To Flavian, Acknowledging His Letter

Leo to Flavian, bishop of Constantinople.

At the first opportunity we could find, which was the coming of our honorable son Rodanus, we acknowledge, beloved, the arrival of your packet, which was to inform us about the case that misguided error has stirred up among you, to our grief. For this man, who has long seemed to be devout, has spoken about the faith otherwise than is right. He never ought to have departed from the catholic tradition, but should have persevered in the same belief that all hold. But on this matter we are replying more fully by the man who brought your letter to us, beloved, so that we may give you, beloved, all the instructions needed on the whole matter. For we do not allow him to persist in his perverse conviction, nor allow you, beloved, who are resisting his wrong and foolish error with such faithful zeal, to be disturbed for long by the opposition of the adversary. We ask you to receive our son named above, by whom we are sending this letter, with the affection he deserves, and to reply when he returns to us. Dated the 21st of May, in the consulship of Asturius and Protogenes (in the year 449). [a]