cites from the Easterners only John Chrysostom, Basil and Gregory Nazianzen, none of whom belongs to the diocese of Antioch.

(f) ‹recognoscant;› · printed under col 1079

Vat. Hisp., Isid. et alius collect. 11, ne repullulantibus.

The Vatican Hispana, the Isidorian and another of collection 11, ne repullulantibus.

(g) ‹deviarunt. Et› · printed under col 1079

Iidem codices, possent. Mss. Vat. collect. 24 cum Sichardo et Merlino, possumus. Duo Vatt. collect. 21, possunt.

The same manuscripts, possent. The Vatican manuscripts of collection 24, with Sichard and Merlin, possumus. Two Vatican manuscripts of collection 21, possunt.

(h) ‹si rudes animos› · printed under col 1079

Ita utrique Hisp. cum Isid., Ratisp. et Vat. collect. 11; alias, ipsa. Paulo post nunc deest in Vat. Hisp., Isid. et alio Vat. collect. 11.

So both Hispana manuscripts, with the Isidorian, the Regensburg and the Vatican of collection 11; elsewhere, ipsa. A little later, nunc is missing in the Vatican Hispana, the Isidorian and another Vatican of collection 11.

(i) ‹paternorum sensuum› · printed under col 1079; its mark is printed "(e)"

Vulg., linea.... innotescat. Praetulimus lectionem ms. Ratisp. Mox pro cleri utrique codd. Hisp. cum Isid. et mss. collect. 11 et 21 habent clericorum.

The printed editions, linea.... innotescat. We have preferred the reading of the Regensburg manuscript. Next, instead of cleri, both Hispana manuscripts, with the Isidorian and the manuscripts of collections 11 and 21, have clericorum.

Page

running head: 1079 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 1080 (across the page; this column carries "1079 S. LEONIS MAGNI")
marginal letters: A ‹Cap. II. — Rescripsi itaque›; B ‹virtute prostrati: quoniam›; C ‹(c) Vulgati antiqui› (footnotes); D ‹annot. 10 (Col. 1042, n. k)› (footnotes)
old-edition numerals: 1258 before ‹possemus›
signature: none
other: the column ends with "con-", completed as "congruunt" from the head of col 1080 and set whole here

PL 54:1080

In quo opere multum consacerdotis mei devotione gaudebo, et semper ipsius unanimitate laetabor: quia fraterna pax non nisi in una fidei confessione servatur.

In this work I shall greatly rejoice in the devotion of my fellow priest, and shall always be glad of his unanimity: for fraternal peace is kept only in one confession of faith.

CAP. III. — Quia vero quorumdam haereticorum versuta nequitia ad conturbandam nostrorum simplicitatem, epistolam meam, quam ad beatae memoriae Flavianum dedi, falsasse perhibetur, ut commutatis quibusdam verbis vel syllabis, receptorem me Nestoriani erroris assereret: obsecro venerabilem clementiam vestram ut eadem epistolam per fratrem meum Julianum episcopum, vel eos quos idoneos ad hoc opus pietas vestra delegerit, in Graecum sermonem jubeatis integre diligenterque translatam per idoneum perlatorem sub vestri signaculi impressione deferri, tradendam judicibus Alexandrinis, qui eam clero et plebi ipsius civitatis cum praedictorum episcoporum praedicationibus, quibus et mea scripta consentiunt, faciant recitari, ut agnoscant se fallacium hominum fraude ulterius decipi non debere; et probentur apostolicae sedis sinceri esse discipuli, apud quam nec Eutyches nec Nestorius ullum obtinent locum, quia sicut alios haereticos, ita et istos Ecclesia universalis damnavit.

CHAP. III. — But since the crafty wickedness of certain heretics, in order to confound the simplicity of our people, is said to have falsified my letter which I sent to Flavian of blessed memory, so that, by changing certain words or syllables, it might declare me an adherent of the Nestorian error: I beseech your venerable Clemency to order that same letter, translated entire and carefully into the Greek language by my brother Bishop Julian, or by those whom your Piety shall appoint as suitable for this work, to be conveyed by a suitable bearer under the impression of your seal, to be handed over to the Alexandrian magistrates, who are to have it read out to the clergy and people of that city together with the preachings of the aforesaid bishops, with which my writings also agree, so that they may recognize that they ought no longer to be deceived by the fraud of lying men; and may be proved to be true disciples of the apostolic see, with which neither Eutyches nor Nestorius holds any place, because the universal Church has condemned these too, as it has other heretics.

Data sexto idus Martii; Aetio et Studio viris clarissimis consulibus.

Given on the sixth day before the Ides of March, Aetius and Studius, most illustrious men, being consuls.

Editors' notes and page, col. 1080

Footnotes

(j) ‹consacerdotis› · printed under col 1080

Vat. Hisp., Isid. et mss. collect. 11 et 21, nostri.

The Vatican Hispana, the Isidorian and the manuscripts of collections 11 and 21, nostri.

(k) ‹pax non nisi› · printed under col 1080

Particulam in ex Ratisponensi addidimus.

We have added the particle in from the Regensburg manuscript.

(l) ‹ad conturbandam› · printed under col 1080

Sic ex optimo Ratisp. Accedit Vindebon. Hisp., in quo nostrae. Hunc errorem emendavit studiosus librarius collectionis Hispanicae originis Gallicanae, qui substituit ex arbitrio sanctorum, ut legitur in Vat. Hisp., in Isid. ac in mss. collect. 11 et 21. Vulgati ex mss collect. 12 et 24, cum Sichardo, aliorum. Leo nostrorum nomine catholicos intelligit. Quod porro de falsata suae ad Flavianum epistolae 28 Graeca versione hoc loco indicat, confer cum iis quae dicentur annot. 6 (Col. 1123, n. b) in epist. 152, ac praesertim observationem tertiam in dissert. 1 Quesnelli ad annum 454.

So from the excellent Regensburg manuscript. The Vienna Hispana agrees, in which nostrae. This error was emended by a careful copyist of the Hispanic collection of Gallican origin, who substituted at his own discretion sanctorum, as is read in the Vatican Hispana, in the Isidorian and in the manuscripts of collections 11 and 21. The printed editions, from the manuscripts of collections 12 and 24, with Sichard, aliorum. By nostrorum Leo means the Catholics. As to what he indicates in this place about the falsified Greek version of his Letter 28 to Flavian, compare what will be said in note 6 (col. 1123, n. b) on Letter 152, and especially the third observation in Quesnel's first dissertation, at the year 454.

(m) ‹quibusdam› · printed under col 1080

Editi cum Vat. collect. 24, litteris vel syllabis. Praetulimus veteres libros Ratisp., utrumque Hisp. et codd. collect. 11, 12 ac 21, cum Binio. Mox Nestorianae haeresis asserunt in mss. Vat. Hisp., Isid. et collect. 11. ac 21. Ratisp. et Vat. collect. 24, assererent.

The printed editions, with the Vatican of collection 24, litteris vel syllabis. We have preferred the old books: the Regensburg, both Hispana, and the manuscripts of collections 11, 12 and 21, with Binius. Next, Nestorianae haeresis asserunt in the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian manuscripts and those of collections 11 and 21. The Regensburg and the Vatican of collection 24, assererent.

(n) ‹per idoneum› · printed under col 1080

Alias, latorem.

Elsewhere, latorem.

(o) ‹praedicationibus,› · printed under col 1080

Vulgati antiqui cum mss. collect. 24 qui et meo scripto consentiunt. Quesnelli lectionem ex Grimanico caeteri nostri codices approbant. Solum ex Ratisp. addidimus et a Quesnello omissum.

The old printed editions, with the manuscripts of collection 24, qui et meo scripto consentiunt. Our other manuscripts confirm Quesnel's reading from the Grimani manuscript. Only from the Regensburg have we added et, omitted by Quesnel.

(p) ‹non debere;› · printed under col 1080

Hanc veterum editionum lectionem confirmant nostri codices Ratisp., Vat. collect. 12 et 24, atque exemplum Sichardi. Huc accedit Vindebon. Hisp., in quo pro sinceri esse erronee scriptum est sinceritate; qui error emendatus fuit in Vat. Hisp., Isid, et caeteris ejusdem originis, sine errore. Quesnellus ex solo Grim., et probetur apostolicae sedis sinceritas, apud quam, etc. Quod autem notavit in postilla, vulgatam lectionem sensui repugnare, verum est si haec sententia regi credatur particula ut, non vero si conjungatur cum antecedenti sententia, faciant recitari..... et probentur apostolicae sedis sinceri esse discipuli, dum ejusdem sedis fidem sequentur. Hanc peculiarem Alexandrinae Ecclesiae praerogativam Leo fusius exponit epist. 9 in exordio.

This reading of the old editions is confirmed by our manuscripts, the Regensburg and the Vatican of collections 12 and 24, and by Sichard's copy. To these is added the Vienna Hispana, in which, instead of sinceri esse, sinceritate is wrongly written; this error was emended in the Vatican Hispana, the Isidorian and the others of the same origin to sine errore. Quesnel, from the Grimani alone, et probetur apostolicae sedis sinceritas, apud quam, etc. What he noted in a marginal gloss, that the common reading is repugnant to the sense, is true if this clause is believed to be governed by the particle ut, but not if it is joined with the preceding clause: faciant recitari..... et probentur apostolicae sedis sinceri esse discipuli, while they follow the faith of that same see. Leo sets out this special prerogative of the Alexandrian Church more fully at the opening of Letter 9.

(q) ‹damnavit. Data› · printed under col 1080

Ita omnes nostri codd. et Sichardus ac Binius, Quesnellus cum aliis vulgatis, v idus, et in margine; Alias, VI.

So all our manuscripts and Sichard and Binius; Quesnel with other printed editions, v idus, and in the margin: Elsewhere, VI.

Page

running head: 1079 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 1080 (across the page; this column carries "MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 1080")
marginal letters: A ‹grunt acquiescant›; B ‹pressione deferri›; C ‹Vat. Hisp., in Isid.› (footnotes); D ‹nostri codices Ratisp.› (footnotes)
old-edition numerals: 1259 before ‹agnoscant› (third digit faint; read in sequence after 1258 in col 1079)
signature: none
other: the letter ends with its date in this column; the next letter begins at the head of col 1081

PL 54:1081

EPISTOLA CXXXI.

LETTER CXXXI.

AD JULIANUM EPISCOPUM COENSEM.

TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.

LEO JULIANO episcopo.

LEO TO JULIAN, bishop.

CAP. I. — Sumptis fratris et coepiscopi nostri Proterii Alexandrini antistitis litteris indubitanter agnovi catholicae eum studere doctrinae. et recto corde haereticis obviare: ut merito sperare possimus eum Ecclesiae cui praesidet, et exemplo morum, et insinuatione fidei profuturum.

CHAP. I. — On receiving the letter of our brother and fellow bishop Proterius, prelate of Alexandria, I recognized beyond doubt that he is zealous for the Catholic doctrine and opposes the heretics with an upright heart: so that we may rightly hope that he will be of profit to the Church over which he presides, both by the example of his conduct and by the instilling of the faith.

Sed quia non parum ipsi laboris Eutychianorum factionibus excitatur qui epistolam meam ad beatae memoriae Flavianum datam, fallaci interpretatione corruptam simplicibus quibusque aut indoctis ita dicuntur ingerere, ut quaedam loca Nestoriano congruere videantur errori: ut haec malignitas non possit de conturbatione fidelium gloriari, hoc fraternitati tuae laboris injungo, ut eamdem epistolam meam, quam in omnibus apostolicae concordare doctrinae consonantia majorum exempla testantur, diligenti interpretatione ex Latino in Graecum transferre digneris, quam gloriosissimus et fidelissimus princeps ad Alexandrinos judices, sicut poposci, sub signaculi sui impressione transmittat, Christianae plebi in Ecclesia recitandam, cum praedicationibus sanctorum vivorum qui ipsi Ecclesiae praefuerunt: quo facilius hi qui ignoranter fluctuare dicuntur, veritate comperta, pravis persuasionibus in errorem ulterius non trabantur. Ne autem fraternitatem tuam aliquid praeteriret, qualia ad clementissimum imperatorem vel ad ipsum Alexandrinae urbis episcopum scripta direxerim, subdita huic epistolae exempla monstrabunt.

But since no little labour is stirred up for him by the factions of the Eutychians, who are said to be pressing upon all the simple or unlearned my letter sent to Flavian of blessed memory, corrupted by a deceitful translation, in such a way that certain passages seem to agree with the Nestorian error: so that this malice may not boast of the disturbance of the faithful, I lay this labour upon your Fraternity, that you deign to translate from Latin into Greek with a careful rendering that same letter of mine, which the concordant examples of our forebears testify to agree in all things with the apostolic doctrine; that the most glorious and most faithful prince may send it, as I have requested, under the impression of his seal to the Alexandrian magistrates, to be read out to the Christian people in the church, together with the preachings of the holy men [vivorum as printed] who presided over that Church: so that those who are said to waver through ignorance, once they have found out the truth, may no longer be drawn into error by perverse persuasions. And lest anything escape your Fraternity, the copies appended to this letter will show what sort of writings I have sent to the most clement emperor and to the bishop of the city of Alexandria himself.

Editors' notes and page, col. 1081

Footnotes

(a) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 1081

Alias 102. Quae autem antea 131 erat, nunc. 161. Scripta 10 Mart. an. 454.

Elsewhere 102. The one that was formerly 131 is now 161. Written 10 March, in the year 454.

(b) ‹EPISTOLA CXXXI.› · printed under col 1081

Ex Grimanico codice editam cum Ratisponensi relegimus.

Published from the Grimani manuscript; we have read it again with the Regensburg.

Epist. 139.

Letter 139.

(d) ‹hi qui› · printed under col 1081

Ratisp. omittit ignoranter.

The Regensburg omits ignoranter.

(e) printed under this column; its call is in col 1082, set in n1082 (f) printed under this column; its call is in col 1082, set in n1082 (g) printed under this column (first part); its call is in col 1082, set in n1082

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Julianum de receptis Proterii Alex. litteris monet; suam ad Flavianum epistolam ex Latino in Graecum ab eodem transferri cupit ac mandat, quam sub signaculo Augusti missam Alexandrinae plebi in Ecclesia recitari vult. — II. De Paschate sequentis anni ut rescribatur.

SYNOPSIS. — I. He informs Julian of the receipt of the letter of Proterius of Alexandria; he desires and directs that his letter to Flavian be translated by him from Latin into Greek, and wishes it, sent under the Augustus's seal, to be read out to the people of Alexandria in the church. — II. That he should write back about the Easter of the following year.