Anatolius, Constantinopolitan

Anatolius (d. 458) was patriarch of Constantinople from 449 to 458 and a central figure in the Christological controversies that defined the fifth-century church. Originally a deacon under the controversial patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria, Anatolius shifted his allegiance to accept Pope Leo's Tome and the Chalcedonian definition — a pragmatic move that Leo never fully trusted. He appears 12 times in this collection as a recipient of Leo's letters, and the correspondence reveals a pope who was simultaneously relieved to have Constantinople's support and suspicious of Anatolius's motives. Leo wrote to Anatolius about doctrinal compliance, jurisdictional disputes (particularly Canon 28 of Chalcedon, which elevated Constantinople's status), and the ongoing implementation of the Chalcedonian settlement. The Leo-Anatolius correspondence matters because it documents the emerging rivalry between Rome and Constantinople — two sees that needed each other but could not agree on their relative status. The tensions visible in these letters would, over the centuries, contribute to the Great Schism of 1054.
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Letters sent
33
Letters received
33
Total letters
8
Correspondents

Top correspondents

All letters (33)

From Libaniusc. 341

Even while you were still with us, I received several letters of recommendation.

libanius #291
From Libaniusc. 354

After suffering many physical ailments -- having barely recovered from some and still bearing others -- I have one...

libanius #418
From Julian the Apostatec. 355

The story goes that Syloson [a man from Samos who once gave the future Persian king Darius a cloak, and later asked...

julian emperor #6
From Libaniusc. 355

I have always admired your goodwill toward me, and I could never convince myself that you did this without some god...

libanius #433
From Libaniusc. 359

Your habit of mocking the sophists is old and well-established, and apparently the Pythia [the oracle at Delphi]...

libanius #76
From Libaniusc. 362

I was sitting with my uncle in conversation when someone walked up and handed him a letter.

libanius #504
From Libaniusc. 362

The noble Spectatus has captured me so completely, and so thoroughly persuaded me to devote all my attention to him,...

libanius #507
From Libaniusc. 363

I write to you often, and I rather wish you would not write back.

libanius #517
From Libaniusc. 363

Other men take pride in various things, but Severus takes pride in being my friend.

libanius #521
From Libaniusc. 364

Right now we are exerting ourselves over a matter of the greatest importance, and if you are willing, you will have...

libanius #530
From Libaniusc. 366

What was expected has come to pass.

libanius #544
From Libaniusc. 366

A letter reached me from Italy describing the nonsense of some sham sophist and your laughter at him, together with...

libanius #547
From Libaniusc. 367

Even if I did not get what I wanted when I wanted it, I did in the end get what I wanted.

libanius #558
From Libaniusc. 368

Iamblichus left us in tears, saying, "Will I ever see the East again?

libanius #569
From Libaniusc. 368

That was unmistakably your letter.

libanius #573
From Libaniusc. 383

May your sacrifices go well, and may you find favor with the gods -- with the leader of the Muses and with the god...

libanius #731
From Isidore of Pelusiumc. 409

To sin after receiving the most generous gifts of God's grace — and to do so on a scale greater than one's ancestors...

isidore pelusium #244
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

To the Patrician Anatolius,

theodoret cyrrhus #79
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

The most holy lord Archbishop Domnus has arranged for the devout bishops to travel to the imperial city, to bring a...

theodoret cyrrhus #92
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

God will repay your excellency for the kindness you have shown me -- everything done for His sake carries its reward.

theodoret cyrrhus #111
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

Your excellency is fully aware of the acts of the "most righteous" judges at Ephesus.

theodoret cyrrhus #119
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

The Lord who watches over and governs all things has now demonstrated both the apostolic truth of my teaching and...

theodoret cyrrhus #121
From Theodoret of Cyrrhusc. 440

I have warmly welcomed the rest that has come my way, and I am enjoying its pleasant fruits.

theodoret cyrrhus #138
From Pope Leo the Greatc. 450

Leo, the bishop, to Anatolius, the bishop. We rejoice in the Lord and glory in the gift of His Grace, Who has shown you a follower of Gospel-teaching as we have found from your letter, beloved, and our brothers' account whom we sent to Constantinople: for now through the approved faith of the priest, we are justifying in presuming that the whole...

leo great #80
From Pope Leo the Greatc. 450

Leo, the bishop, to the bishop Anatolius. Although I hope, beloved, you are devoted to every good work, yet that your activity may be rendered the more effective, it was needful and fitting to dispatch my brothers Lucentius the bishop and Basil the presbyter, as we promised, to ally themselves with you, beloved, that nothing may be done either ...

leo great #85
From Pope Leo the Greatc. 453

Leo, the bishop, to Anatolius, the bishop. Now that the light of Gospel Truth has been manifested, as we wished, through God's grace, and the night of most pestilential error has been dispelled from the universal Church, we are unspeakably glad in the Lord, because the difficult charge entrusted to us has been brought to the desired conclusion, ...

leo great #106
From Cassiodorusc. 522

The man who devised laborious duties and offices of great diligence also reasonably established fixed terms for them...

cassiodorus #11036
From Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)c. 595

Those who have returned from the Istrian schism [a schism in northern Italy and the Balkans over the Council of...

gregory great #9066
From Pope Gregory the Greatc. 599

Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol.

gregory great #9082
From Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)c. 600

The men who accompany this letter are sent by Constantius, bishop of Milan, on business that has brought them to...

gregory great #9187
From Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)c. 600

The bearer of this letter is the deacon of Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna, who has come to Constantinople on behalf...

gregory great #9189
From Pope Gregory the Greatc. 601

Your Love has written to me that our most pious lord orders a successor to be appointed to my most reverend brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana, on account of the ailment of the head from which he suffers, lest perchance that city, while without the jurisdiction of a bishop, should be ruined by its enemies, which God forbid. And yet the can...

gregory great #11047
From Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)c. 604

Marcellinus, a man of excellent standing who bears this letter, is traveling to your city and has need of such...

gregory great #9237