PL 54 · cols. 826–830

Leo the Great, Letters

Letter XLIV

PL 54:826

EPISTOLA XLIV.

LETTER XLIV.

AD EUMDEM THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM.

TO THE SAME THEODOSIUS AUGUSTUS.

Editors' notes and page, col. 826

Footnotes

(f) continued under col 826 from col 825, set in n825.

(g) ‹quorum est causa durior,› · printed under col 826 (call in the older Latin edition)

Edit. Concil.: sic consiliis melioribus acquiescant, ut ab Ecclesiae unitate.

The edition of the councils: sic consiliis melioribus acquiescant, ut ab Ecclesiae unitate.

(h) ‹Cum enim Ecclesiae› · printed under col 826

Sic plerique codices, uti etiam in epistola sequenti. Quesnellus, causam; aliae editiones Leonis: causa statum regni vestri agamus, et salutis.

So most manuscripts, as also in the following letter. Quesnel has causam; other editions of Leo: causa statum regni vestri agamus, et salutis.

(i) ‹defendatur imperium.› · printed under col 826

Hanc chronicam notationem non esse hujus epistolae propriam, sed a collectore Latino cum aliis multis traductam ex epistola sequenti, in praemissa admonitione demonstravimus.

We have shown in the preceding admonition that this date is not proper to this letter, but was carried over by the Latin collector, with many other things, from the following letter.

(j) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 826

Al. 40. Quae autem antea 44 erat, nunc 48. Scripta 13 Octob. an. 449.

Otherwise 40. The one that was formerly 44 is now 48. Written 13 October in the year 449.

(k) ‹EPISTOLA XLIV.› · printed under col 826

Exstat haec epistola in mss. collect. 5 Hisp. Isid. 13, 17 et 19, usque ad 24, et apud Sichardum.

This letter survives in the manuscripts of collection 5, of the Spanish, of the Isidorian, of 13, 17 and 19 up to 24, and in Sichard.

(l) ‹AD EUMDEM THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM.› · printed under col 826, continued under col 827

In tabula collect. 5, cap. 86, hic titulus legitur: Ad Theodosium imperatorem, ut rescissa synodo Ephesina in Italia concilium ejus consensu debeat celebrari. In Hisp. et Isid. ac exinde in editis ante Quesn.: De secunda synodo Ephesina, in qua Eutychetis haeresis quorumdam Episcoporum pravo intellectu adjuta est: unde hortatur eumdem Augustum, ut priscae fidei constitutio ab eis non violetur; sed Dei sacerdotes totius orbis coadunentur. Tandem in mss. Latinis collectionis Chalcedon. concinente plerumque Graeco textu: Epistola alia sanctissimi archiepiscopi Romae Leonis ad imperatorem Theodosium culpans Ephesinum concilium, quod adversus sanctissimum Flavianum factum est, petentis aliud concilium in partibus Italiae celebrari.

In the table of collection 5, chapter 86, this title is read: To the emperor Theodosius, that, the synod of Ephesus being rescinded, a council ought to be held in Italy with his consent. In the Spanish and Isidorian collections, and thence in the editions before Quesnel: On the second synod of Ephesus, in which the heresy of Eutyches was helped by the perverse understanding of certain bishops: wherefore he exhorts the same Augustus that the constitution of the ancient faith be not violated by them, but that the priests of God of the whole world be assembled together. Finally, in the Latin manuscripts of the Chalcedonian collection, with the Greek text mostly agreeing: Another letter of the most holy archbishop of Rome, Leo, to the emperor Theodosius, blaming the council of Ephesus which was held against the most holy Flavian, [and] asking that another council be held in the parts of Italy.

Ancient version (Latin)

indignatio provocetur. Prae oculis habete, et tota mentis acie reverenter aspicite beati Petri gloriam, et communes cum ipso omnium apostolorum coronas, cunctorumque martyrum palmas, quibus alia non fuit causa patiendi, nisi confessio verae Divinitatis et verae humanitatis in Christo. Cap III. — Cui sacramento, quia impie nunc a paucis imprudentibus obviatur, omnes partium nostrarum Ecclesiae, omnes mansuetudini vestrae cum gemitibus et lacrymis supplicant sacerdotes, ut quia et nostri fideliter reclamarunt, et eisdem libellum appellationis Flavianus episcopus dedit, generalem synodum jubeatis intra Italiam celebrari, quae omnes offensiones ita aut repellat, aut mitiget, ne ultra aliquid sit vel in fide dubium, vel in charitate divisum; convenientibus utique Orientalium provinciarum episcopis, quorum si qui superati minis atque injuriis a veritatis tramite deviarunt, salutaribus remediis in integrum revocentur: ipsique, quorum est causa durior, si consiliis melioribus acquiescant, ab Ecclesiae unitate non excidant. Quam autem post appellationem interpositam hoc necessario postuletur, canonum Nicaeae habitorum decreta testantur, quae a totius mundi sunt sacerdotibus constituta. Favete catholicis vestro more parentumque vestrorum, date defendendae fidei libertatem. Cum enim Ecclesiae causas, tum regni vestri agimus et salutis, ut provinciarum vestrarum quieto jure potiamini. Defendite contra haereticos inconcussum Ecclesiae statum: ut et vestrum Christi dextera defendatur imperium. Datum tertio idus Octobris, Asturio et Protogene viris clarissimis consulibus.

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Pseudosynodum Ephesinam, cum privatis odiis favet, omnia perturbasse in Ecclesia; ab ea apostolicae sedis scripta rejecta; omnia vi acta esse; Hilarum unum vix evasisse, ex legatis qui contradixerunt; numquam a sede apostolica recipiendam istam synodum. — II. Omnia usque ad majorem synodum in eodem

SYNOPSIS. — I. That the pseudo-synod of Ephesus, since it favours private hatreds, has thrown everything in the Church into confusion; that the writings of the apostolic see were rejected by it; that everything was done by force; that Hilarus alone, of the legates who spoke against it, barely escaped; that this synod is never to be received by the apostolic see. — II. [That] everything until the greater synod [should remain] in the same […]

Page

running head: EPISTOLA XLIV. (centred across page 418; column number 826 at the right)
marginal letters: A ‹indignatio provocetur›; B ‹ciarum episcopis, quorum›; C ‹Asturio et Protogene›; D ‹pta 13 Octob.› (in the footnotes)
old-edition numerals: 909 after ‹intra Italiam celebrari,›; 910 after ‹canonum›
signature: none
other: the older Latin edition of Letter XLIII ends with its date in col 826 (transcribed above, no English). Below both columns, full width, the heading EPISTOLA (j) XLIV. / (k) AD EUMDEM THEODOSIUM AUGUSTUM. (set as layer 1 in c826_a, by reading order) and (l) SYNOPSIS, which runs on to the head of col 827: set here to the word eo-dem, hyphenated over the page break and set whole; the rest (from statu permanere) is col 827's. Letter XLIV's own text begins in col 827.

PL 54:827

Leo episcopus, et sancta SYNODUS, quae in urbe Romae convenit, THEODOSIO Augusto.

Leo, bishop, and the holy SYNOD which has assembled in the city of Rome, to THEODOSIUS Augustus.

Cap. I. — Litteris clementiae vestrae, quas dudum ad beati Petri apostoli sedem pro catholicae fidei amore misistis, tantam fiduciam sumpsimus defendendae per vos veritatis et pacis, ut in causa tam simplici, tamque munita nihil putaremus posse existere, quod noceret; praesertim cum ad episcopale concilium, quod haberi apud Ephesum praecepistis, tam instructi sint missi, ut si scripta quae vel ad sanctam synodum, vel ad Flavianum episcopum detulerunt, episcoporum publicari auribus Alexandrinus permisisset antistes ita manifestatione purissimae fidei, quam divinitus inspiratam et accepimus, et tenemus, omnium concertationum strepitus quievisset, ut nec imperitia ultra desiperet, nec occasionem nocendi aemulatio reperiret.

Chap. I. — From the letter of your Clemency, which some time ago you sent to the see of the blessed apostle Peter out of love for the catholic faith, we took such confidence that truth and peace would be defended through you, that in a cause so simple and so well fortified we thought nothing could arise that would do harm; especially since those sent to the episcopal council which you ordered to be held at Ephesus were so instructed that, if the Alexandrian prelate had allowed the writings which they brought, either to the holy synod or to Bishop Flavian, to be made public in the hearing of the bishops, then by the manifestation of the most pure faith, which we have both received as divinely inspired and hold, the din of all contentions would have been stilled, so that ignorance would no longer play the fool, nor would jealousy find an occasion for doing harm.

Sed dum privatae causae religionis exercentur obtentu, commissum est impietate paucorum, quod universam Ecclesiam vulneraret Comperimus enim, non incerto nuntio, sed fidelissimo rerum, quae gestae sunt, narratore Hilaro diacono nostro, qui vix, ne subscribere per vim coneretur, effugit, convenisse ad synodum plurimos sacerdotes, quorum utique frequentia consultationi et judicio profuisset, si is qui sibi locum principem vindicabat, sacerdotalem moderationem custodire voluisset; ut, sicut moris est, omnium sententiis ex libertate prolatis, id tranquillo et aequo constitueretur examine, quod et fidei congrueret, et errantibus subveniret. 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

But while private causes are pursued under the pretext of religion, something has been committed by the impiety of a few that would wound the universal Church. For we have learned, not from an uncertain report but from a most faithful narrator of the things that were done, our deacon Hilary, who barely escaped being compelled by force to subscribe, that very many bishops came together to the synod, whose numbers would certainly have been of benefit to the deliberation and judgement, if he who claimed the chief place for himself had been willing to keep a priestly moderation; so that, as is the custom, when all had delivered their opinions in freedom, that might be settled by calm and fair examination which would both accord with the faith and bring help to those in error. But we have learned that not all who had assembled were present at the judgement itself. For we have been told that some were rejected and others brought in, who at the will of the aforesaid bishop gave their captive hands to impious subscriptions, and knew that it would harm their standing if they did not do what they were ordered; and that such […] by him […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 827

Footnotes

(l) continued from col 826, set in n826

(a) ‹convenit, THEODOSIO› · printed under col 827

Vulgati addunt semper, quod ex omnibus nostris codicibus delevimus. In mss. collect. Chalcedon. haec inscriptio praefigitur: Gloriosissimo et clementissimo Theodosio Augusto Leo episcopus, et sancta synodus, quae in urbe Roma convenit. In ms. Florentino collect. 13: Leo urbis Romae episcopus, et omnes episcopi pro sancta religione in eadem urbe congregati Theodosio Augusto. Plures quidem episcopos convenisse Leo indicat. epist. 61, cap. 1, ubi de hac synodo ait: Quae ad nos FREQUENS convenerat.

The printed editions add "semper" [ever], which we have deleted on the authority of all our manuscripts. In the manuscripts of the Chalcedonian collection this inscription is prefixed: "To the most glorious and most clement Theodosius Augustus, Leo the bishop and the holy synod which has assembled in the city of Rome." In the Florentine manuscript of collection 13: "Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, and all the bishops gathered in the same city for holy religion, to Theodosius Augustus." That a good many bishops assembled Leo indicates in epist. 61, chap. 1, where he says of this synod: "which had gathered to us in GREAT NUMBERS."

(b) ‹tam› · printed under col 827

Quesnellus, instructi sunt. Anteriorum edit. lectionem pluribus et potioribus nostris codicibus confirmatam, uti meliorem revocavimus.

Quesnel, "instructi sunt". We have restored the reading of the earlier editions, confirmed by more and better manuscripts of ours, as the better one.

Editi ante Quesn. cum mss. collect. 24, congressionum; et in margine, concertantium.

The editions before Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 24, "congressionum" [encounters]; and in the margin, "concertantium" [of those contending].

(d) ‹quae gestae sunt,› · printed under col 827

Mss. Vat. Hisp. et Isid., narrante.

The Vatican, Spanish and Isidorian manuscripts, "narrante" [narrating].

(e) ‹quorum utique frequentia› · printed under col 827

Vulgati ante Quesn. cum Merlino, collationi. Codd. Hisp. et Isid., consolationi.

The printed editions before Quesnel, with Merlin, "collationi" [conference]. The Spanish and Isidorian manuscripts, "consolationi" [consolation].

(f) ‹alios didicimus intromissos, qui› · printed under col 827

Ratisp. et mss. collect. 21 omittunt pro.

The Regensburg [edition] and the manuscripts of collection 21 omit "pro".

(g) ‹captivas manus dederent,› · printed under col 828

Mss. Vat. Hisp. et Isid., et nocituros. In edit. Concil. et codd. collect. 21, quod nociturum.

The Vatican, Spanish and Isidorian manuscripts, "et nocituros". In the edition of the Councils and the manuscripts of collection 21, "quod nociturum".

Editors' prose

statu permanere postulat a Theodosio cum omnibus Occidentalibus. — III. Generalem intra Italiam synodum petit.

[…] he asks Theodosius, together with all the Westerners, that [matters] remain in the same state. — III. He asks for a general synod within Italy.

Page

running head: 827 S. LEONIS MAGNI
marginal letters: A ‹Leo episcopus, et sancta Synodus›; B ‹set, ut nec imperitia›; C ‹convenerant, interfuisse cognovimus›; D printed beside the footnotes, at ‹sancta religione in eadem urbe› (note a)
old-edition numerals: 911 after ‹simplici,›; 913 after ‹supradicti›
signature: none
other: the synopsis continuation at the head of the page ("statu permanere … synodum petit.") is printed full width across the page; the word "eo-dem", hyphenated over the page break, is set whole in n826 with the synopsis's beginning. The facing right column (col 828) holds the ancient Greek version of this letter.

PL 54:828

Editors' notes and page, col. 828

Footnotes

(g) of col 827 is printed under col 828; set in n827. 1 ‹ἐκδίκησιν› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., ἴσως, τήν.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "perhaps, τήν".

2 ‹καὶ τῆς εἰρήνης,› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom.: ὥστε νομίζειν ἐν οὕτως ἁπλῷ καὶ ὠχυρωμένῳ πράγματι μηδὲν εἶναι δύνασθα⟨ι⟩ βλάβην ἐπίφερον, μάλιστα ἐπεὶ εἰς.

In the margin of the Roman edition: "so as to think that in a matter so simple and so fortified nothing could be bringing harm, especially since to".

3 ‹θεόθεν,› · printed under col 828 Ms. Ven., ἐμπνευσθεῖσαν ἣν καί.

The Venice manuscript, "ἐμπνευσθεῖσαν ἣν καί".

4 ‹ἡσύχασεν ἂν› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., ὥστε μήτε τὴν ἀπαιδευσίαν περαιτέρω παραφρονεῖν, μήτε τὸ ζηλότυπον ἐξευρίσκειν ἀφορμὴν βλάβης.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "so that neither should ignorance play the fool further, nor jealousy find an occasion of harm".

5 ‹ἐξεῦρεν.› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., νῦν δὲ ἐν προσχήματι εὐσβείας ἰδίων †πραγμάτων ἀνακινουμένων ἐπράχθη δι ἀσεβείας ὀλίγων.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "but now, while private matters are stirred up under the pretext of piety, there was done through the impiety of a few".

6 ‹ὅταν τὰ› · printed under col 828 Cod. Ven., τὰ ἰδικὰ πράγματα.

The Venice codex, "τὰ ἰδικὰ πράγματα".

7 ‹ὀλίγων› · printed under col 828 Ms. Ven. ἀσέβεια; atque ita in marg. etiam edit. Rom. annotatur: Cur vero sane non videmus.

The Venice manuscript, "ἀσέβεια"; and so it is noted also in the margin of the Roman edition. But why, we certainly do not see.

8 ‹ὅς τις› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., μόγις πεφ.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "μόγις πεφ[ευγε]" [barely escaped].

9 ‹πλείστους ἐπισκόπους·› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., ὧν δήπου ἡ πληθὺς συνήνεγκεν ἂν πρὸς συμβουλίαν καὶ κρίσιν, εἰ ἐκεῖνος.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "whose number would surely have been of benefit for deliberation and judgement, if he".

10 ‹ἠνέσχετο,› · printed under col 828 Cod. Ven., corruptissime, ἵνα, ὡς τὸ ἔθος ἔχει, πάντω ταῖς ἀποφάσεσιν ἐλευθερίως προσενεχθεισῶν, ἐκεῖνο.

The Venice codex, most corruptly, "ἵνα, ὡς τὸ ἔθος ἔχει, πάντω ταῖς ἀποφάσεσιν ἐλευθερίως προσενεχθεισῶν, ἐκεῖνο".

11 ‹πάντων› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., ἴσως, ἐλευθέρως.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "perhaps, ἐλευθέρως".

12 ‹οὐ› · printed under col 828 In marg. edit. Rom., οὐ πάντας τοὺς συνελθότας συνιέναι μεμαθήκαμεν· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἐκβληθέντας ἐμάθομεν, τοὺς δὲ συναχθέντας, οἵ τινες.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "we have learned that not all who had come together were present; for we learned that some were cast out, and others brought in, who".

Ancient version (Greek)

Τῷ φιλανθρωποτάτῳ καὶ γαληνοτάτῳ Θεοδοσίῳ Αὐγούστῳ, Λέων ἐπίσκοπος, καὶ ἡ ἁγία σύνοδος, ἡ ἐν τῇ Ῥωμαίων πόλει συναχθεῖσα. Τοῖς γράμμασι τῆς ὑμετέρας φιλανθρωπίας ἐντυχόντες, οἷς περ πρώην εἰς τὴν καθέδραν Πέτρου τοῦ μακαριωτάτου ἀποστόλου πόθῳ τῆς καθολικῆς πίστεως ἐξεπέμψατε, τοσαύτην παῤῥησίαν ἐλάβομεν εἰς ἐκδίκησιν τῆς δι' ὑμῶν ἀληθείας, καὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, ἵνα ἐν πράγματι οὕτως ἁπλουστέρῳ, καὶ ἀσφαλεῖ, μηδὲν ἡγησώμεθα δύνασθαι καινοτομεῖσθαι πρὸς βλάβην· μάλιστα ὅταν εἰς τὸ ἐπισκοπικὸν κριτήριον, ὅπερ ἐν τῇ Ἐφεσίων συναχθῆναι προσετάξατε, οὕτως ἀσφαλεῖς ἀπεστάλησαν, ὡς, εἰ τὰ γράμματα, ἃ πρὸς τὴν σύνοδον, ἢ καὶ πρὸς Φλαυιανὸν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον διεπεμψάμεθα, τῶν ἐπισκόπων ταῖς ἀκοαῖς δημοσιευθῆναι ὁ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας ἐπίσκοπος συνεχώρησεν, οὕτω τῇ φανερότητι τῆς καθαρᾶς πίστεως, ἥν τινα θεόθεν, ἐμπνευσθεῖσαν καὶ παρελάβομεν, καὶ φυλάττομεν, πᾶσα φιλονεικία, καὶ ταραχὴ ἡσύχασεν ἂν ἵνα μήτε ἡ ἀπαιδευσία περαιτέρω παρεφρόνησε, μήτε ἀφορμὴν βλάβης ἡ ἀφροσύνη ἐξεῦρεν. Ἀλλ' ὅταν τὰ ἴδια πράγματα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἀφορμῇ ἐγυμνάζετο, ἐτολμήθη δι' ὀλίγων ἀσεβείας, ὅπερ τὰς ἁπανταχοῦ Ἐκκλησίας ἐτραυμάτισε. Μεμαθήκαμεν γὰρ οὐχὶ ἀδήλῳ φήμῃ, ἀλλὰ βεβαίῳ διαγγέλματι διὰ Ἱλάρου τοῦ ἡμετέρου διακόνου, ὅς τις πέφευγε διὰ τὸ μὴ ἀναγκασθῆναι βιαίως ὑπογράψαι· καὶ ἐπείσθημεν μὲν ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ συνελθεῖν πλείστους ἐπισκόπους· οἳ δηλαδὴ τῇ χρησίμῳ συγγενεῖ προνοίᾳ ἐν τῷ κριτηρίῳ συμβαλέσθαι ἠδυνήθησαν, εἰ ἐκεῖνος, ὅς τις ἑαυτῷ τόπον ἄρχοντος ἐξεδίκησεν, ἐπισκοπικὴν ἐπιείκειαν φυλάξαι ἠνέσχετο, ἵνα, ὡς τὸ ἔθος ἔχει πάντων ἐλευθερίως προενεχθεισῶν τῶν ἀποφάσεων, ἐκεῖνο ἡσύχῳ καὶ δικαίᾳ ὁρισθῇ διαγνώσει, ὅπερ καὶ τῇ πίστει συνέτρεχε, καὶ τοῖς πλανωμένοις συνεβάλλετο· ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ τῇ κρίσει οὐ πάντας, οὓς συνελθεῖν συνιέναι μεμαθήκαμεν εἰσαχθέντας, οἵ τινες κατὰ γνώμην τοῦ προλεχθέντος

Page

running head: MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 828
marginal letters: A ‹Τῷ φιλανθρωποτάτῳ›; B ‹ρᾶς πίστεως›; C ‹προενεχθεισῶν›; D printed beside the footnotes (at note 6 / note (a) of col 827)
old-edition numerals: 912 after ‹καὶ› (before ἀσφαλεῖ); 914 after ‹γνώμην›
signature: none
other: this column holds only the ancient Greek version of Letter XLIV (layer 1 is in col 827). The synopsis line at the head of the page runs full width from col 827 (set in n827). Note 2 ends "δύνασθα" at the line end; the final letter is not visible. In note 5 the word read as πραγμάτων is uncertain in the worn small type (daggered); "εὐσβείας" is printed so.

PL 54:829

prolatam esse sententiam, ut dum homo unus impetitur, in omnem Ecclesiam saeviretur. Quod nostri ab apostolica sede directi adeo impium et catholicae fidei contrarium esse viderunt, ut ad consentiendum nulla potuerint oppressione compelli; constanterque in eadem synodo, ut decuit, fuerint potestati, nequaquam id quod constituebatur sedem apostolicam recepturam: quoniam revera omne Christianae fidei sacramentum, quod absit a temporibus vestrae pietatis, exscinditur, nisi hoc scelestissimum facinus, quod cuncta sacrilegia excedit, aboleatur.

[…] was the sentence pronounced, that while one man is attacked, savagery was done against the whole Church. Our [envoys], sent from the apostolic see, saw this to be so impious and so contrary to the catholic faith that they could be compelled by no oppression to consent; and in the same synod they steadfastly declared, as was fitting, that the apostolic see would by no means receive what was being decreed: since in truth the whole mystery of the Christian faith (may this be far from the times of your Piety) is cut away, unless this most wicked crime, which exceeds all sacrileges, is abolished.

Cap. II. — Quia vero diabolica nequitia subtiliter fallit incautos, et ita quorumdam imprudentiae per similitudinem pietatis illudit, ut pro salubribus persuadeat nocitura, removete, quaesumus, a vestrae pietatis conscientia periculum religionis et fidei, quodque in saecularibus negotiis legum vestrarum aequitate conceditur, in rerum divinarum pertractatione praestate: ut Christi Evangelio vim non infera⟨t⟩ humana praesumptio. Ecce ego, Christianissime et venerabilis imperator, cum consacerdotibus meis implens erga reverentiam clementiae vestrae sinceri amoris officium, cupiensque vos placere per omnia Deo, cui pro vobis ab Ecclesia supplicatur, ne ante tribunal Christi 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. Ne alieno peccato patiamini vos gravari: quia quod necesse est nos dicere, veremur, ne cujus religio dissipatur, indignatio provocetur. Prae oculis habete, et tota mentis acie reverenter aspicite beati Petri gloriam, ut communes cum ipso omnium apostolorum coronas, cunctorumque martyrum palmas, quibus alia non fuit causa patiendi, nisi confessio verae divinitatis verae humanitatis in Christo.

Chap. II. — But since diabolical wickedness subtly deceives the unwary, and so mocks the imprudence of certain men by a likeness of piety that it persuades them to take harmful things for wholesome, remove, we beseech you, from the conscience of your Piety the danger to religion and faith, and what is granted in secular affairs by the equity of your laws, grant in the handling of divine matters: that human presumption may not do violence to the Gospel of Christ. Behold, most Christian and venerable emperor, I with my fellow bishops, fulfilling towards the reverence of your Clemency the duty of sincere love, and desiring that you may please God in all things, to Whom supplication is made by the Church for you, lest we be judged guilty of silence before the tribunal of Christ the Lord, we implore you before the inseparable Trinity of the one Godhead, which is injured by such a deed, since It is the guardian and author of your empire, and before the holy angels of Christ, that you order all things to be in the state in which they were before any judgement, until a greater number of bishops from the whole world is gathered. Do not allow yourselves to be weighed down by another's sin: for we fear, what we must needs say, lest the indignation of Him whose religion is being torn apart be provoked. Keep before your eyes, and with the whole keenness of the mind look reverently upon, the glory of blessed Peter, as also the crowns of all the apostles shared with him, and the palms of all the martyrs, who had no other cause for suffering than the confession of the true Godhead [and] the true manhood in Christ.

Cap. III. — Cui sacramento quia impie nunc a paucis imprudentibus obviatur, omnes partium nostrarum Ecclesiae, omnes mansuetudini vestrae cum gemitibus et lacrymis supplicant sacerdotes, ut quia et nostri fideliter reclamarunt, et eisdem libellum appellationis Flavianus episcopus dedit, generalem synodum jubeatis intra Italiam celebrari, quae omnes offensiones ita aut repellat aut mitiget, ne aliquid ultra sit

Chap. III. — Since this mystery is now impiously opposed by a few imprudent men, all the Churches of our regions, all the bishops, entreat your Gentleness with groans and tears that, since our [envoys] faithfully protested, and Bishop Flavian gave them a petition of appeal, you order a general synod to be held within Italy, which may either so repel or so soothe all offences that there may no longer be anything […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 829

Footnotes

(a) ‹in omnem Ecclesiam› · printed under col 829

Vulg. Leonis ante Quesn. cum mss. collect. 21, saevire videtur.

The printed editions of Leo before Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 21, "saevire videtur" [seems to rage].

(b) ‹temporibus vestrae pietatis,› · printed under col 829

Edit. Concil. cum iisdem mss., excluditur. Post pauca quidam codices, aboletur.

The edition of the Councils, with the same manuscripts, "excluditur" [is shut out]. A little after, certain manuscripts, "aboletur".

Ratisp., sinceritatis officium.

The Regensburg [edition], "sinceritatis officium" [the duty of sincerity].

(d) ‹ne ante tribunal› · printed under col 829

Codd. Veron. 57, utrisque Vindebon. et Ratisp. delent Christi.

The Verona manuscript 57, both Vienna manuscripts and the Regensburg delete "Christi".

(e) ‹sit custos et› · printed under col 829

Vulg. Leonis anteriores Quesnello cum mss. collect. 24, auctrix; et postea, in eo statu manere jubeatis.

The printed editions of Leo earlier than Quesnel, with the manuscripts of collection 24, "auctrix"; and afterwards, "in eo statu manere jubeatis" [order to remain in that state].

(f) ‹nos dicere, veremur,› · printed under col 829

Mss. Vat. Hisp., Isid. et Vat. collect. 11, ne si haec religio dissipetur, in vos indignatio provocetur.

The Vatican manuscripts of the Spanish and Isidorian [collections] and the Vatican manuscript of collection 11, "lest, if this religion be torn apart, indignation be provoked against you".

Notes 1 and 2 of the Greek version, printed under col 829, belong to calls in col 830; set in n830.

Footnotes

1 ‹γενέσθαι τὴν› · printed under col 829 In marg. edit. Rom., ἴσως, ἀπόφασιν.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "perhaps, ἀπόφασιν" [sentence].

2 ‹ἀποσταλέντες,› · printed under cols 829–830 In marg. edit. Rom., τοσοῦτον εἶδον ἀσεβές καὶ τῇ καθολικῇ πίστει ἐναντίον, ὥστε μηδεμία δυνηθῆναι πρὸς τὸ συγκαταθέσθαι κακουχία προσβιασθῆναι.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "they saw it to be so impious and contrary to the catholic faith that they could be forced by no ill-treatment to consent".

3 ‹ἀσέβειαν› · printed under col 830 Ms. Ven. et in marg. edit. Rom.. ὑποβάλλει.

The Venice manuscript and in the margin of the Roman edition, "ὑποβάλλει".

4 ‹ἵνα› · printed under col 830 Ms. Ven. et edit. Rom. ad marg., ὑπὲρ.

The Venice manuscript and the Roman edition in the margin, "ὑπὲρ".

5 ‹βίαν μὴ› · printed under col 830 Επενέγκη emendavimus cum mss. Vat. Graec. 1455 et Ottob. 29, pro eo quod erat in vulgatis ἐπενέγκεται.

We have corrected to "ἐπενέγκῃ" with the manuscripts Vatican Greek 1455 and Ottoboni 29, in place of what stood in the printed editions, "ἐπενέγκεται".

6 ‹μετὰ› · printed under col 830 In marg. edit. Rom., τῶν αυλλειτουργῶν μου L.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "τῶν συλλειτουργῶν μου" [my fellow ministers] L.

7 ‹καθαρῷ πόθῳ› · printed under col 830 Ita in ms. Ven. In vulgatis errore operarum, ποισύμαι.

So in the Venice manuscript. In the printed editions, by a printers' error, "ποισύμαι".

8 ‹τριάδος,› · printed under col 830 In marg. edit. Rom., ἥτις τῷ νῦν γεγονότι ἀτιμοῦται, φὺλαξ.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "which is dishonoured by what has now been done, the guardian".

9 ‹πάσης κρίσεως,› · printed under col 830 (its number printed "0") M. Ven., ὡς ἂν παντός. In marg. itidem edit. Rom., ὡς ἄν.

The Venice manuscript, "ὡς ἂν παντός". Likewise in the margin of the Roman edition, "ὡς ἄν".

10 ‹εὐλαβῶς› · printed under col 830 In marg. edit. Rom., θεάσασθε.

In the margin of the Roman edition, "θεάσασθε" [behold].

Ancient version (Greek)

ἐπισκόπου ταῖς ἀσεβέσιν ὑπογραφαῖς αἰχμαλώτους τὰς χεῖρας ἐπέδωκαν. Ἤδεισαν γὰρ βλαβερὸν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτῶν ἀξιώμασιν εἶναι, εἰ μὴ τὰ κελευσθέντα πεποιήκασι. Τοιαύτην δὲ παρ' αὐτοῦ γενέσθαι τὴν πρόφασιν, ἵν' ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἀδίκως ἐναγομένου, κατὰ πάσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας χαλεπαίνῃ. Ὅπερ οἱ ἡμέτεροι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀποστολικῆς καθέδρας ἀποσταλέντες, τοσοῦτον ἀσεβὲς ἰδόντες ἐπὶ τῇ συγκαταθέσει, μηδεμιᾷ κατανοήσει δυνηθῆναι συγκατατεθέσθαι· ὥστε μετὰ παῤῥησίας ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ συνόδῳ διεμαρτύραντο, οὐδαμῶς τοῦτο τὸ παρ' αὐτῶν δογματισθὲν, δύνασθαι πάμπαν δέξασθαι τὴν ἀποστολικὴν καθέδραν· ὅτι ὡς ἀληθῶς πάσης τῆς καθολικῆς πίστεως τὸ μυστήριον, ὅπερ ἀπείη ἀπὸ τῶν καιρῶν τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐσεβείας, σχίζεται, εἰ μὴ αὐτὴ ἡ χαλεπωτάτη πρᾶξις, ἥτις πᾶσαν ἀσέβειαν ὑπερβάλλει, ἐξαλειφθείη. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ἡ διαβολικὴ κακουργία, λεπτομερῶς ἀπατῶσα τοὺς ἀφελεστέρους, τῷ τρόπῳ τούτῳ τὴν ἀπαιδευσίαν ἐπὶ ὁμοιώματι τῆς εὐσεβείας ἀπατᾶν ἐπεχείρησεν, ἵνα ἀντὶ τῶν ὑγιαινόντων τὰ βλαβερὰ συμβουλεύσῃ ἀποκινήσατε, παρακαλοῦμεν, ἀπὸ τῆς συνειδήσεως τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐσεβείας τὸν κίνδυνον τῆς θρησκείας, καὶ τῆς πίστεως· καὶ ὅπερ ἐπὶ τοῖς κοσμικοῖς πράγμασι τῇ ἰσότητι τῶν ὑμετέρων νόμων συγχωρεῖται, καὶ ἐν τοῖς θείοις δόγμασι σκεψάμενοι παράσχετε. Ἵνα τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ βίαν μὴ ἐπενέγκῃ ἡ ἀνθρωπίνη προπέτεια. Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἐγὼ, Χριστιανὲ καὶ αἰδέσιμε βασιλεῦ, μετὰ τοῦ συλλειτουργοῦ μου πληρῶν τὰ περὶ τὴν αἰδῶ τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐσεβείας, καθαρῷ πόθῳ ποιοῦμαι τὴν διακονίαν, ἐπιθυμῶν ὑμᾶς ἐν πᾶσιν ἀρέσαι Θεῷ· πρὸς ὃν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αἱ ἐκκλησίαι καταδέονται, μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος τοῦ Κυρίου αἴτιοι τῆς σιωπῆς κριθῶμεν· παρακαλοῦμεν ἐνώπιον τῆς μιᾶς θεότητος τῆς ἀδιαιρέτου τριάδος, ἥτις φύλαξ οὖσα ὑμετέρα, καὶ αὐθέντρια τῆς βασιλείας, καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ Θεοῦ, πάντα ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ καταστάσει εἶναι κελεύσατε, ἐν ᾗ γεγόνασι πρὸ πάσης κρίσεως, ἕως ἂν ἐκ παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου μείζων ἀριθμὸς συναχθείη τῶν ἐπισκόπων· μήτε μὴν ἀλλοτρίᾳ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀνέχεσθε ἑαυτοὺς βαρυνθῆναι· ἐπειδὴ, ὅπερ ἀναγκαῖον ἡμῖν ἐστιν εἰπεῖν, δεδοίκαμεν, μὴ ἀπ' ἐκείνου, οὗ ἡ θρησκεία βλάπτεται, ἀγανάκτησις παρακολουθήσῃ. Πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν ἔχετε, καὶ τῇ τῆς καρδίας ὀξύτητι εὐλαβῶς προσέχετε τοῦ μακαρίου Πέτρου τὴν δόξαν, καὶ τοὺς κοινοὺς στεφάνους πάντων τῶν μετ' αὐτοῦ ἀποστόλων, πάντων τε τῶν μαρτύρων τὰ νικητήρια· οἷς οὐ γέγονεν ἄλλη ἀφορμὴ τοῦ πάθους, εἰ μὴ ἡ ὁμολογία τῆς ἀληθινῆς θεότητος, καὶ τῆς ἀληθινῆς ἐνανθρωπήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὧ τινι μυστηρίῳ ἐπειδὴ νῦν ἀσεβῶς ἀπὸ ὀλίγων