To Anatolius of Constantinople, on Receiving Back the Fallen

Leo the bishop to the bishop Anatolius.

I hope, beloved, that you are devoted to every good work. Yet so that your efforts may be made all the more effective, it was necessary and fitting to send my brothers, Lucentius the bishop and Basil the presbyter, as we promised, to join with you, beloved, so that nothing may be done either indecisively or lazily in matters that concern the welfare of the universal church. For while you are on the spot, to whom we have entrusted the carrying out of our will, everything can be conducted with such moderation that the claims of neither kindness nor justice are neglected, but the divine judgment is considered in everything, without favoritism. But for this to be properly observed and guarded, the soundness of the catholic faith must first of all be preserved. And because in every case “narrow” and steep “is the way that leads to life,” there must be no turning aside from its track, either to the right hand or to the left. The faith of the gospel and of the apostles has to fight against every error, on one side casting down Nestorius, on the other crushing Eutyches and his accomplices. So remember the need to keep this rule. There are those who, in that synod which cannot be called a synod and does not deserve the name, in which Dioscorus displayed his ill will and Juvenal his ignorance, were overcome by fear, and being overwhelmed with terror were forced to assent to that wicked judgment. As we learn from your account, beloved, they now grieve over it, and they desire to obtain catholic communion. All of these are to receive the peace of the brothers after due assurance of repentance, on condition that in no doubtful terms they anathematize, curse and condemn Eutyches, his dogma and his followers. [a]

But there are those who sinned more gravely in this matter and claimed a higher place for themselves in that same unhappy synod, so as to stir up the simple minds of their humbler brothers by their destructive arrogance. If they return to their right mind, stop defending what they did, and turn to condemning their own error, and if they give such assurance of repentance as will seem beyond dispute, let their case be reserved for the more careful deliberation of the Apostolic See. Then, when everything has been sifted and weighed, the right conclusion may be reached about what they actually did. And in the church over which the Lord has willed you to rule, let none of these, as we have already written, have their names read at the altar until the course of events shows what ought to be decided about them. [c]

As for the memorandum your clergy presented to us, beloved, there is no need to put my views into a letter. It is enough to entrust everything to my delegates, whose words will carefully instruct you on every point. And so, dearest brother, with these brothers whom we have chosen as suitable agents in so great a matter, do your best to carry out faithfully and effectively what pleases the church of God. The very nature of the case and the promise of divine help urge you to it, all the more because our most gracious princes show such holy faith and such religious devotion that we find in them not only the common sympathy of Christians, but even that of the priesthood. In keeping with that piety by which they glory in being servants of God, they will surely receive in a worthy spirit all your proposals for the good of the catholic faith, so that by their help too the peace of Christendom can be restored and wicked error destroyed. And if more advice is needed on any points, send word to us quickly, so that after examining the nature of the case we may carefully lay down the right measures. Dated the 9th of June, in the consulship of the illustrious Adelfius (in the year 451). [d]