Saint Leo the Great — Pope of Rome Orthodox Icon
Saint Leo the Great, also known as Pope Leo I, Saint Leo of Rome, and Leo the Great, was one of the most important bishops and theologians of the ancient Christian Church.
He served as Pope and Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461, during a period of profound theological controversy and political upheaval in the Western Roman Empire.
Saint Leo is particularly remembered for his defense of the Orthodox teaching concerning Jesus Christ as truly God and truly man, and for the important role of his famous Tome of Leo at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
Because he lived almost six centuries before the Great Schism, Saint Leo belongs to the shared heritage of the ancient Christian Church and is venerated as a saint in both Eastern and Western Christianity.
Who Was Saint Leo the Great?
Saint Leo was born around the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th century. Little is known with certainty about his early life, although he was closely connected with Rome and entered the service of the Church.
Even before becoming bishop, Leo had acquired considerable authority as a churchman and diplomat.
In 440, he was elected Bishop of Rome.
His pontificate came during one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Western Roman Empire. Rome faced political instability, invasions and theological disputes that threatened both civil society and the unity of the Church.
Leo responded as a pastor, theologian and administrator, eventually becoming one of the most influential bishops of the 5th century.
Saint Leo the Great and the Council of Chalcedon
Saint Leo is especially important in Orthodox Christian history because of his role in the theological controversies concerning the person of Jesus Christ.
The central question was how Christians should understand Christ's divinity and humanity.
Leo addressed this subject in his famous letter to Flavian, Archbishop of Constantinople, commonly known as the Tome of Leo (Tomus ad Flavianum).
The document clearly affirmed that Jesus Christ is one Person in two natures, divine and human, without confusion or division.
Leo's teaching became an important part of the theological discussions at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon in 451.
The Council confessed Christ as:
truly God and truly man, perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity.
For this reason, Saint Leo the Great occupies an important place not only in Western Christian history but also in the theological heritage of the Orthodox Church.
“Peter Has Spoken Through Leo”
A famous tradition associated with the Council of Chalcedon records the bishops responding to Leo's teaching with the declaration:
“Peter has spoken through Leo.”
The phrase expressed their recognition that the teaching contained in Leo's Tome agreed with the apostolic faith concerning Christ.
It should not be interpreted simply through later debates about papal authority. In its 5th-century context, it reflected the Council's approval of the Christological teaching presented in Leo's letter.
This episode became one of the best-known moments in the life of Pope Leo the Great.
Saint Leo and Attila the Hun
Outside theological history, Saint Leo is perhaps most famous for his encounter with Attila the Hun.
In 452, Attila's forces invaded Italy and threatened further destruction.
Leo joined an imperial embassy that met Attila near Mantua. Following the meeting, Attila withdrew from his advance into Italy.
Later tradition dramatically expanded the story, sometimes depicting the Apostles Peter and Paul appearing with swords above Saint Leo and terrifying Attila into retreat.
The precise political and military reasons behind Attila's withdrawal were undoubtedly more complex, but Leo's participation in the embassy is historical and became one of the defining episodes associated with his pontificate.
Saint Leo and the Sack of Rome
Only a few years later, Rome faced another catastrophe.
In 455, the Vandals under King Genseric entered Rome.
Saint Leo again intervened personally.
Although he could not prevent the city from being plundered, historical tradition credits his negotiations with helping to limit the destruction and bloodshed.
These events contributed to Leo's reputation not only as a theologian but as a courageous pastor and protector of his people during the collapse of Roman political power in the West.
Why Is Saint Leo Called “the Great”?
Only a small number of Christian figures have traditionally received the title “the Great.”
In Leo's case, the title reflects the extraordinary influence of his theological writings, preaching, pastoral leadership and role in the Church during one of the most turbulent periods of late antiquity.
His surviving sermons and letters provide an important window into 5th-century Christianity.
They address Christology, the Incarnation, fasting, charity, Christian feasts, pastoral life and the responsibilities of the Church.
His theological legacy was especially shaped by his insistence upon the complete reality of both the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.
Is Saint Leo the Great an Orthodox Saint?
Yes. Saint Leo the Great is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
He lived in the 5th century, approximately six hundred years before the Great Schism of 1054, when Rome and the Churches of the Christian East were still in communion.
Orthodox tradition remembers him particularly for his defense of Orthodox Christology and his contribution to the teaching affirmed by the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon.
In the Orthodox Church, his feast is celebrated on February 18.
This makes Saint Leo an important example of a Western Orthodox saint — a saint of ancient Rome who belongs to the shared Christian heritage of the first millennium.
Saint Leo the Great or Pope Leo I?
These names refer to the same saint.
He may appear in historical and religious sources under several names:
Saint Leo the Great
St Leo the Great
Pope Leo the Great
Pope Leo I
Saint Leo I
Saint Leo of Rome
St Leo of Rome
Leo the Great of Rome
Leo Magnus
Pope Saint Leo I
The Latin title Leo Magnus simply means Leo the Great.
Using these alternative names is particularly helpful because Orthodox sources often emphasize Saint Leo, Pope of Rome, while general historical sources commonly refer to him as Pope Leo I or Pope Leo the Great.
Saint Leo the Great in Orthodox Iconography
In Orthodox iconography, Saint Leo the Great is represented as a holy hierarch and Bishop of Rome.
He is normally shown in episcopal vestments, reflecting his ministry as bishop and teacher of the Church. Depending on the particular iconographic tradition, he may hold a Gospel book, scroll, or make a gesture of blessing.
These attributes emphasize his role as a pastor, theologian and defender of Orthodox Christian doctrine.
His icon is therefore especially meaningful in a collection of the great hierarchs of the ancient undivided Church.
A Western Orthodox Saint of the Undivided Church
Saint Leo's life reminds us that the history of Orthodox Christianity is not limited geographically to Greece, the Balkans, the Middle East or the Slavic lands.
During the first millennium, saints of the same Christian Church lived throughout both Eastern and Western Europe.
Ancient Rome produced martyrs, bishops, theologians and pastors who continue to be commemorated in Orthodox Christianity.
Saint Leo the Great is one of the most important of these Western Orthodox saints.
His icon connects the Christian heritage of ancient Rome with the Ecumenical Councils and the theological tradition shared by Christians of the first millennium.
A Saint Leo the Great Icon for Prayer
An icon of Saint Leo the Great may be especially meaningful for Christians named Leo or Leon, for those interested in the Ecumenical Councils and early Christian theology, or for anyone seeking an icon of an ancient Western saint.
Saint Leo's life recalls courage in defending the faith, pastoral responsibility during times of crisis, and faithfulness to the mystery of Christ as truly God and truly man.
Our icon is carefully reproduced on a prepared wooden panel and individually hand-finished with natural beeswax in our family workshop in Portugal.
Orthodox Feast Day: February 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Leo the Great?
Saint Leo the Great, or Pope Leo I, was Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461 and one of the most influential Christian theologians and church leaders of the 5th century.
Is Pope Leo the Great an Orthodox saint?
Yes. Saint Leo lived centuries before the Great Schism and is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His Orthodox feast day is February 18.
What is Saint Leo the Great famous for?
He is particularly known for the Tome of Leo, his contribution to the Christological teaching affirmed at the Council of Chalcedon, and his historic meeting with Attila the Hun.
What was the Tome of Leo?
The Tome was a theological letter written by Leo to Flavian of Constantinople explaining the relationship between the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. It became an important document at the Council of Chalcedon.
Are Saint Leo the Great and Pope Leo I the same person?
Yes. Saint Leo the Great, Pope Leo the Great, Pope Leo I and Saint Leo of Rome all refer to the same 5th-century saint.
When is Saint Leo the Great celebrated in the Orthodox Church?
His feast is celebrated on February 18.
Venerated Relics: Rest in St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican) in a chapel bearing his name.
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Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.
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