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Primary sourceDocument449 (this edition 1614)

Tomus ad Flavianum Opening, Greek and Latin Edition

Leo I · 449 (this edition 1614)

The opening pages of Leo's doctrinal letter to Archbishop Flavian, read aloud at the Council of Chalcedon, printed in 1614.

This is Leo's own doctrinal letter, central to his authority and legacy as pope.

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Two facing pages of an old printed book with yellowed paper. Left page, numbered 8, has a decorative Greek heading and Greek text in italic type. Right page, numbered 9, has a Latin heading reading LEO EPISCOPUS DILECTISSIMO FRATRI FLAVIANO CONSTANTINOPOLITANO EPISCOPO, a decorated initial letter, and dense Latin text with marginal notes.
Leo I, Tomus ad Flavianum, 449; 1614 Greek-Latin edition, Hamburg.

About this source

What it is

This is the opening of Leo's Tome to Flavian, a doctrinal letter written in 449 and read at the Council of Chalcedon. The pages shown are from a 1614 printed edition in Hamburg, giving the text in Greek and Latin.

Why it matters

The Tome to Flavian was one of Leo's most important writings, setting out Church teaching on the nature of Christ. Its reading at Chalcedon shows how influential Leo's authority was in the wider Christian world, even though he was not present himself.

Look closer

  • Why might the text be printed in both Greek and Latin?
  • What does the formal heading addressing Flavian tell you about how letters like this were written?
  • Why would a letter from centuries earlier still be printed and studied in 1614?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Pope Leo I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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