# Letters to Pope Leo I

- Author: [Flavian of Constantinople](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/flavian-of-constantinople/)
- Latin title: *Epistulae ad Leonem papam*
- Date: 448-449 (probable)
- Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Latina, vol. 54 (Paris, 1846), cols. 723-748, reprinting P. and G. Ballerini, S. Leonis Magni Opera 1 (Venice, 1753), Epp. 22 and 26 (Greek original, with the Chalcedonian and an older Latin version)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/
- Passages: 9

## Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), inscription

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-1-0
- Source: PL 54 54:723
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian greets Leo of Rome.

### Greek text

Τῷ ὁσιωτάτῳ καὶ θεοφιλεστάτῳ πατρὶ καὶ συλλειτουργῷ Λέοντι, Φλαβιανὸς ἐν Κυρίῳ, χαίρειν.

### English translation (Claude)

To the most holy and God-beloved father and fellow minister Leo, Flavian, greeting in the Lord.

### Translation notes

- This letter is Leo, Letter 22 (Ballerini numbering).

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 1.0 (PL 54 54:723; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/1-0).

## Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), chapter 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-1-1
- Source: PL 54 54:723
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian laments that the devil has carried off one of his own clergy, whom he could not save, and promises to tell how it happened.

### Greek text

Οὐδὲν ἵστησιν ἄρα τὴν τοῦ διαβόλου πονηρίαν, τὸ ἄχατάσχετον κακὸν, τὸ πλῆρες ἰοῦ θανατηφόρου· ἄνω γὰρ καὶ κάτω περινοστεῖ, ζητῶν τίνα πλήξῃ, τίνα σπαράξῃ, τίνα καταπίῃ Διὸ καὶ γρηγορεῖν, καὶ νήφειν εἰς προσεῦὺχὰς, καὶ τῷ Θεῷ ἐγγίζειν, καὶ τὰς μωρὰς ζητήσεις παραιτείσθαι, καὶ τοῖς πατράσιν ἀκολουθεῖν, καὶ μὰ μετατιθέναι ὅρια αἰώνια, ὑπὸ τῶν θείων γραφῶν δεδιδάγμεθα, ἡ Ἀποθέμενος οὖν τοῦ πένθους τὸν ὄγκον, τῶν δακρύων τὸ πλῆθος, ὅτι γε τῶν ὑπ᾽ ἐμὲ τελούντων κληρικὸς εἷς θηριάλωτος γέγονε, καὶ οὐχ ἠδυνήθην αὐτόν περισῶσαι, οὐδὲ ἁρπάσαι τοῦ λύκον, καίτοι τὴν ψυχήν μοῦ ἑτοίμως ἔχων θεῖναι ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ· πῶς ἡρπάγη, πῶς ἀπεπήδα, μισῶν τὴν τοῦ καλοῦντος φωνὴν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἀπολλύντα μάλιστα τρέχων, τάχα που καὶ τὰ μνήματα τῶν πατέρων ἐκκλίνων, καὶ τὰς τρίβους αὐτῶν μυσαττόμενος, βαδιοῦμαι τῷ λόγῳ.

### English translation (Claude)

Nothing, it seems, checks the wickedness of the devil, that irrepressible evil, full of deadly poison; for he roams up and down, seeking whom he may strike, whom he may tear, whom he may devour. Therefore we have been taught by the divine Scriptures to keep watch, to be sober in prayers, to draw near to God, to avoid foolish questionings, to follow the fathers, and not to move the eternal boundaries. Laying aside, then, the weight of grief and the flood of tears, because one cleric of those serving under me has been caught by the beast, and I could not save him nor snatch him from the wolf, though I was ready to lay down my life for him, I shall go through in my account how he was snatched away, how he leapt away, hating the voice of the one who calls him and running rather to the one who destroys, perhaps even turning aside from the memorials of the fathers and loathing their paths.

### Scripture references

- 1 Pet 5:8: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Pet 4:7: allusion, medium confidence
- Jas 4:8: allusion, medium confidence
- Titus 3:9: allusion, medium confidence
- Prov 22:28: allusion, high confidence
- John 10:12: allusion, medium confidence
- John 10:11: allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- 1 Pet 5:8; 1 Pet 4:7; Jas 4:8; 2 Tim 2:23 / Titus 3:9; Prov 22:28; John 10:12; John 10:11. "Hating" renders μισῶν, restored from the OCR's "Mte σῶν".

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 1.1 (PL 54 54:723; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/1-1).

## Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), chapter 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-1-2
- Source: PL 54 54:723
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian describes heretics as wolves in sheep's clothing who lead the weak astray by twisting the fathers and the Scriptures.

### Greek text

Εἰσί τινες ἐν ἐνδύμασι προβάτων, ἔσωθεν δέ εἶσι λύκον ἅρπαγες· οὗς ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν ἐπιγίνώσχομεν. Οὗτοι τὰ πρόβατα δοκοῦσι μὲν εἶναι ἐξ ἡμῶν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐχ εἰσὶν ἐξ ἡμῶν εἰ γὰρ ἦσαν ἐξ ἡμῶν, μεμενήχεσαν ἄν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν. “Ὅταν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀπεμέσωσι δυσσέβειαν, τὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἀποῤῥήξαντες δόλον, ἐπιλαδόμενοι τῶν ἄσθενεστέρων, καὶ τὰ αἰσθητήρια πρὸς τὰ θεῖα λόγια ἐχόντων ἀγύμναστα, σὺν ἑαυτοῖς ὠθοῦσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς ἀπώλειαν, στρεβλοῦντες καὶ σχώπτοντες τὰς τῶν πατέρων διδασχαλίας, ὡς καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς γραφὰς, πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν ἀπώλειαν· ἑαυτῶν᾽ οὖς δεῖ προγινώσκοντας φυλάττεσθαι, ἴὰ μὴ τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτῶν ὑπαχθέντες τινὲς, ἐχπέσωσι τοῦ ἰδίου στηριγμοῦ. « Ἠχόνησαν γὰρ γλῶσσαν αὐτῶν, ὡσεὶ ὄφεως· ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν, » περὶ τούτῶν ἀναχέχραγεν ὁ προφήτης.

### English translation (Claude)

There are some "in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves," whom we recognize "by their fruits." These seem to be sheep from among us, "but they are not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us." But when they have vomited out their own impiety, tearing open the deceit within them, they lay hold of the weaker, who have their faculties untrained for the divine oracles, and push them along with themselves into destruction, twisting and mocking the teachings of the fathers, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. We must know them beforehand and guard against them, lest some, led astray by their cunning, fall from their own stability. "For they have sharpened their tongue like a serpent's; the poison of asps is under their lips": so the prophet cried out about them.

### Scripture references

- Matt 7:15–16: quotation, high confidence
- 1 John 2:19: quotation, high confidence
- Heb 5:14: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Pet 3:16–17: allusion, high confidence
- Ps 140:3 (139:4 LXX): quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Matt 7:15–16; 1 John 2:19; Heb 5:14; 2 Pet 3:16–17; Ps 140:3 (LXX 139:4). A few words are lost in the OCR after πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν ἀπώ- ("to their own destruction", from 2 Pet 3:16); restored by sense, and the line break corrected by a logged correction.

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 1.2 (PL 54 54:723; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/1-2).

## Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), chapter 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-1-3
- Source: PL 54 54:725
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian reports that Eutyches, archimandrite at Constantinople, denied before the synod that Christ is of two natures after the incarnation and that his flesh is consubstantial with ours.

### Greek text

Τοιοῦτος ἡμῖν τανῦν ἀναπέφανται Εὐτιχὴς, ὅ πάλαι πρεσβύτερος καὶ ἀρχιμανδρίτης· ὃς μὲν τὰ ἡμέτερα δῆθεν φρονῶν, καὶ τὴν ὀρθὴν πίστιν ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἔχων, μὲν Νεστορίου δυσσεβείᾳ ἀνθεστηχὼς, καὶ τὸν πρὸς αὐτὸν πόλεμον ὑποχοριζόμενος, τὴν δὲ τῶν τριακοσίων δέκα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἁγίων πατέρων περὶ τῆς πίστεως γενομένην ἔκθεσιν, καὶ τοῦ τῆς θείας μνήμης Κυρῶλου πρός τε Νεστόριον γραφεῖσαν ἐπιστολὴν καὶ τὴν πρὸς τοὺς τῆς ὀνατολῆς τοῦ αὐτοῦ ὁμοίως, αἷς πάντες συνέθεντο, πειρώμενος ἀνατρέπειν, τὴν πάλαι τοῦ δυσσεβοῦς Οὐαλεντίνου καὶ ᾿Ἀπολλιναρίον κακοδοξίαν ἀνανεούμενος. Καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθη τὸ διάταγμα τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ Βατιλέως, λέγοντος· Ὃς ἐὰν σχανοαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, συμφέρει αὐτῷ, ἵνα χρευασθῃ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ χαταπουτισηῇ εἰς τὸ πέλαγος τῆς θαλάσσης. Αἰδῶ πᾶσαν ἀπούχλὼν, καὶ ἣν περιέκειτο τῆς πλάνης βορὰν ἀποτιναξάμενος, διαῤδήδην ἐπὶ τῆς ἁγίας συνόδου ἡμῶν διϊσχυρίζετο, λέγων τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν μὴ δεῖν ἐκ δύο φύσεων μετὰ τὴν ἐνανθροώπησιν, ἐν μιᾷ ὑποστάσει, καὶ ἐν ἑνὶ προσώπῳ παρ᾽ ἡμῶν γνωριζόμενον, μήτε υὴν τὴν σάρχα τοῦ Κυρίου ὁμοούσιον ἡυῖν ὑπάρχειν, οἷα δὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν καὶ ἑνωθεῖσαν τῷ Θεῷ Λόγῳ καθ᾽ ὑπόστασιν· ἔφασκε, τὴν μὲν τιχοῦταν αὐτὸν Πυρθένον κατὰ σάρχα, ὁμοούσιον ἡμῖν εἶναι, αὐτὸν δὲ τὸν Κύριον μὴ εἰληφένα. ἐξ αὐτῆς σάρχα ἡμῖν ὁμοούσιον ἀλλὰ τὸ τοῦ Κυρίου σώμα μὴ εἶναι μὲν σῶμα ἀνθρώπον, ἀνθρώπίον ὃὲ σῶμα τὸ ἐκ τῆ: Παρθένου · πάσαις ταῖς ἐχθέσεσι τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων ἐναντιούμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

Such a one has now appeared among us: Eutyches, formerly a presbyter and archimandrite. He seemed to think as we do and to hold the right faith in himself, seeming to stand against the impiety of Nestorius and making a show of the war against him; but he has been trying to overturn the statement of the faith made by the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers, and the letter of Cyril of divine memory written to Nestorius, and likewise his letter to the bishops of the East, to which all have agreed, renewing the old false doctrine of the impious Valentinus and Apollinaris. And he did not fear the command of the true King, who says: "Whoever causes one of these least little ones to stumble, it is better for him that a donkey's millstone be hung about his neck and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea." Casting off all shame, and shaking off the skin of error that covered him, he insisted openly before our holy synod, saying that our Lord Jesus Christ ought not to be acknowledged by us as of two natures after the incarnation, in one hypostasis and in one person; nor that the Lord's flesh is consubstantial with us, as taken from us and united to God the Word according to hypostasis; but he said that the Virgin who bore him according to the flesh is consubstantial with us, while the Lord himself did not take from her flesh consubstantial with us; but that the Lord's body is not the body of a man, though the body from the Virgin is human; thus opposing all the statements of faith of the holy fathers.

### Scripture references

- Matt 18:6: quotation, high confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Conc. Nic. (Creed and Canons of the Council of Nicaea (325)): allusion, medium confidence

### Translation notes

- The "three hundred and eighteen holy fathers" are the Council of Nicaea (325); Cyril's letters are his second letter to Nestorius and his letter to John of Antioch (the Formula of Reunion, 433). Matt 18:6. Eutyches's statements are reported as Flavian gives them; translated exactly. Some words are lost at a line break in the OCR ("καθ᾽ ὑπό-" … "ἔφασκε"); "according to hypostasis … but he said" is restored by sense.

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 1.3 (PL 54 54:725; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/1-3).

## Letter 1 (= Leo, Ep. 22), chapter 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-1-4
- Source: PL 54 54:727
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian tells Leo that Eutyches has been deposed and excommunicated and asks him to inform the bishops under him.

### Greek text

Ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα μὴ πάντα καταλέγων, μῆκος ἐμποιήσώ τῷ γράμματι, πάλαι τὴν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γεγενημένην πρᾶξιν ἀπεστείλαμεν τῇ σῇ ὁσιότητι, ἐν ἦ καὶ τῆς ἱερωσύνης αὐτὸν, ὡς ἐπὶ τοιούτοις ἁλόντα, ἐγυμνώσαμεν, καὶ τοῦ προστατεῖν μοναστηρίου, καὶ τῆς ἡμετέρας κοινωνίας· ὥστε καὶ τὴν σὴν ὁσιότητα γνοῦσαν τὰ χατ᾽ αὐτὸν, πᾶσι τοῖς ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν θεοσέβειαν τελοῦσι θεοφιλεστάτοις ἐπισκόποις δήλην ποιῆσαι τὴν αὐτοῦ δυσσέβειαν· ἵνα μὴ ἀγνοίᾳ πολλάχ:ς τῶν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ φρονηθέντων, ἐφ᾽ οἷς τε, ἑάλω σαφῶς, ὡς: πρὸς ὁμόδοξον, ἢ διὰ γραμμάτων, ἢ καὶ ἑτέρως, τὰς πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμιλίας εὑρεθῶσι ποιούμενοι, Πᾶσαν τὴν σὺν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ θεοφιλεία ἐν Χριστῷ ἀδελφάς τητα ἐγώ τε καὶ οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ πλεῖστα προσαγορεύομεν. ᾿Εῤῥωμένος ἐν Κυρίῳ, καὶ ὑπερευχόμενος ἡμῶν, χαρισθείης ἡμῖν, θεοφιλέστατε πάτερ.

### English translation (Claude)

But, so as not to make the letter long by listing everything, we have already sent your holiness the record of the proceedings against him, in which, as one convicted on such charges, we stripped him of the priesthood, of the government of his monastery, and of our communion; so that your holiness too, knowing his case, may make his impiety plain to all the most God-beloved bishops under your reverence, lest, in ignorance of what he thinks and on what charges he was clearly convicted, they be found conversing with him by letter or otherwise as with one of the same faith. I and those with me greet very warmly all the brotherhood with your God-belovedness in Christ. May you be granted to us in good health in the Lord, and praying for us, most God-beloved father.

### Translation notes

- The proceedings are those of the Home Synod of Constantinople (November 448).

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 1.4 (PL 54 54:727; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/1-4).

## Letter 2 (= Leo, Ep. 26), inscription

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-2-0
- Source: PL 54 54:743
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian greets Leo in his second letter.

### Greek text

Τῷ ἁγιωτάτῳ καὶ μακαριωτάτῳ πατρὶ καὶ συλλειτουργῷ Λέοντι Φλαβιανὸς ἐν Κυρίῳ χαίρειν.

### English translation (Claude)

To the most holy and most blessed father and fellow minister Leo, Flavian, greeting in the Lord.

### Translation notes

- This letter is Leo, Letter 26 (Ballerini numbering).

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 2.0 (PL 54 54:743; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/2-0).

## Letter 2 (= Leo, Ep. 26), chapter 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-2-1
- Source: PL 54 54:743
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian tells Leo that Eutyches taught one nature in Christ after the union and denied that Christ's body is consubstantial with ours, against Cyril's letter approved at Ephesus.

### Greek text

Εὐσεβείας καὶ τοῦ ὀρθοτομεῖσθαι τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀλη θείας οὐδὲν “ τιμιώτερον ἱερεῦσιν, ὡς ἐπίστασαι, θεοφιλέστατε. Πᾶσα γὰρ ἡμῶν ἐλπίς ᾿χαὶ σωτηρία, καὶ ἀνταπόδοσις τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν, ἐντέσθεν ἐξήρτηταί. Διά τοι τοῦτο, πάντα ὅ ποιητέον ἡμῖν καὶ πονητέονν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀληθοῦς πίστεως, καὶ τῶν ἐκτεθέντων καὶ δογματισθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ἁγίων πατέρων, ἐφ᾽ ᾧ τε διὰ παντὸς καὶ ἐν παντοίαις περιστάσεσι πραγμάτων ἀχές καὶ ἄτρωτα ταῦτα ὃ διασώζεσθαι καὶ φυλάττεσθαι. Ἀναγχαΐον οὖν ἦν καὶ νῦν ὁρῶντας ἡμᾶς βλαπτομένην τοῦ ὀρθόδοξον πίστιν, καὶ ἀνανεουμένην τοῦ ὃ Ἀπολλινας ρίου καὶ Οὐαλεντίνον αἵρεσιν παρὰ Εὐτυχοῦς τοῦ μοναχοῦ, μὴ παριδεῖν · ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τὸ φανερὸν ταύτην ἐκκαλύψαι πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν τῶν λαῶν, οὗτος γὰρ οὗτος ὁ Εὐτυχὴς» ἐν ἑαυτῷ νόσον κακοδοξίας κατέχων, τῆς ἡμετέρας ἐπιεικείας καταδραμὼν, ἀπηρυθριασμένως καὶ ἀναισχύντως εἰς πολλοὺς ἐξενεγκεῖν τὴν οἰκείαν ἀσέβειαν χατετόλμησε, φάσκων, πρὸ μὲν τῆς ἐνανθρωπήσεως τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δύο φύσεις εἶναι, * θεότητος καὶ ἀνθρωπότητος, μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἕνωσιν, μίαν φύσιν γεγονέναι· οὐχ εἰδὼς ὃ λέγει, οὐδὲ περὶ τίνων διαβεβαιοῦται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡ ἕνωσις τῶν συνελθουσῶν ὅ ἐπὶ Χριστῷ δύο φύσεων, ὡς καὶ ἡ ὑμετέρα ἐπίσταται θεοσέὄεια, τὰς ἰδιότητας αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ἑνώσει συνέχεεν ἀλλὰ μένουσι καὶ ἐν τῇ ἑνώσει ἀκέραιοι τῶν δύο φύσεων αἱ ἰδιότητες. ΘΟ Προσετίθει δὲ καὶ ἑτέραν δυσσέύειαν, φάσκων, τὸ ἐκ Μαρίας σῶμα γενόμενον τοῦ Κυρίου, μὴ εἶναι τῆς ἡμετέρας οὐσίας; μηδὲ τοῦ ἀνθρωπείου φυράματος· ἀλλ᾽ ἀνθρώπινον μὲν αὐτὸ Τ ἀποκαλεῖ, οὐ μὸν ἡμῖν ὁμοούσιον, οὐδὲ τῇ τεχούσῃ αὐτὸν κατὰ σάρχα. Καὶ ταῦτα, τῶν ἐν ᾿Ἐφόσῳ πεπραγμένων παρὰ τῆς ἁγίας καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς συνόδου, ἐπὶ τῇ γραφείσῃ ἐπιστολῇ πρὸς τὸν δυσσεδῇ καὶ χαθηρημένον Νεστόριον, ἐχόντων ῥητῶς οὕτως· ὡς διάφοροι μὲν αἱ πρὸς ἑνότητα τὴν ἀληθινὴν ὃ συνενεχθεῖσαι φύσεις· εἷς δὲ ἐξ ἀμφοῖν Χριστὸς καὶ υἱὸς · οὐχ ὡς τῆς τῶν φύσεων διαφορᾶς ἀνῃρημένης διὰ τὴν ἕνωσιν· ἀποτελεσασῶν δὲ μᾶλλον ἡμῖν τὸν ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν, θεότητός τε καὶ ἀνθρωπότητος, διὰ τῆς ἀφράστου καὶ ἀπερινοήτου πρὸς ἑνότητα συνδρομῆς. “' Καὶ τοῦτο οὐ λέληθε τὴν σὴν ὁσιότητα, ἐντυχοῦσαν πάντως τοῖς ἐν Ἐφέσῳ πεπραγμένοις ὑπομνήμασιν. Ἅτινα παρ᾽ οὐδὲν θέμενος ὁ αὐτὸς Εὐτυχὴς οἴεται μὴ δώσειν δίκην τὴν ὁρισθεῖσαν παρὰ τῆς ἁγίας ἐκείνης καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς συνόδου.

### English translation (Claude)

Nothing is more precious to priests, as you know, most God-beloved one, than godliness and the right dividing of the word of truth. For all our hope and salvation, and the reward of the good things promised, depend on this. For this reason we must do and labor at everything for the true faith and for what has been set out and decreed by the holy fathers, so that these things may be preserved and guarded always, in every kind of circumstance, unharmed and unwounded. It was necessary, then, now too, when we saw the orthodox faith being harmed and the heresy of Apollinaris and Valentinus being renewed by Eutyches the monk, not to overlook it, but to uncover it openly for the safety of the peoples. For this Eutyches, harboring in himself the disease of false doctrine, took advantage of our forbearance and dared, shamelessly and without a blush, to bring out his own impiety before many, saying that before the becoming man of our Savior Jesus Christ there were two natures, of Godhead and of manhood, but after the union one nature came to be; not knowing what he says nor about what he makes his assertions. For the union of the two natures that came together in Christ did not, as your reverence knows, confuse their properties in the union; but the properties of the two natures remain intact even in the union. He added also another impiety, saying that the Lord's body born of Mary is not of our substance nor of the human lump; he calls it human indeed, but not consubstantial with us nor with her who bore him according to the flesh. And this, although the proceedings at Ephesus of the holy and ecumenical synod, on the letter written to the impious and deposed Nestorius, expressly contain these words: "The natures that were brought together into a true unity are different, but from both is one Christ and Son; not as though the difference of the natures were removed through the union, but rather Godhead and manhood have formed for us the one Lord Jesus Christ through their ineffable and inconceivable concurrence into unity." And this has not escaped your holiness, since you have surely read the records of the proceedings at Ephesus. Holding these as nothing, the same Eutyches thinks that he will not pay the penalty laid down by that holy and ecumenical synod.

### Scripture references

- 2 Tim 2:15: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- 2 Tim 2:15. The quotation is from Cyril's second letter to Nestorius, read and approved at the Council of Ephesus (431). Eutyches's teaching is reported as Flavian gives it; translated exactly. The OCR has lost a few letters in "before the becoming man" (ἐνανθρωπή[σεως]); restored by sense, and stray marks and a column number ("']83") are removed by logged corrections.

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 2.1 (PL 54 54:743; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/2-1).

## Letter 2 (= Leo, Ep. 26), chapter 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-2-2
- Source: PL 54 54:745
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian reports that Eutyches, accused by Eusebius of Dorylaeum and deposed, has not repented but agitates against the church with placards and petitions to the emperor.

### Greek text

Διά τοι ταῦτα πολλῶν τῶν ἀκεραιοτέρων ἐκ τῆς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ γενομένης διαλέξεως παραύλαπτομένων εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως λόγον, κατηγορηθέντα αὐτὸν παρὰ τοῦ εὐλαδεστάτου ἐπισκόπου Εὐσεβίου, καὶ ἀπαντήσαντα εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν σύνοδον, καὶ ηἰχείῳ φωνῇ τὸ ἴδιον φρόνημα ἐχχαλύψαυντα, ἀλλότριον ὑπάρχοντα ·΄ τῆς ὀρθῆς πίστεως, χαθείλομεν, ὡς διδάξει τὴν ὑμετέραν ὁσιότητα ιὅ πάντα ἐπ᾽ χὐτῷ πεπραγμένα ὑπομνήματα, ἃ καὶ ἀπεστείλαμεν μετὰ τούτων ἐμῶν τῶν γραμμάτων. Δίκαιον δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὡς ἡγοῦμαι, διδαχθῆναι ὑμᾶς ὡς ὅτι περ ὁ αὐτὸς Εὐτυχὴς ὑποστὰς δικαίαν καὶ κανονιχὴν καθαίρεσιν, καὶ ὀφείλων κἀν τοῖς δευτέροις ἰάσασθαι τὰ πρότερα, καὶ διὰ μετανοίας ἀχριθοῦς καὶ δακρύων πολλῶν τὸν Θεὸν ἐξιλεώσασθαι, καὶ τὴν ἡμετέραν καρδίαν σφοδρῶς κελυπημένην ἐπὶ τῇ αὐτοῦ πτώσει, διὰ μεταμελείας ἀληθοῦς θεραπεῦσαι· o) μόνον τοῦτο οὐ πεποίηκεν, ἀλλὰ γὰρ vod διὰ πάντων διαταράξαι τὴν παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἁγιωτάτην Ἔχυλησία» ἐσπούδαχσ:᾽· προθέματα προτιθεὶς δημοσίᾳ ὕβρεως καὶ λοιδορίας ἀνάμεστα · προσεπιτούτοις καὶ δεήσεις ἔπιδοὺς τῷ εὐσεβεστάτῳ καὶ φιλοχρίστῳ ἡμῶν βασιλεῖ, καὶ αὐτάς πεπληρωμένας ἀλαζονείας καὶ προπηλαχισμῶν, διὰ πάντων τοὺς θείους χαταπατῆσαι κανόνας πειρώμενος.

### English translation (Claude)

For these reasons, since many of the simpler sort were being harmed in the word of faith by the discourse he gave, when he was accused by the most reverent bishop Eusebius, and came before the holy synod and with his own voice uncovered his own opinion, which is foreign to the right faith, we deposed him, as the whole record of the proceedings against him, which we have sent with this letter of mine, will inform your holiness. It is right also, I think, that you should be informed that the same Eutyches, having undergone a just and canonical deposition, and being bound by his later conduct to heal the former, and to appease God by exact repentance and many tears, and to heal by true remorse our heart, deeply grieved at his fall, has not only not done this, but has striven in every way to throw our most holy church into confusion, posting public placards full of insult and abuse, and in addition presenting petitions to our most pious and Christ-loving emperor, these too filled with arrogance and contempt, trying in every way to trample on the divine canons.

### Translation notes

- The accuser is Eusebius, bishop of Dorylaeum. The OCR has lost words in "ἀπεστεί- … μετὰ" ("which we have sent with"); restored by sense and corrected by a logged correction.

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 2.2 (PL 54 54:745; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/2-2).

## Letter 2 (= Leo, Ep. 26), chapter 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/flavian-epistulae/1-0/#p-2-3
- Source: PL 54 54:745
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23

Summary: Flavian denies that Eutyches appealed to Rome at his trial and asks Leo to confirm the deposition by letter, so that the rumored council may be avoided.

### Greek text

Ἀλλὰ τούτων οὕτω παρακολουθησάντων, γράμματα ἡμῖν ἀπεδόθη τῆς ὑμετέρας ὁσιότητος, διὰ τοῦ θαυμᾶσυωτάτον χώμητος Παυνσορίον, δι’ ὧν ἐδιδάχθημεν, ὡς ὁ αὐτὸς Εὐτυχὴς λιόδέλλους ἐξαπέστειλεν ὑμῖν πεπληρωμένους πάσης ἀπάτης καὶ πανουργίας, ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τῆς χρίσεως λιύέλλους ἐπιδεδωκέναι ἐχχλήτονς ἡμῖν καὶ τῇ ἐνδημούσῃ ἁγίᾳ συνόδῳ, καὶ ἐπικαλέσασθαι τὴν ὕμετέραν ὁσιότητα· ὅπερ οὐδαμῶς παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ γέγονεν · ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τοῦτο τὸ μέρος διεψεύσατο, · οἷα δὴ πατὴρ ὧν τοῦ ψεύδους, συναρπάσαι τὰς ὑμητέρας. ἀκοὰς οἰόμενος. Συγχινηθεὶς οὖν, ὁσιώτατε πάτερ, διὰ πάντα τὰ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ τολμηθέντα, καὶ διὰ τὰ εἰς ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν ἁγιωτάτην Ἐκχχλησίαν ὅ. γενόμενά τε καὶ λεγόμενα, παῤο ῥησίασαι συνήθως κατὰ τὸ πρέπον τῇ ἱερωσύνη καὶ οἰκειωσάμενος τὸ κοινὸν ὃ πρᾶγμα, καὶ τὴν τῶν ἁγίων Ἔκχχλησιῶν κατάστασιν, συμννηφίσασθαι μὲν τῇ γενομένῃ χατ᾽ αὐτοῦ κανονικῶς καθαιρέσει δι᾽ οἰκείων γραμμάτων καταξίωσον, στηρίξαι δὲ καὶ τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου καὶ φιλοχρίστου ἡμῶν βασιλέως πίστιν. Μόνης γὰρ τὸ πρᾶγμα δεῖται τῆς παρ᾽ ὑμῶν ῥοπῆς καὶ ἀντιλήψεως, ὀφειλούσης διὰ τῆς συννινέσεως εἰς γαλήνην καὶ εἰρήνην πάντα μετασχενάσαι. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ἡ ἐπαναστᾶσα αἵρεσις, καὶ αὐτὴν ταραχὴ εὐμαρῶς καταργηθήσεται, τοῦ Θεοῦ συνεργοῦντος, διὰ τῶν ὑμετέρων ἱερῶν γραμμάτων· χωλυθήσεται δὲ γαὶ ἡ θρυλλομένη γίνεσθαι σύνοδος, ὥστε μὴ τὰς ἁπονταχόσε ἁγιωτάτας Ἐχκχλησίας διατας ραχθῆναι. Πᾶσαν τὴν σὺν σοὶ ἀδελφότητα, ἐγώ τε καὶ οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ προσαγορεύομεν. ᾿Εῤῥωμένος ἐν Κυρίῳ, κα ὑπερευχόμενος ἡμῶν 1) χαρισθείης ἡμῖν, θεοφιλέστατε καὶ ἀξιώτατε πάτερ.

### English translation (Claude)

But when things had gone so far, a letter of your holiness was delivered to us by the most admirable count Pansophius, from which we learned that the same Eutyches has sent you petitions full of all deceit and cunning, saying that at the time of the trial he had handed petitions of appeal to us and to the holy synod then in session, and had appealed to your holiness. This was by no means done by him; but in this point too he lied, being, as it were, the son of the father of lies, thinking to take your ears by surprise. Moved, then, most holy father, by all that he has dared, and by what has been done and said against us and the most holy church, speak out freely, as is your custom and as befits the priesthood; and, making the common cause and the state of the holy churches your own, deign by a letter of your own to give your vote to the deposition canonically pronounced against him, and to strengthen the faith of our most pious and Christ-loving emperor. For the matter needs only your weight and support, which ought, through your understanding, to bring everything round to calm and peace. For so both the heresy that has risen up and the disturbance arising from it will be easily put down, with God working with us, through your sacred letter; and the synod which is rumored to be about to take place will be prevented, so that the most holy churches everywhere may not be thrown into confusion. I and those with me greet all the brotherhood with you. May you be granted to us in good health in the Lord, and praying for us, most God-beloved and most worthy father.

### Scripture references

- John 8:44: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- John 8:44 ("father of lies"). The rumored synod is the one held at Ephesus in 449. "Pansophius" renders the OCR's Παυνσορίου, an uncertain reading of the name. The OCR has lost letters in "πεπληρωμέ-[νους]" and in "καταξίω-[σον]"; restored by logged corrections.

### Citation (SBL)

Flavian, Ep. Leo 2.3 (PL 54 54:745; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/flavian-epistulae/2-3).