LEONZIO of BISANZIO. — An anti-Monophysite theologian of the sixth century. Almost nothing is known about his life. He is not the same as the Scythian monk Leonzio known from the Theopaschite controversy; most probably, however, he is the same as the original Leonzio, who is mentioned, as a Palestinian hermit, in the Life of St. Saba by Cirillo of Scitopoli (v. Richard, Léonce de Bysance était-il origéniste?, in Revue des études byzantines, 5 [1947], p. 31 ff). An able and learned polemicist, Aristotelian in logic and Neoplatonic in psychology, he seeks to develop the theology of Cirillo of Alessandria using the terminology of Chalcedon.
His principal work is the Libri III adversus Nestorianos et Eutychianos (written around 543–544: PG 86, 1, 1267–1396). Book I demonstrates the falsity of the premises underlying the theology both of Eutyches and of Nestorius. Book II presents a dispute between an orthodox Christian and an Aphthartodocetist. Book III polemicizes against Teodoro of Mopsuestia (v. R. Devreesse, Essai sur Théodore de Mopsuesse [Studi e testi, 141], Città del Vaticano 1948, p. 244 ff). In addition, L. wrote two short treatises against Severo of Antiochia: Solutio argumentorum Severi (PG 68, 2, 1915–45) and Trigista capita adversus Nestorium (ibid. 1901–16; on these two writings V. A. Casamassa, I tre libri di L. Bizantino contro i nestoriani e i monofisiti, in Bessarione, 37 [1921], pp. 33–46). L. is not the author of the work De sectis (PG 86, 1, 1193–1268), probably written by Teodoro of Raithu; nor do the two works Adversus Nestorianos (ibid., 1399–1768) and Contra Monophysitas (ibid. 2, 1769–1901) come from L. of Bisanzio, but from a Leonzio of Gerusalemme who took part in the Synod of Constantinople (536). The short work Adversus fraudes Apollinaristorum, however, may with some probability be attributed to L. of Bisanzio. L. became famous in theology because he introduced the concept of enhypostasia into Christology.
With true joy I hasten to inform you that on Friday,
at about 19:00, Adelaide Antici, my wife,
was happily delivered of a boy after nine months of mar-
riage. My rejoicing has been all the greater because
it was preceded by forty hours of suffering from the long la-
bour pains endured by the mother. At the Sacred Font I gave
the newborn child the name Giacomo. I hope that you will
take part in my happiness no less than you will honor me
by appearing with your honored greetings, ever with true esteem
and affection.
Your devoted and related friend
Recanati, 2 July 1798.
Your devoted servant and relative
![Handwritten signature of Maria Leopardi Giacomo]()
(phot. Gab. fot. no.)
LEOPARDI, GIACOMO – Birth announcement of G. L., signed by Count Monaldo – Ravenna, Archivio Cavalli.
de Bysance, in Mélanges de science relig., Lille 1944, p. 35 ff.; B. Altaner, Der griechische Theologe Leontius und Leontius der rhythmischen Mönch, in Theol. Quartalschrift, 128 (1947), pp. 147–65; On the life of L. di Bisanzio, V. anche: J. Rees, The De sectis. A treatise attributed to Leontius of Byzantium, in Journ. theol. stud., 41 (1940), p. 263 ff. On the falsifications of the Apollinarians, V. I. de Ghellinck, Patritique et moyen âge, II, Brussels 1947, p. 351. Erik Peterson