Letters 85
85 To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople PL 54, 922
Leo, the bishop, to the bishop Anatolius.
I. Anatolius with Leo’s delegates is to settle the question of the receiving back of those who had temporarily gone astray after Eutyches.
Although I hope, beloved, you are devoted to every good work, yet that your activity may be rendered the more effective, it was needful and fitting to despatch my brothers Lucentius the bishop and Basil the presbyter, as we promised, to ally themselves with you, beloved, that nothing may be done either indecisively or lazily in matters, which concern the welfare of the universal Church; for as long as you are on the spot, to whom we have entrusted the carrying out of our will, all things can be conducted with such moderation that the claims of neither kindness nor justice may be neglected, but without the accepting of persons, the Divine judgment may be considered in everything. But that this may be properly observed and guarded, the integrity of the catholic Faith must first of all be preserved, and, because in all cases “narrow” and steep “is the way that leadeth unto life,” there must be no deviation from its track, either to the right hand or to the left. And because the evangelical and Apostolic Faith has to combat all errors, on the one side casting down Nestorius, on the other crushing Eutyches and his accomplices, remember the need of observing this rule, that all those who in that synod, which cannot, and does not deserve to have the name of Synod, and in which Dioscorus displayed his bad feeling, and Juvenal his ignorance, grieve as we learn from your account, beloved, that they were conquered by fear, and being overcome with terror, were able to be forced to assent to that iniquitous judgment, and who now desire to obtain catholic communion, are to receive the peace of the brethren after due assurance of repentance, on condition that in no doubtful terms they anathematize, execrate and condemn Eutyches and his dogma and his adherents.
II. The case of the more serious offenders must be reserved for the present.
But concerning those who have sinned more gravely in this matter, and claimed for themselves a higher place in the same unhappy synod, in order to irritate the simple minds of their lowlier brethren by their pernicious arrogance, if they return to their right mind, and ceasing to defend their action, turn themselves to the condemnation of their particular error, if these men give such assurance of penitence as shall seem indisputable, let their case be reserved for the maturer deliberations of the Apostolic See, that when all things have been sifted and weighed, the right conclusion may be arrived at about their real actions. And in the Church over which the Lord has willed you to rule, let none such as we have already written have their names read at the altar until the course of events shows what ought to be determined concerning them.
III. Anatolius is requested to co-operate loyally with Leo’s delegates.
But concerning the address presented to us by your clergy, beloved, there is no need to put my sentiments into a letter: it is sufficient to entrust all to my delegates, whose words shall carefully instruct you on every point. And so, dearest brother, do you endeavour with these brethren whom we have chosen as suitable agents in so great a matter faithfully and effectually to carry out what is agreeable to the Church of God: especially as the very nature of the case, and the promise of Divine aid incite you, and our most gracious princes show such holy faith, such religious devotion, that we find in them not only the general sympathy of Christians, but even that of the priesthood. Who assuredly in accordance with that piety, whereby they boast themselves to be servants of God, will receive all your suggestions for the benefit of the catholic Faith in a worthy spirit, so that by their aid also the peace of Christendom can be restored and wicked error destroyed. And if on any points more advice is needed, let word be quickly sent to us, that after investigating the nature of the case, we may carefully prescribe the rightful measures. Dated 9th of June in the consulship of the illustrious Adelfius (451).
Ut qui haereticorum erroribus metu, non voluntate implicati sunt, per satisfactionem et non dubiam professionem suscipiantur. --II. Principes haereticorum sibi reservat discutiendos; eorum nomina ad altare interim recitari vetat. --III. De commonitorio ei respondet; ad sollicitudinem hortatur; cuncta sibi referri postulat.
LEO episcopus ANATOLIO episcopo.
Licet sperem dilectionem tuam ad omne opus bonum esse devotam, ut tamen efficacior tua fieri possit industria, necessarium et congruum fuit fratres meos Lucentium episcopum, et Basilium presbyterum, ut promisimus, destinare; quibus tua dilectio societur, ut nihil in his quae ad universalis Ecclesiae statum pertinent, aut dubie agatur aut segniter cum, residentibus vobis, quibus exsecutionem nostrae dispositionis injunximus, ea possint agi cuncta moderatione, ut nec benevolentiae partes nec justitiae negligantur, sed absque personarum acceptione divinum in omnibus 1051 judicium cogitetur. Quod ut recta observantia valeat custodiri, catholicae primitus fidei servetur integritas; et quia per omnia angusta et ardua via est, quae ducit ad vitam ; neque in sinistram neque ad dexteram ab ejus tramite devietur. Et quia evangelica et apostolica fides omnes expugnat errores, et ab uno latere Nestorium dejicit, ab alio Eutychen et participes ejus elidit hanc regulam mementote servandam, ut quicumque in illa synodo, quae nomen synodi nec habere poterit nec meretur, et in qua malevolentiam suam Dioscorus, imperitiam autem Juvenalis ostendit, dolent, ut dilectionis tuae relatione comperimus, se metu victos et terrore superatos ad consensum scelestissimi judicii potuisse compelli, et communionem catholicam obtinere desiderant, satisfactioni eorum pax fraterna praestetur; ita ut non dubiis professionibus Eutychen cum suo dogmate, cumque consortibus suis anathematis exsecratione condemnent.
De his autem qui in hac causa gravius peccavere, et ob hoc superiorem sibi locum in eadem infelici synodo vindicarunt, ut humiliorum fratrum simplicitatem arrogantiae suae praejudiciis aggravarent, si forte resipiscunt, et a facti sui defensione cessantes, in condemnationem proprii convertuntur erroris; horum si satisfactio talis accedit quae non refutanda videatur, maturioribus apostolicae sedis consiliis reservetur, ut examinatis omnibus atque prepensis, de ipsis eorum actionibus quid constitui debeat aestimetur. Neque prius in Ecclesia, cui te Dominus voluit praesidere, cujusquam talium, ut ante jam scripsimus, nomen ad altare recitetur, quam quid de eis constitui debeat rerum processus ostendat.
De commonitorio vero, a clericis dilectionis tuae nobis oblato, necessarium non fuit epistolis quid videretur inserere cum sufficeret legatis cuncta committi, quorum sermone ex omnibus diligentius instrueris. Annitere itaque, frater charissime, ut quae Ecclesiae Dei congruunt, fideliter et efficaciter 1052 cum his fratribus, quos tantae rei idoneos auctores elegimus, exsequaris; praesertim cum ipsa vos causae ratio, spesque divini auxilii cohortentur, et clementissimorum principum tam sancta sit fides, tam religiosa devotio, ut in eis non solum Christianum, sed etiam sacerdotalem experiamur affectum. Qui utique pro ea pietate qua se esse Dei famulos gloriantur, omnes suggestiones vestras fidei catholicae profuturas, dignanter accipient, ut ipsorum quoque opere et pax Christiana reparari, et error impius possit aboleri. Ac si de aliquibus amplius fuerit deliberandum, celeriter ad nos relatio dirigatur: ut pertractata qualitate causarum, nostra, quid observari debeat, sollicitudo constituat. Data V idus Junii, Adelfio viro clarissimo consule.