PL 54 · cols. 821–825

Leo the Great, Letters

Letter XLIII

PL 54:821

EPISTOLA XLIII.

LETTER XLIII.

AD THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM.

TO THEODOSIUS AUGUSTUS.

Editors' notes and page, col. 821

Footnotes

(a) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 821

Al., 39. Quae autem erat 43, nunc 47. Scripta paulo ante 13 Octob. an. 449.

Otherwise 39. The one that was 43 is now 47. Written a little before 13 October in the year 449.

(b) ‹alios autem intromissos, qui› · printed under col 821 (call in the Latin version)

Id est, Dioscori episcopi.

That is, of bishop Dioscorus.

(1)–(5) printed under col 821 (calls in the Greek, col 822): set in n822.

Ancient version (Latin)

Epistola Leonis ad Theodosium divae memoriae, per quam rogavit specialem synodum in partibus Italiae fieri, et nullo alio in loco; propterea quod sit contraria canonibus secunda synodus Ephesina. Gloriosissimo et serenissimo THEODOSIO imperatori LEO episcopus. Antea et ab initio in iis quae factae sunt synodis tantam nos accepimus fiduciam a sanctissimo Petro et principe apostolorum, ut potestatem habeamus et veritatis vindicandae pro nostra pace, et nemini ipsam liceat, cum munita adeo sit, concutere, dum sine mora laesio removetur. Quoniam igitur concilium episcoporum quod in Ephesina civitate propter Flavianum fieri jussistis, et ipsam laedit fidem, et omnes sauciat Ecclesias. ....................................... Atque haec non ab incerto nuntio nobis cognita sunt, sed ab ipsis quos misimus, religiosissimo episcopo et fidelissimo Hilaro diacono nostro, qui quae acta sunt nobis exposuerunt. Quod autem accidit hanc habet causam quod non pura conscientia rectoque judicio secundum consuetudinem ii qui convenerunt, de fide et de iis qui decepti fuerunt, sententiam protulere. Cognoscimus enim ad concilium non omnes quos oportebat convenisse, sed alios quidem ejectos, alios autem intromissos, qui praedicti episcopi circumventione impiis subscriptionibus capti sunt. Talis namque ab ipso prolata sententia, ut omnibus per ipsum Ecclesiis injuria inferretur. Hujuscemodi enim rem valde impiam fideique repugnantem ii testes de visu, qui per nos missi sunt, nobis significarunt. Unde, serenissime imperator, a vestra pia conscientia periculum causa fidei avertere dignare, neque humana praesumptio Christi Evangelio vim inferat. Haec ego, o christianissime et venerabilis imperator, cum iis qui mecum sunt episcopis, sincero affectu cupiens vos ante omnia placere Deo, ad quem ab universa Ecclesia unanimiter pro vestro imperio preces funduntur, ut facias, consilium do, ne forte poenas persolvamus ante tribunal Christi,

Page

running head: EPISTOLA XLIII. (centred across page 416; column number 821 at the left)
marginal letters: A ‹Epistola Leonis ad Theodosium› (beside the Latin title); B ‹Atque haec non ab incerto›; C ‹nobis significarunt. Unde›; D (in the footnotes, beside Greek note 1)
old-edition numerals: 902 before ‹Epistola Leonis ad Theodosium›; 904 after ‹de fide et›
signature: none
other: the heading EPISTOLA XLIII. / AD THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM. is printed across both columns at the head of page 416 and is set as layer 1 under this rail. Letter XLIII survives only in Greek (Admonitio, n819-n820): the Greek is layer 1 in col 822; the left column prints the Ballerini's Latin version of it, transcribed above without English (UNIT rule for letters written in Greek, applied because the Latin original is lost). The Admonitio says the older Latin edition from the Chalcedonian collection follows after the letter.

PL 54:822

Ἐπιστολὴ Λέοντος ἀποσταλεῖσα πρὸς Θεοδόσιον τὸν τῆς θείας μνήμης, δι᾽ ἧς ἤτησεν ἰδικὴν σύνοδον ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἰταλίας γενέσθαι, καὶ ἐν μηδενὶ ἑτέρῳ τόπῳ διὰ τὸ ὑπεναντίαν εἶναι τῶν κανόνων τὴν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ δευτέραν σύνοδον.

Letter of Leo sent to Theodosius of divine memory, by which he asked that a special synod be held in the parts of Italy, and in no other place, because the second synod at Ephesus was contrary to the canons.

Τῷ ἐνδοξοτάτῳ καὶ γαληνοτάτῳ Θεοδοσίῳ βασιλεῖ, Λέων ἐπίσκοπος.

To the most glorious and most serene emperor Theodosius, Leo, bishop.

Ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐν ταῖς γενομέναις συνόδοις, τοσαύτην ἡμεῖς εἰλήφαμεν παῤῥησίαν παρὰ τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου Πέτρου, καὶ κορυφαίου ἀποστόλων, ὡς ἔχειν, τὴν αὐθεντίαν καὶ ἐκδικεῖν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἡμῶν εἰρήνης, καὶ μηδενὶ δύνασθαι ὀχυρὰν οὕτως ὑπάρχουσαν παρασαλεύειν, παραχρῆμα τῆς βλάβης ἀποσειομένης. Ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ συνέδριον τῶν ἐπισκόπων ὅπερ γενέσθαι προσετάξατε ἐν τῇ Ἐφεσίων πόλει διὰ Φλαυιανὸν αὐτήν τε καταβλάπτει τὴν πίστιν καὶ πάσας τραυματίζει τὰς ἐκκλησίας ..... καὶ ταῦτα ἡμῖν ἔγνωσται οὐ παρὰ ἀβεβαίου τινὸς ἀγγέλου, ἀλλὰ παρ᾽ αὐτῶν τῶν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀποσταλέντων εὐλαβεστάτου ἐπισκόπου, καὶ τοῦ πιστοτάτου Ἱλάρου τοῦ ἡμετέρου διακόνου, τῶν τὰ πεπραγμένα ἡμῖν ὑφηγησαμένων.

From above and from the beginning, in the synods that have been held, we have received from the most holy Peter, the chief of the apostles, such boldness as to have the authority also to vindicate the truth on behalf of our peace, and that no one should be able to shake it, standing so firm, the harm being shaken off at once. Since, then, the council of bishops which you commanded to be held in the city of the Ephesians on account of Flavian both damages the faith itself and wounds all the Churches ..... and these things have become known to us not from some unreliable messenger, but from those very men sent by us, the most reverent bishop and our most faithful deacon Hilarus, who related to us what had been done.

Τὸ δὲ συμβὰν ταύτην ἔχει τὴν αἰτίαν, τὸ μὴ καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει, καὶ ὀρθῇ κρίσει κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες, τοὺς συνελθόντας τῇ τε πίστει, καὶ τοῖς πεπλανημένοις τὴν ἀπόφασιν ἐκφωνῆσαι· ἔγνωμεν γὰρ, ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ μὴ πάντας συνεληλυθέναι τοὺς ὀφείλοντας, ἀλλ᾽ ἑτέρους μὲν ἐκβληθέντας, ἑτέρους δὲ εἰσδεχθέντας· οἵ τινες τῇ ὑπολήψει τοῦ προλεχθέντος ἐπισκόπου ἀσεβέσιν ἑάλωσαν ἀπογραφαῖς. Τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐξενεχθεῖσα ἀπόφασις, ὡς πάσας δι᾽ αὐτῆς τὰς ἐκκλησίας καταβλάπτεσθαι. Σφόδρα γὰρ ἀσεβὲς, καὶ τῇ πίστει πολεμοῦν τὸ τοιοῦτο θεασάμενοι οἱ παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀποσταλέντες, ἡμῖν κατεσήμαναν. Ὅθεν γαληνότατε βασιλεῦ, τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐσεβοῦς συνειδήσεως τὸν κίνδυνον ἕνεκα τῆς πίστεως ἀποσοβῆσαι καταξίωσον. Καὶ μὴ πρόληψις ἀνθρωπίνη τὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὐαγγέλιον βιάσηται. Ταῦτα ἐγὼ, ὦ χριστιανικώτατε, καὶ προσκυνητὲ βασιλεῦ, μετὰ τῶν σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐπισκόπων, εἰλικρινεῖ διαθέσει ποθῶν ὑμᾶς πρὸ πάντων Θεῷ ἀρέσκειν, ᾧ παρὰ πάσης ἐκκλησίας συμφώνως ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὑμετέρου κράτους δεήσεις

What happened has this cause: that those who came together did not pronounce sentence, with a pure conscience and upright judgement as is customary, both on the faith and on those who had gone astray; for we have learned that not all who ought to have come were assembled in the council, but that some were thrown out and others brought in; and these, by the presumption of the aforesaid bishop, were caught in impious subscriptions. For such was the sentence brought forth by him that through it all the Churches are damaged. For those sent by us, having seen such a thing, exceedingly impious and at war with the faith, made it known to us. Wherefore, most serene emperor, deign for the sake of the faith to avert the danger from your pious conscience. And let not human prejudice do violence to the Gospel of Christ. These things I, O most Christian and venerable emperor, with the bishops who are with me, with a sincere disposition, desiring that you above all should please God, to Whom from the whole Church with one accord prayers for your power […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 822

Footnotes

(1) ‹[before] Ἐπιστολὴ Λέοντος› · printed under col 821

Hunc titulum ad mss. Veneta revocavimus. In vulgatis, post Λέοντος, additur, Ἐπισκόπου Ῥώμης, et omittuntur, τὸν τῆς θείας μνήμης. Alius praeterea titulus in iisdem codd. Ven. subjicitur sic: Ἐπιστολὴ Λέοντος ἐπισκόπου Ῥώμης πρὸς Θεοδόσιον βασιλέα περὶ τοῦ τὴν σύνοδον ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἰταλίας γενέσθαι μέρεσιν.

We have restored this title according to the Venetian manuscripts. In the printed editions, after Λέοντος, Ἐπισκόπου Ῥώμης (of the bishop of Rome) is added, and τὸν τῆς θείας μνήμης (of divine memory) is omitted. Besides, another title is placed below in the same Venetian manuscripts, thus: Letter of Leo, bishop of Rome, to the emperor Theodosius, on the synod's being held in the parts of Italy.

(2) ‹καὶ ἐν μηδενὶ ἑτέρῳ τόπῳ› · printed under col 821

Ex Vat. cod. Graecus 1455, qui sincerum et integrum textum suggessit. Vulg., διὰ τὸ τοῦτο ὑπεναντίον εἶναι τῶν κανόνων.

From the Vatican Greek manuscript 1455, which supplied a sound and complete text. The printed editions have: because this is contrary to the canons.

(3) ‹τὴν αὐθεντίαν› · printed under col 821

Deest καὶ in ms. Ven.

καὶ is lacking in the Venetian manuscript.

(4) ‹ὑπὲρ τῆς› · printed under col 821

Vulgati, ὑμῶν. Editores Romani in margine, ἴσως ἡμῶν; et ita legit etiam vetus interpres, qui hujus capitis exordium e Graeco reddidit, uti in admonitione ostendimus; ac proinde sine trepidatione emendavimus.

The printed editions have ὑμῶν (your). The Roman editors in the margin: perhaps ἡμῶν (our); and so too the old translator read, who rendered the opening of this chapter from the Greek, as we showed in the admonition; and accordingly we have made the correction without hesitation.

(5) ‹ἐν τῇ Ἐφεσίων› · printed under col 821, continued under col 822

In editis, πολεμεῖ Φλαυιανῷ, perperam; unde Romani emendarunt in margine; emendationem autem textui inseruimus, quia et contextus exigit, et sic legit in textu antiquus interpres.

In the printed editions, πολεμεῖ Φλαυιανῷ (makes war on Flavian), wrongly; hence the Roman editors corrected it in the margin; and we have put the correction into the text, because both the context requires it and the ancient translator reads so in his text.

(6) ‹πάσας τραυματίζει τὰς ἐκκλησίας› · printed under col 822

Hoc loco suspensus sensus lacunam ostendit, quae punctis signanda fuit, tametsi in mss. non appareat. Hic enim mentio aliqua erat inserta Dioscori, qui Ephesino latrocinio praesidens, in causa fuit ut eadem pseudosynodus et fidem laederet et omnes sauciaret Ecclesias. Proculdubio, inquam, erat inserta, ut ad eum referantur voces sequentes, τοῦ προλεχθέντος, supradicti episcopi, quae non ad Flavianum, sed ad Dioscorum pertinent.

At this place the suspended sense shows a lacuna, which had to be marked with dots, although it does not appear in the manuscripts. For here some mention of Dioscorus had been inserted, who, presiding over the Ephesine robbery, was the cause that the same pseudo-synod both injured the faith and wounded all the Churches. Without doubt, I say, it had been inserted, so that the following words, τοῦ προλεχθέντος, of the aforesaid bishop, may refer to him; for they relate not to Flavian but to Dioscorus.

(7) ‹ἀγγέλου, ἀλλὰ› · printed under col 822

Ita ex mss. Venet. magis clara syntaxi, quam in editis, παρ᾽ αὐτῶν, παρ᾽ ἡμῶν. Paulo post Ἱλαρίου pro Ἱλάρου perperam in eodem cod.

So from the Venetian manuscripts, with a clearer syntax than in the printed editions: παρ᾽ αὐτῶν, παρ᾽ ἡμῶν. A little after, Ἱλαρίου is wrongly written for Ἱλάρου in the same manuscript.

(8) ‹τῶν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀποσταλέντων› · printed under col 822

Vulg. et codd. plurali numero, εὐλαβεστάτων ἐπισκόπων. Cum vero manifestus sit error (unus enim episcopus Julius missus fuit), certa emendatione locum restituimus. Facilis autem librariorum lapsus scribentium ων pro ου levissima duarum litterarum mutatione sanatur.

The printed editions and the manuscripts have the plural, εὐλαβεστάτων ἐπισκόπων (most reverent bishops). But since the error is manifest (for only one bishop, Julius, was sent), we have restored the passage by a certain correction. And the easy slip of the copyists, who wrote ων for ου, is healed by a very slight change of two letters.

(9) ‹τοῦ προλεχθέντος ἐπισκόπου› · printed under col 822

Cod. Ven., ἀσεβέσιν ἁλόντες ὑπογραφαῖς ἐβασανίσθησαν.

The Venetian manuscript: having been caught in impious subscriptions, they were tormented.

Footnotes

(a) ‹et in Christo› · printed under col 823 (call in the Latin version)

Leg. perfectae seu verae humanitatis. Vide annot. 3 (infer., 3) in textum Graecum.

Read: of the perfect or true humanity. See note 3 (below, 3) on the Greek text.

(b) ‹EADEM EPISTOLA.› · printed under col 823 (call in the older Latin edition)

Etsi Latinus textus hujus epistolae quam hic proferimus contineatur in mss. Latinae collectionis Chalcedonensis, in quibus originales plerumque Leonis epistolae describuntur, non esse tamen textum originalem, sed partim versionem ex Graeco, partim transumptum ex epistola sequenti 44 in admonitione ostendimus. Invenitur etiam haec epistola in cod. Grimanico collect. 18 et in ms. Veneto collect. 22 qui e Chalcedonensi collectione plura receperunt.

Although the Latin text of this letter which we bring forward here is contained in the manuscripts of the Latin Chalcedonian collection, in which Leo's original letters are for the most part copied, we have shown in the admonition that it is nevertheless not the original text, but partly a version from the Greek and partly taken over from the following letter, 44. This letter is also found in the Grimani manuscript of collection 18 and in the Venetian manuscript of collection 22, which received many things from the Chalcedonian collection.

In mss. collect. Chalcedon. hic titulus legitur: Epistola sanctissimi archiepiscopi Romae Leonis ad imperatorem Theodosium, qua rogavit speciale concilium in Italia fieri, et non in alio loco, eo quod contraria sit canonibus secunda sgnodus Ephesina.

In the manuscripts of the Chalcedonian collection this title is read: Letter of the most holy archbishop of Rome, Leo, to the emperor Theodosius, in which he asked that a special council be held in Italy and not in another place, because the second synod of Ephesus is contrary to the canons.

Ancient version (Latin)

si hujuscemodi rem silentio involvamus. Obsecro igitur coram unius Deitatis inseparabili Trinitate, quae per ea quae male acta sunt laeditur, quaeque vestri est custos imperii, et coram sanctis angelis Christi, ut cuncta maneant intacta, sicut et ante judicium existebant. Exspectent autem majus criterium concilii, in quo omnis ex toto orbe episcoporum numerus congregetur; neque sinatis vos de alieno peccato onus sustinere; quod ut manifestius edicamus, urgentis necessitatis timore constringimur. Sed ante oculos proponite beatissimi Petri gloriam communesque cum ipso omnium apostolorum coronas, et martyrum gaudia, quibus non alia fuit causa patiendi, nisi confessio verae Deitatis, et in Christo perfecta permansio. Quae confessio cum impie nunc a paucis quibusdam laedatur, omnes nostrarum partium Ecclesiae, omnesque sacerdotes mansuetudini vestrae cum lacrymis supplicant propter appellationem in Flaviani episcopi libello contentam, ut speciale concilium jubeatis in Italiae partibus peragi, ut omnis conflictus repellatur vel mitigetur, nihilque devians vel dubium in fide sit; convenientibusque insuper etiam episcopis ab Orientalibus provinciis omnibus, quorum si qui de veritatis via exorbitarunt, salutaribus curationibus in integrum revocentur, et hi quorum est causa gravior, vel consiliis acquiescant vel ab una Ecclesia exscindantur: ita ut necessarium sit et eadem servare quae Nicaenus canon et quae constitutio totius orbis episcoporum praecipit, secundum catholicae Ecclesiae consuetudinem et nostrorum Patrum liberam fidem, per quam serenitas vestra stabilitur. Iis enim qui Ecclesiam laedunt, expulsis, vestrisque provinciis jure, quod justum est, potientibus, atque vindicta adversus haereticos exercita; vestrum etiam imperium Christi dextera defendetur. EADEM EPISTOLA. AD THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM. Gloriosissimo et clementissimo THEODOSIO Augusto LEO episcopus. CAP. I. — Olim et ab initio in conciliis celebratis

Editors' prose

Uti prodiit ex mss. Latinis collectionis Chalcedonensis.

As it came out of the Latin manuscripts of the Chalcedonian collection.

SYNOPSIS. — I. De Ephesino latrocinio conqueritur apud imperatorem. — II. Postulat ut in eodem statu res maneant quo ante pseudosynodum erant. — III. Supplicat ut concilium intra Italiam celebrari jubeat imperator.

SYNOPSIS. — I. He complains to the emperor about the Ephesine robbery. — II. He asks that matters remain in the same state in which they were before the pseudo-synod. — III. He begs the emperor to order a council to be held within Italy.

Page

running head: S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE (centred across page 417; column number 823 at the left)
marginal letters: A ‹si hujuscemodi rem›; B ‹a paucis quibusdam laedatur›; C ‹Iis enim qui Ecclesiam›; D ‹Gloriosissimo et clementissimo›
old-edition numerals: 906 after ‹non alia fuit causa›; 907 before ‹EADEM EPISTOLA.›
signature: none
other: the upper halves of cols 823-824 finish the Ballerini's Latin version (left, transcribed above) and the Greek text of Letter XLIII (right, layer 1); the last two lines of the Greek are printed full width under both columns and are set in c824_b. Then, full width, 907 EADEM EPISTOLA. / (b) AD THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM. / Uti prodiit … Chalcedonensis. / (c) SYNOPSIS: the older Latin edition of the letter, which the Ballerini hold is not Leo's original; it is transcribed as a Latin version without English (here and in n824 onward).

PL 54:824

ἀναπέμπονται, συμβουλεύω· μή ποτε δίκας ὑφέξωμεν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ βήματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὸ τοιοῦτο παρασιωπήσαντες. Δέομαι τοιγαροῦν ἐνώπιον τῆς μιᾶς θεότητος τῆς ἀχωρίστου τριάδος, τῆς ἀδικουμένης διὰ τῶν κακῶς πεπραγμένων, φύλακος ὑπαρχούσης τῆς ὑμετέρας βασιλείας, καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἁγίων ἀγγέλων τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα πάντα μείνωσιν ἀρραγῆ, καθὼς καὶ πρὸ δίκης ἐτύγχανε· πέριμείνωσι δὲ τὸ μεῖζον τῆς συνόδου κριτήριον, ἐν ᾗ ὁ πᾶς ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἐκ πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης συνάγεται. Καὶ μὴ συγχωρήσητε ἡμᾶς τῷ ἑτέρων πταίσματι βάρος ὑπομεῖναι. Ὅπερ σαφέστερον εἰπεῖν ἀναγκῆς ἐπειγούσης τῷ δέει κρατούμεθα. Ἀλλὰ λαβεῖν πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν, τοῦ μακαριωτάτου Πέτρου τὴν δόξαν, καὶ τοὺς κοινοὺς στεφάνους σὺν αὐτῷ πάντων τῶν ἀποστόλων, καὶ τὰς τῶν μαρτύρων χαράς, οἷς οὐ γέγονεν ἑτέρα τις αἰτία τοῦ παθεῖν, εἰ μὴ ἡ ὁμολογία τῆς ἀληθοῦς θεότητος, καὶ ἡ ἐν Χριστῷ τελεία διαμονή.

[…] are sent up, I give counsel, lest we pay the penalty before the judgement seat of Christ, having passed over such a thing in silence. I entreat you therefore, before the one Godhead of the inseparable Trinity, which is wronged by the things wickedly done and which is the guardian of your empire, and before the holy angels of Christ, that all things remain unbroken, just as they stood before the trial, and that they await the greater tribunal of the synod, in which the whole number of the bishops from all the world is gathered. And do not permit us to bear a burden for the fault of others. To say this more plainly we are constrained by fear, as necessity presses. But [I ask you] to set before your eyes the glory of the most blessed Peter, and the common crowns of all the apostles with him, and the joys of the martyrs, for whom there was no other cause of suffering than the confession of the true Godhead and the perfect abiding in Christ.

Ἧς τινος ὁμολογίας ἀσεβῶς ὑπό τινων νῦν ὀλίγων καταβλαπτομένης, πᾶσαι αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῶν ἡμετέρων μερῶν, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἱερεῖς, τὴν ὑμετέραν ἡμερότητα μετὰ δακρύων ἱκετεύουσι κατὰ τὴν αἴτησιν τοῦ λιβέλλου Φλαυιανοῦ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου· ὥστε κελεῦσαι ἰδικὴν σύνοδον ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐπιτελεσθῆναι· ὅπως πᾶσα ἐναντιότης ἐκβληθείη, ἢ καταπραϋνθείη, καὶ μηδὲν ἢ παρέλκον, ἢ ἀμφίβολον ἐπὶ τῇ πίστει· συνερχομένων ἔτι καὶ τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀνατολικῶν ἐπαρχιῶν· ὧν εἴ τινες ὕβρεις κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς ἀληθείας ὤφλησαν, σωτηριώδεσι θεραπείαις εἰς τὸ ὁλόκληρον ἀνακληθῶσι, καὶ οὗτοι, ὧν ἐστιν αἰτία βαρυτέρα, ἢ διὰ τῆς συμβουλίας ἡσυχάσωσιν ἢ ἀπὸ τῆς μιᾶς ἐκκλησίας ἐκκοπῶσιν. Ὥστε καὶ ταῦτα ἀναγκαῖον παραφυλάξαι, ὅσα ὁ ἐν Νικαίᾳ κανὼν παρακελεύεται, ὅσα τε ὁ ὅρος ὁ ἀπὸ πάσης τῆς οἰκουμένης τῶν ἐπισκόπων κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων πατέρων ἐλευθέραν τὴν πίστιν· δι᾽ ἧς ἡ ὑμετέρα γαληνότης συνίσταται. Τῶν γὰρ βλαπτόντων τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀπελαθέντων, καὶ τῶν ὑμετέρων ἐπαρχῶν ἀπολαυουσῶν τοῦ δικαίου, καὶ τῆς κατὰ τῶν αἱρετικῶν ἐκδικήσεως γενομένης, καὶ τὸ ὑμέτερον βασίλειον τῇ δεξιᾷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σκεπασθείη.

Since this confession is now impiously damaged by a certain few, all the Churches of our parts, and all the priests, entreat your gentleness with tears, according to the petition of the libellus of bishop Flavian, to order a special synod to be held in the parts of Italy, so that all opposition may be cast out or calmed, and there may be nothing either superfluous or doubtful in the faith; the bishops also from all the eastern provinces coming together, so that, if any of them have incurred the guilt of outrages against the way of truth, they may be recalled to wholeness by saving remedies, and those whose case is graver may either be quiet through counsel or be cut off from the one Church. So that it is necessary to observe these things also: all that the canon at Nicaea enjoins, and all that the definition of the bishops from the whole world [enjoins], according to the custom of the Catholic Church and the free faith of our fathers, by which your serenity is established. For when those who harm the Church have been driven away, and your provinces enjoy what is just, and vengeance has been taken on the heretics, may your empire also be sheltered by the right hand of Christ.

Editors' notes and page, col. 824

Footnotes

(1) ‹ἵνα πάντα μείνωσιν› · printed under col 824

Editores Rom. in margine, ἴσως, ἀρπαγῆ.

The Roman editors in the margin: perhaps ἀρπαγῆ.

(2) ‹Καὶ μὴ συγχωρήσητε› · printed under col 824

In margine iidem editores ὑμᾶς; et sic legendum.

In the margin the same editors have ὑμᾶς (you); and so it should be read.

(3) ‹θεότητος,› · printed under col 824

Editores Romani in margine, καὶ τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀνθρωπότητος, et verae in Christo humaniatis quam Eutyches negabat.

The Roman editors in the margin: καὶ τῆς ἀληθοῦς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀνθρωπότητος, and of the true humanity in Christ, which Eutyches denied.

(4) ‹τῶν ἀνατολικῶν ἐπαρχιῶν·› · printed under col 824

Ita codd. Graec. Vat. 1455 et Ottob. 29. Erat in vulgatis, οἵ τινες ὕβρεις.

So the Greek manuscripts Vat. 1455 and Ottob. 29. The printed editions had οἵ τινες ὕβρεις.

(5) ‹καὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων πατέρων› · printed under col 824

Hic aliquid involutum apparet, et forte lacuna aliqua. Clarius in epist. 44 Leonis mens elucescit.

Something involved appears here, and perhaps some lacuna. Leo's meaning shines out more clearly in letter 44.

(d) ‹tantam nos percepimus a› · printed under col 824 (call in the older Latin edition)

Sic plures nostri et Baluzii codd. Alias, beatissimo.

So most of our manuscripts and Baluze's. Otherwise: beatissimo.

(e) ‹omnes Ecclesias vulnerare;› · printed under col 824 (call in the older Latin edition)

De lacuna hujus loci vide annot. 5 in textum Graecum hujus epistolae (Col. 822 6).

On the lacuna at this place see note 5 on the Greek text of this letter (col. 822, 6).

Ancient version (Latin)

tantam nos percepimus a beato Petro apostolorum principe fiduciam, ut auctoritatem habeamus ad veritatem pro nostra pace defendendam: quatenus nulli liceat sic eam munitam in aliquo commovere, dum repente laesio removetur. Igitur quia concilium episcoporum quod propter Flavianum in Ephesina civitate fieri praecepistis, et ipsi fidei probatur obesse, omnes Ecclesias vulnerare; ..... Et haec a no- comperta sunt non incerto nuntio, sed ab ipsis

Page

running head: S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE (centred across page 417; column number 824 at the right)
marginal letters: A ‹ἀναπέμπονται, συμβουλεύω›; B ‹ἑτέρα τις αἰτία›; C ‹νῶν παρακελεύεται›; D ‹civitate fieri praecepistis› (beside the older Latin edition)
old-edition numerals: 905 after ‹τῆς ἀληθοῦς›
signature: none
other: the Greek text of Letter XLIII (layer 1) ends in two full-width lines under both columns (Τῶν γὰρ βλαπτόντων … σκεπασθείη.), set in c824_b; the letter has no date line. The word Καὶ before ‹μὴ συγχωρήσητε› is printed in bold type. Below the full-width heading EADEM EPISTOLA (see n823) the older Latin edition begins; its right-column lines are transcribed above. It prints a no- at a line end and comperta on the next line (the syllable -bis is missing).

PL 54:825

Editors' notes and page, col. 825

Footnotes

(a) ‹[before] reverendissimis episcopis› · printed under col 825

Confer annot. 2 (Col. 822, 8) in eumdem textum Graecum; ubi hujus loci errorem deteximus historicae veritati contrarium, quem vetus hujus loci interpres Latinus, postpositis praeterea vocibus, qui a nobis missi sunt, quae in Graeco textu praemittuntur, ita confirmavit et involvit, ut qui error in Graeco facile detegi et emendari potest, in ejusmodi versione Latina nullo modo possit. Notandum insuper est titulum reverendissimi, quem S. Leo episcopis numquam tribuit, interpreti referendum esse, qui vocem Graecam εὐλαβεστάτων sic Latine reddidit, cum alias reddi etiam soleat religiosissimus.

Compare note 2 (col. 822, 8) on the same Greek text, where we detected the error at this place contrary to historical truth, which the old Latin translator of this passage, having moreover put after it the words qui a nobis missi sunt, which in the Greek text come before, so confirmed and entangled that an error which in the Greek can easily be detected and corrected can in no way be so in a Latin version of this kind. It is further to be noted that the title reverendissimi, which St Leo never gives to bishops, must be referred to the translator, who rendered the Greek word εὐλαβεστάτων thus in Latin, though it is also usually rendered otherwise, religiosissimus.

(b) ‹de fide et› · printed under col 825

Crabbus et editio Antuerp. an. 1583, erratibus. Ita etiam secunda manu in ms. Veronensi 57. In editione Labbei, erratis.

Crabbe and the Antwerp edition of the year 1583 have erratibus. So too a second hand in the Verona manuscript 57. In Labbe's edition, erratis.

Id est Dioscori Alexandrini, qui in lacuna annot. 5 (supra a) indicata nominatus proculdubio fuit, uti nominatur in epistola sequenti.

That is, of Dioscorus of Alexandria, who was without doubt named in the lacuna indicated in note 5 (above, a), as he is named in the following letter.

(d) ‹impiis subscriptionibus captivas manus› · printed under col 825

Quesnellus cum anterioribus editis, dederunt, quod nociturum. Nostrorum et Baluzii codicum lectionem, quae probatur etiam in epistola sequenti, anteponendam credidimus.

Quesnel, with the earlier editions, has dederunt, quod nociturum. We have thought that the reading of our manuscripts and of Baluze's, which is also confirmed in the following letter, should be preferred.

(e) ‹Cap. II. — Unde,› · printed under col 825

Sic meliores codices et Graecus textus, ex quo haec pauca hujus capitis verba reddita fuerunt. Quesnellus cum editis Leonis et nonnullis mss., tranquillissimi.

So the better manuscripts and the Greek text, from which these few words of this chapter were translated. Quesnel, with the printed editions of Leo and some manuscripts, has tranquillissimi.

(f) ‹humana praesumptio.› · printed under col 825, continued under col 826

Retinuimus vulgatam lectionem, nulli ⟨l⟩icet codices suffragentur. Nam quod est in mss., Ista ego vel Ista ergo, Istum ego, vel Istum ergo, cum contextu Latino hujus epistolae nullo modo congruit, uti congruit Haec ego in textu Graeco: et aliunde certum sit collectorem Latinum haec excerpsisse ex epist. 44, ubi Ecce ego legitur.

We have kept the common reading, although no manuscripts support it. For what is in the manuscripts, Ista ego or Ista ergo, Istum ego, or Istum ergo, in no way agrees with the Latin context of this letter, as Haec ego agrees in the Greek text; and besides, it is certain that the Latin collector excerpted these things from letter 44, where Ecce ego is read.

Ancient version (Latin)

reverendissimis episcopis qui a nobis missi sunt, et fidelissimo rerum quae gestae sunt narratore Hilaro diacono nostro. Haec autem ideo culpa processit, eo quod non pura conscientia et recto judicio secundum consuetudinem hi qui collecti sunt de fide et errantibus protulerunt. In ipso autem judicio non omnes qui convenerant interfuisse cognovimus. Nam alios rejectos, alios didicimus intromissos, qui pro supradicti sacerdotis arbitrio impiis subscriptionibus captivas manus dederent, et nociturum statui suo scirent, nisi imperata fecissent, talemque ab ipso prolatam esse sententiam, ut in omnes per eam saeviretur Ecclesias. Quod nostri ab apostolica sede directi, adeo impium et catholicae fidei contrarium videntes, nobis significare noscuntur. Cap. II. — Unde, tranquillissime principum, removete, quaesumus, a vestrae pietatis conscientia periculum religionis et fidei: ut Christi Evangelio vim non inferat humana praesumptio. Ecce ego, christianissime et venerabilis imperator, cum consacerdotibus meis implens erga reverentiam clementiae vestrae sinceri amoris officium, cupiensque vos per omnia placere Deo, cui pro vobis ab Ecclesia supplicatur, ne ante tribunal Domini, rei de silentio judicemur, obsecramus coram unius Deitatis inseparabili Trinitate, quae tali facto laeditur, cum ipsa vestri sit custos et auctor imperii, et coram sanctis angelis Christi, ut omnia in eo statu esse jubeatis, in quo fuerunt ante omne judicium, donec major ex toto orbe sacerdotum numerus congregetur; nec alieno peccato patiamini vos gravari: quia, quod necesse est nos dicere, veremur ne cujus religio dissipatur,