Epistle of Pope Leo the Great to bishops of Provincia Viennensis
Abstract
The paper contains a publication of a Latin translation of the Epistle Divinae cultum of Pope Leo I the Great to the bishops of the Province of Vienne, as well as a historical and philological commentary and an introductory article. At the beginning of the paper, the historical context and content of the Epistle is described. The letter serves as one of the important sources of our information about the relationship between Pope Leo and St. Hilary of Arles. Besides, it sheds light on the relationship between the see of Rome and the Gauliс episcopate and, in particular, the see of Arles. The text refl ects the historical events that took place in Gaul in 444–445 and was written in 445. The epistle deals with two church aff airs (the deposition of bishop Celidonius and the removal of bishop Projectus), and also reports on the measures taken by St. Leo against St. Hilary. The synod of Rome in 445, which examined these cases, acquitted Celidonius and Projectus and restored their episcopal dignity. Hilary was found to have committed misconduct and was accused by Pope Leo of exceeding his powers. At the same time, Hilary was deprived of the rights of metropolitan of the province of Vienne, the right to convene super-provincial councils and participate in ordinations. “By the mercy of the Apostolic see” Hilary retained the episcopal ministry only within the boundaries of Arles. The tone of Pope Leo’s Epistle seems to be somewhat harsh.
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