Leontius (writer)

Leontius (c. 485 – c. 543), theological writer, born at Constantinople, flourished during the sixth century. He is variously styled Byzantinus, Hierosolymitanus (as an inmate of the monastery of St. Saba near Jerusalem) and Scholasticus (the first "schoolman," as the introducer of the Aristotelian definitions into theology; according to others, he had been an advocate, a special meaning of the word "scholasticus"). He himself states that in his early years he belonged to a Nestorian community. Nothing else is known of his life; he is frequently confused with others of the same name, and it is uncertain which of the works bearing the name Leontius are really by him. For a time, he was a member of the so called "Scythian monks" community.

Most scholars regard as genuine the polemical treatises "Contra Nestorianos et Eutychianos, Contra Nestorianos, Contra Monophysitas, Contra Severum" (patriarch of Antioch); and the 2 xoXia, generally called "De Sectis". An essay "Adversus fraudes Apollinaristarum" and two homilies are referred to other hands, the homilies to a Leontius, presbyter of Constantinople.

References

His collected works can be found in J. P. Migne, "Patrologia Graeca", lxxxvi.; for the various questions connected with Leontius, see

*Friedrich Loofs, "Das Leben und die polemischen Werke des Leontios van Byzanz" (Leipzig, 1887);
*Wilhelm Rügamer, "Leontius van Byzanz" (1894);
*Vincent Ermoni, "De Leontio Byzantino" (Paris, 1895);
*C. Krumbacher, "Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur" (1897);
*Johannes Peter Junglas, "Leontius van Byzanz" (1908).

For other persons of the name, see J. A. Fabricius, "Bibliotheca Graeca" (ed. G. C. Harles), viii. 323.

*1911|article=Leontius|url=http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Leontius
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09180a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia article]