Letter 23: Seeing that our most Christian and merciful Emperor, in his holy and praiseworthy faith and anxiety for the peace of the Catholic Church, has sent us a letter upon the matters which have roused the din of disturbance among you, we wonder, brother, that you have been able to keep silence to us upon the scandal that has been caused, and that you ...

To his beloved brother Flavian, the bishop of Constantinople — Leo the bishop. I. He complains that Flavian has not sent him a full account of the Eutyches case. Since our most Christian and merciful Emperor [Theodosius II], in his holy and commendable faith and concern for the peace of the Catholic Church, has sent us a letter about the matters that have caused such an uproar among you, we are surprised, brother, that you have been able to keep silent toward us about the scandal that has arisen. You should rather have taken steps to inform us immediately through your own report, so that we would not have any doubt about the truth of the case. For we have received a document from the presbyter Eutyches [a monk in Constantinople who denied Christ's full human nature], who complains that on the accusation of Bishop Eusebius [of Dorylaeum] he has been wrongfully deprived of communion — despite claiming that he responded to your summons and did not refuse to appear. He further asserts that he filed a formal appeal in the very court, which was not accepted, after which he was compelled to post public letters of defense in the city of Constantinople. With this matter still pending, we do not yet know on what basis he was separated from the communion of the Church. But given the importance of the matter, we wish to know the reason for your action and to have the whole situation brought to our attention. For we, who want the judgments of the Lord's bishops to be careful and deliberate, cannot decide one way or another without full information, until we have all the proceedings accurately before us. II. And now demands it. Therefore, brother, send us a complete account through the most qualified and competent person available, explaining what new teaching has arisen against the ancient faith that required so severe a sentence. For both the moderation of the Church and the devout faith of our most godly Emperor require us to show great concern for the peace of Christendom — so that disagreements may be resolved, the Catholic Faith kept intact, and those whose faith has been proven may be strengthened by our authority, once those who hold wrong views have been called back from their error. No difficulty should arise on this front, since the said presbyter has declared himself, by his own statement, ready to be corrected if anything worthy of rebuke is found in him. For in such matters it is right for us to take every precaution that love be maintained and the Truth defended without hostile conflict. Therefore, beloved, since you see how concerned we are about so great a matter, hurry to inform us of everything as fully and clearly as possible — for this should have been done already — lest in the conflicting claims of both sides we be misled by some confusion, and the disagreement, which should be resolved in its early stages, be allowed to grow. For our heart is moved by God's inspiration with the need to protect from anyone's misinterpretation those decrees of the venerable Fathers that have received divine ratification and belong to the very foundation of the Faith. God keep you safe, dear brother. Dated February 18 (449), in the consulship of the illustrious Asturius and Protogenes.

To his well-beloved brother Flavian the bishop of Constantinople, Leo the bishop. I. He complains that Flavian has not sent him a full account of Eutyches' case. Seeing that our most Christian and merciful Emperor, in his holy and praiseworthy faith and anxiety for the peace of the Catholic Church, has sent us a letter upon the matters which have roused the din of disturbance among you, we wonder, brother, that you have been able to keep silence to us upon the scandal that has been caused, and that you did not rather take measures for our being at once informed by your own report, that we might not have any doubt about the truth of the case. For we have received a document from the presbyter Eutyches , who complains that on the accusation of bishop Eusebius he has been wrongfully deprived of communion, notwithstanding that he says he attended your summons and did not refuse his presence: and moreover asserts that he presented a deed of appeal in the very court, which was however not accepted: whereupon he was forced to put forth letters of defense in the city of Constantinople. Pending which matter we do not yet know with what justice he has been separated from the communion of the Church. But having regard to the importance of the matter, we wish to know the reason of your action and to have the whole thing brought to our knowledge: for we, who desire the judgments of the Lord's priests to be deliberate, cannot without information decide one way or another, until we have all the proceedings accurately before us. II. And now demands it. And therefore, brother, signify to us in a full account by the hand of the most fit and competent person, what innovation has arisen against the ancient faith, which needed to be corrected by so severe a sentence. For both the moderation of the Church and the devout faith of our most godly prince insist upon our showing much anxiety for the peace of Christendom: that dissensions may be cleared away and the Catholic Faith kept unimpaired, and that those whose faith has been proved may be fortified by our authority, when those who maintain what is wrong have been recalled from their error. And no difficulty can arise on this side, since the said presbyter has professed himself by his own statement, ready to be corrected if anything be found in him worthy of rebuke. For it beseems us in such matters to take every precaution that charity be kept and the Truth defended without the din of strife. And therefore because you see, beloved, that we are anxious about so great a matter, hasten to inform us of everything in as full and clear a manner as possible (for this ought to have been done before), lest in the cross-statements of both sides we be misled by some uncertainty, and the dissension, which ought to be stifled in its infancy, be fostered: for our heart is impressed by God's inspiration with the need of saving from violation by anyone's misinterpretation those constitutions of the venerable fathers which have received Divine ratification and belong to the groundwork of the Faith. God keep you safe, dear brother. Dated 18 February (449), in the consulship of the illustrious Asturius and Protogenes. 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/3604023.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.