| Icon of St. Leo I the Great, Pope of Rome. Author: Nun Justina from the Monastery of St. Elizabeth in Etna, California |
| St. Leo, Pope |
Leo I the Great
(+ 461), pope, theologian, saint. The first of the popes enjoyed enormous authority as a theologian; his teaching on the relationship between the divine and human natures in Christ was accepted by the IV Ecumenical Council. Memory 18 February, 12 November.
Originally from Tuscany or Rome. He received an excellent and varied education, which opened up a brilliant secular career for him. However, striving for spiritual life, he chose a different path and became an archdeacon under the holy Pope Sixtus III (432 - 440), and after his death he was elected, in September 440, pope of the Roman Church.
St. Leo based the rights of his see not on the political significance of Rome, but on the primacy of St. Peter between the other apostles.
Saint Leo knew how to combine pastoral gentleness and kindness with indestructible firmness in matters of religion. It was he who was the main defender of Orthodoxy against the heresy of Eutyches and Dioscorus, who taught about one nature in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the heresy of Nestorius. He used all his influence in order to pacify the Church, troubled by heretics, and with his messages to the holy kings of Constantinople Theodosius II (408 - 450) and Marcian (450 - 457) he actively contributed to the convening of the IV Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451) to condemn the heresy of the Monophysites. At the Council, where 630 bishops were present, a message from Saint Leo was read out to the then deceased Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople (447 - 449), who suffered for the Orthodox Faith from the robber Council of Ephesus in 449. The message of Saint Leo set forth the Orthodox teaching about two natures in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the bishops present at the Council agreed with this teaching.
Leo the Great fought against the Manichaeans with particular severity [1].
During Attila's invasion, Leo was sent with gifts to keep the conqueror from plundering Italy and, according to legend, his eloquence saved Rome from the Huns. There was even a legend that the Apostle Peter himself, during the pope’s speech, threatened Attila with a fiery sword. During the invasion of Rome by the Vandal Genseric in 455, Leo the Great managed to get a promise from him that the Vandals would not kill people or burn churches and that the three churches would not be plundered.
Saint Leo lived to a ripe old age. He died on November 10, 461 and was buried in Rome, in the Vatican Cathedral. For his piety and successful defense of Orthodoxy, he was called “great.”
Troparion to Leo, Pope of Rome
, teacher of Orthodoxy, / teacher of piety and purity, / lamp of the universe, God-inspired fertilization of the bishops, / Leo the wise, / with your teachings you have enlightened everything, O spiritual priesthood. / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Buy an icon of St. Leo the Pope
In the Radonezh icon painting workshop you can buy or order a handwritten icon of St. Leo the Pope. Call us and we will help you choose a plot, a compositional solution for the icon, its optimal size and design, or we will write an icon according to your sample.
Free delivery throughout Russia.
If desired, the icon can be consecrated in the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra.
Peace and goodness to you, dear brothers and sisters, and may the holy saint of God, Leo the Pope of Rome, accompany you throughout your entire life’s journey.
Similar icons:
Pimen Vernensky 14000 ₽
Maxim Greek 13000 ₽
Macarius the Great (Egyptian) 13000 ₽
Christina of Caesarea 12000 ₽
