LEO OF ACRIDA. - Byzantine bishop, supporter of the Eastern Schism. Under the influence of the Greek patriarch Michael Cerularius (v.), L. sent a letter in 1053 to Bishop John of Trani (in Apulia). This document was drawn up while negotiations were still taking place between the Byzantine court and Pope Leo IX for a joint expedition against the Normans, who were then invading southern Italy, still Byzantine, and for the acceptance of the preliminary condition laid down by the Holy See, namely the unity of the Byzantine Church with the Roman Church.

The understanding was hindered by the Byzantine patriarch; although he wrote a peaceful letter to the Pope under the influence of his Emperor, he cunningly induced L. to write an anti-Latin letter. In this, four accusations were made against the Roman Church: 1) the use of unleavened bread; 2) fasting on Saturday; 3) the eating of strangled animals; 4) the omission of the Alleluia during Lent (Latin translation by Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida: PL 143, 744-69). The version was delivered to Pope Leo IX, who had it rejected by the said cardinal.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: Leo Achridensis, Epistola ad Ioannem episcopum Tranensem; PG 120, 835-44; A. Michel, Der Autor des Briefes Leos von Achrida, in Byzantinisch-neugriechische Jahrbücher, 3 (1922), pp. 49-59; id., Humbert und Kerullarios, I-II, Paderborn 1922-30, passim.

Giorgio Hofmann

@incollection{ec7_leone_di_acrida, author = {Hofmann, Giorgio}, title = {Leone di Acrida}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VII}, pages = {1134--1135}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/leone-di-acrida} }

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Leo of Acrida

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