“... It is not our duty to doubt Eutyches... we
should not suspect the judgment of Dioscorus against
Flavianus... we should not investigate their (the bishops’)
faith, we should accept and forgive them...” A
deliberating reader may well wonder what interest
motivated the Roman bishop to grant his forgiveness, or
on what possible basis could forgiveness be justified
without investigation? For what reason should a council
be held, if he was neither doubting Eutyches nor
suspecting the judgment of Dioscorus against
Flavianus?...
All these first letters of Leo show that he
advocated kindness towards Eutyches. It is not
astonishing that a bishop would taken such an attitude,
but it certainly is astonishing to see how he forgot his own
counsel when his delegates intrigued with some other
bishops at Chalcedon against Abba Dioscorus, maliciously
presumed that he supported Eutyches in his heresby.
- After this correspondence, Marcianus declared his
readiness to convoke a council. Leo then requested him
to hold it in some place in Italy. This request was
refused, for Marcianus used his prerogative as Emperor of
the East, to fix the time and place he chose.^32 - Leo, however, retracted this request for a council,
and sent the following answer: “From Leo the Bishop to
Marcianus the Triumphant – I ask of you to delay a little
the convocation of the requested council for the
reconciliation of the churches of the Orient because
certain bishops who cannot come now because of the
wars raging in their countries may be able to attend later
on without fear or worry. I know by your devotion that
you give first place to heavenly matters, preferring them