Letter 105: (To Pulcheria Augusta about the self-seeking of Anatolius.) I. He congratulates the Empress on the triumph of the Faith, but regrets the introduction of a new controversy into the Church. Leo the bishop to Pulcheria Augusta.

Leo, Bishop of Rome, to Pulcheria Augusta. I. He congratulates the Empress on the triumph of the faith but deplores a new controversy We rejoice beyond words with your Grace that the Catholic faith has been defended against heretics and peace restored to the whole Church through your clemency's holy and God-pleasing zeal. We give thanks to the merciful and almighty God, who has allowed none but those who "loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:19) to be robbed of the Gospel truth, so that by the removal of the mists of error the purest light might dawn in the hearts of all. That enemy who loves darkness has not triumphed over the weak, because not only those who stood firm but even those who had been made to waver have now overcome him, and by the abolition of error the true faith reigns throughout the world, and "every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11). But when the whole world had been brought into the unity of the Gospel and the hearts of all the bishops had been guided into one belief, it would have been better if, beyond the matters for which the holy synod was assembled and which were brought to a satisfactory resolution through your Grace's zeal, nothing had been introduced to disturb so great an achievement. A council of bishops should not have been made the occasion for an improper attempt to advance an illegitimate ambition. II. The Nicene canons are unalterable and universally binding For our brother and fellow bishop Anatolius, not sufficiently mindful of your Grace's generosity and the favor of our assent by which he obtained the bishopric of Constantinople, has been inflamed by ambitions that exceed the bounds of his rank rather than rejoicing in what he has gained. He believes that his overreaching self-promotion can be advanced by asserting that certain bishops indicated their agreement -- an agreement that is invalid on its face, since it was obtained without the authority of the Apostolic See and in violation of the canons established at Nicaea. The regulations of the holy Council of Nicaea, established by the authority of the Holy Spirit, cannot be nullified by any individual's ambition or any subsequent assembly's resolution. They are binding on the whole Church, and no bishop -- however exalted his city or however powerful his patrons -- may lawfully alter what was decreed for the universal Church at that holy council. We therefore ask your piety to use your influence to ensure that Anatolius abandons this self-seeking and is content with the honor he has, which is considerable enough. The privileges of the ancient sees -- Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch -- must not be diminished. The peace of the Church, so dearly won, must not be fractured by a new dispute over precedence. Dated from Rome.

(To Pulcheria Augusta about the self-seeking of Anatolius.) I. He congratulates the Empress on the triumph of the Faith, but regrets the introduction of a new controversy into the Church. Leo the bishop to Pulcheria Augusta. We rejoice ineffably with your Grace that the Catholic Faith has been defended against heretics and peace restored to the whole Church through your clemency's holy and God-pleasing zeal: giving thanks to the Merciful and Almighty God that He has suffered none save those who loved darkness rather than light to be defrauded of the gospel-truth: so that by the removal of the mists of error the purest light might arise in the hearts of all, and that darkness-loving foe might not triumph over certain weak souls, whom not only those who stood unhurt but also those whom he had made to totter have overcome, and that by the abolition of error the true Faith might reign throughout the world, and every tongue might confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father Philippians 1:11 . But when the whole world had been confirmed in the unity of the Gospel, and the hearts of all priests had been guided into the same belief, it had been better that besides those matters for which the holy Synod was assembled, and which were brought to a satisfactory agreement through your Grace's zeal, nothing should be introduced to counteract so great an advantage, and that a council of bishops should not be made an occasion for the inopportune advancing of an illegitimate desire. II. The Nicene canons are unalterable and binding universally. For my brother and fellow bishop Anatolius not sufficiently considering your Grace's kindness and the favour of my assent, whereby he gained the priesthood of the church of Constantinople, instead of rejoicing at what he has gained, has been inflamed with undue desires beyond the measure of his rank, believing that his intemperate self-seeking could be advanced by the assertion that certain persons had signified their assent thereto by an extorted signature: notwithstanding that my brethren and fellow bishops, who represented me, faithfully and laudably expressed their dissent from these attempts which are doomed to speedy failure. For no one may venture upon anything in opposition to the enactments of the Father.' canons which many long years ago in the city of Nicæa were founded upon the decrees of the Spirit, so that any one who wishes to pass any different decree injures himself rather than impairs them. And if all pontiffs will but keep them inviolate as they should, there will be perfect peace and complete harmony through all the churches: there will be no disagreements about rank, no disputes about ordinations, no controversies about privileges, no strifes about taking that which is another's; but by the fair law of love a reasonable order will be kept both in conduct and in office, and he will be truly great who is found free from all self-seeking, as the Lord says, Whosoever will become greater among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever will be first among you shall be your slave; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister Matthew 20:26-28 . And yet these precepts were at the time given to men who wished to rise from a mean estate and to pass from the lowest to the highest things; but what more does the ruler of the church of Constantinople covet than he has gained? Or what will satisfy him, if the magnificence and renown of so great a city is not enough? It is too arrogant and intemperate thus to step beyond all proper bounds and trampling on ancient custom to wish to seize another's right: to increase one man's dignity at the expense of so many metropolitans' primacy, and to carry a new war of confusion into peaceful provinces which were long ago set at rest by the enactments of the holy Nicene Synod: to break through the venerable Father.' decrees by alleging the consent of certain bishops, which even the course of so many years has not rendered effective. For it is boasted that this has been winked at for almost 60 years now, and the said bishop thinks that he is assisted thereby; but it is vain for him to look for assistance from that which, even if a man dared to wish for it, yet he could never obtain. III. Only by imitating his predecessor will he regain Leo's confidence: the assent of the bishops is declared null and void. Let him realize what a man he has succeeded, and expelling all the spirit of pride let him imitate Flavian's faith, Flavian's modesty, Flavian's humility, which has raised him right to a confessor's glory. If he will shine with his virtues, he will merit all praise, and in all quarters he will win an abundance of love not by seeking human advancement but by deserving Divine favour. And by this careful course I promise he will bind my heart also to him, and the love of the Apostolic See, which we have ever bestowed on the church of Constantinople, shall never be violated by any change. Because if sometimes rulers fall into errors through want of moderation, yet the churches of Christ do not lose their purity. But the bishops' assents, which are opposed to the regulations of the holy canons composed at Nicæa in conjunction with your faithful Grace, we do not recognize, and by the blessed Apostle Peter's authority we absolutely dis-annul in comprehensive terms, in all ecclesiastical cases obeying those laws which the Holy Ghost set forth by the 318 bishops for the pacific observance of all priests in such sort that even if a much greater number were to pass a different decree to theirs, whatever was opposed to their constitution would have to be held in no respect. IV. He requests the Empress to give his letter her favourable consideration. And so I request your Grace to receive in a worthy spirit this lengthy letter, in which I had to explain my views, at the hands of my brother and fellow bishop Lucianus, who, as far as in him lies, has faithfully executed the anxious duties of his undertaking as my delegate, and of my son Basil, the deacon. And because it is your habit to labour for the peace and unity of the Church, for his soul's health keep my brother Anatolius the bishop, to whom I have extended my love by your advice, within those limits which shall be profitable to him, that as your clemency's glory is magnified already for the restoration of the Faith, so it may be published abroad for the restraint of self-seeking. Dated the 22nd of May, in the consulship of the illustrious Herculanus (452). About this page Source. Translated by Charles Lett Feltoe. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3604105.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.