Saint Leo I

Saint Leo I

Saint Leo I (Saint Leo the Great), c.400-461, pope (440-61), an Italian; successor of St. Sixtus III. A Doctor of the Church, he was one of the greatest pontiffs of the early years of the church. He waged a firm campaign against schism and heresy. With the aid of Valentinian III , the Roman emperor of the West, he campaigned to eliminate Manichaeism from Italy. Later, asserting his authority over St. Hilary of Arles , he obtained an imperial rescript that effectively confirmed the authority of the pope over all his bishops. In the Nestorian-Monophysite controversy Leo was the leader in defending Catholic teaching. He wrote the celebrated Tome of Leo, a doctrinal letter defining the two natures and one person of Christ that was later adopted as ecumenical at Chalcedon (see Chalcedon, Council of ), when the heresiarch Eutyches was condemned. He was also effective as a statesman and met (452) Attila the Hun to persuade him not to invade Rome. In 455 he similarly urged Gaiseric the Vandal to spare the lives of the Romans. St. Leo's letters and sermons reflect the many aspects of his career and personality, including his great personal influence for good, and are invaluable historical sources. His rhythmic prose style, called cursus leonicus, influenced ecclesiastical language for centuries. The celebrated Leonian Sacramentary, the oldest form of the Roman Missal, is probably not his work. He was succeeded by St. Hilary. Feast: Apr. 11.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Saint Leo I." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Saint Leo I." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LeoI-St.html

"Saint Leo I." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LeoI-St.html

Learn more about citation styles

Leo I, St

Leo I, St (d. 461), ‘Leo the Great’, Pope from 440. His Papacy is remarkable for the extent to which he advanced and consolidated the influence of the Roman see. He tried to strengthen the Church by energetic central government and he pressed his claims to jurisdiction in Africa, Spain, and Gaul. He was drawn into E. affairs by the Eutychian controversy, and his support was coveted by all parties. At the Council of Chalcedon (451) his legates spoke first, and his Tome was accepted as a standard of Christological orthodoxy. He persuaded the Huns to withdraw beyond the Danube (452) and secured concessions when the Vandals took Rome (455). 143 genuine letters and some 97 sermons survive. Feast day in the E., 18 Feb.; in the W., 10 Nov. (formerly, 11 Apr.).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-LeoISt.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-LeoISt.html

Learn more about citation styles

Leo I, St

Leo I, St, known as ‘ Leo the Great’ (d. 461). Pope from 440, who worked to enhance the pre-eminence of the see of Rome, claiming jurisdiction in Africa, Spain, and Gaul. Leo composed his Tome, expounding the Christology of the Latin Church, according to which Jesus Christ is one person, the divine Word, in whom are two unconfused natures, the divine and human; each of these exercises its own particular faculties, but because of the communicatio idiomatum it may be said that the Son of Man descended from heaven, and the Son of God was crucified. The Tome was given formal authority at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Leo was declared a Doctor of the Church by Benedict XIV.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-LeoISt.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Leo I, St." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-LeoISt.html

Learn more about citation styles

Leo I, St

Leo I, St (or Leo the Great) (c.390–461) Pope (440–61). He established the authority of the papacy by defending orthodoxy in regions far distant from his authority in Italy, most notably in Spain, Gaul, Africa, and the East. The Pelagian and Manichean sects in particular threatened papal control and authority. At CHALCEDON in 451 he obtained agreement between Eastern and Western churches on defining for Christian believers the relationship of God the Father to the Son. The following year he persuaded the barbarian ATTILA to leave Italy. In 455 he saved Rome from VANDAL destruction.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Leo I, St." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Leo I, St." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LeoISt.html

"Leo I, St." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LeoISt.html

Learn more about citation styles

Leo I, Saint

Leo I, Saint (390–461) (Leo the Great) Pope (440–61). He established important points of doctrine, including the dual nature of Christ, which he propounded at the Council of Chalcedon (449). By personal meetings, he saved Rome from Attila (452) and the Vandal leader Gaiseric (455).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Leo I, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Leo I, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-LeoISaint.html

"Leo I, Saint." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-LeoISaint.html

Learn more about citation styles

Leo I, Saint images
Saint Leo I. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)