Letters 67
67 To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles PL 54, 886
To his dearly-beloved brother Ravennius, Leo the pope.
We have kept our sons Petronius the presbyter, and Regulus the deacon, long in the City, both because they deserved this from their favour in our eyes, and because the needs of the Faith, which is now being assailed by the error of some, demanded it. For we wished them to be present when we discussed the matter, and to ascertain everything which we desire through you, beloved, should reach the knowledge of all our brethren and fellow-bishops, specially deputing this to you, dear brother, that through your watchful diligence our letter, which we have issued to the East in defence of the Faith, or else that of Cyril of blessed memory, which agrees throughout with our views, may become known to all the brethren; in order that being furnished with arguments they may fortify themselves with spiritual strength against those who think fit to insult the Lord’s Incarnation with their misbeliefs. You have a favourable opportunity, beloved brother, of recommending the commencement of your episcopacy to all the churches and to our God, if you will carry out these things in the way we have charged and enjoined you. But the matters which were not to be committed to paper, in reliance on God’s aid, you shall carry out effectually, as we have said, and laudably, when you have learnt about them from the mouths of our aforesaid sons. God keep you safe, dearest brother. Dated 5th of May, in the consulship of the most glorious Valentinianus (for the 7th time) and of the famous Avienus (450).
Mittit Ravennio celebrem suam ad Flavianum epistolam de incarnatione Verbi Dei adversus Eutychen, ut pro defensione fidei, per eum haec, vel Cyrilli Alexandrini epistola cunctis Galliae episcopis fideliter innotescat. Secreta etiam mandata legatis commissa indicat.
Dilectissimo fratri RAVENNIO, LEO papa.
Diu filios nostros Petronium presbyterum et Regulum diaconum in Urbe tenuimus: quoniam et de nostra hoc gratia merebantur, et fidei quae nunc quorumdam errore incessitur, ratio postulabat. Voluimus enim eos nostro interesse tractatui, et universa cognoscere quae per te cupimus ad omnium fratrum et consacerdotum nostrorum notitiam pervenire, charissime; hoc dilectioni tuae specialiter delegantes, ut sollicitudine vigilantiae tuae epistola 1001 nostra, quam ad Orientem pro fidei defensione direximus,) vel sanctae memoriae Cyrilli, quae nostris sensibus tota concordat, universis fratribus innotescat: ut certiores effecti contra eos qui incarnationem Domini pravis persuasionibus aestimant temerandam, spirituali se virtute praemuniant. Habes probabilem facultatem, qua cunctis Ecclesiis et Deo nostro episcopatus tui possis commendare primordia, si haec ita, ut credimus atque mandavimus, impleveris, frater charissime. Quae autem committenda litteris non fuerunt, cum praedictorum filiorum nostrorum insinuatione didiceris, Domini fretus auxilio efficaciter, 1002 ut diximus, ac laudabiliter exsequeris. Deus te incolumem custodiat, frater charissime. Data III non. Maii, gloriosissimo Valentiniano Aug. VII et Avieno v. c. conss.