Leander of Seville

About Leander of Seville

Leander was a monk who became bishop of Seville (Hispalis) in the sixth century. His brother Isidore, who later succeeded him in the see, describes him as an eloquent and learned churchman and credits his faith and work with helping the Gothic people turn from Arian Christianity to Catholic faith. Isidore also says Leander wrote against Arian teaching while exiled, although he gives no dates for these events.Leander's role at the Third Council of Toledo in 589 is documented by John of Biclaro, a contemporary chronicler. John says that the council's principal business was in the hands of Leander and Eutropius, abbot of the Servitanian monastery. This identifies Leander among the leading bishops during the religious settlement under King Reccared, while recognizing that the council was a royal and episcopal action rather than Leander's work alone.Gregory the Great's dedicatory epistle to Leander recalls that they had met at Constantinople during a mission concerning the faith of the Visigoths. This supports Leander's connection with the eastern imperial capital and Gregory, but does not establish the fuller episodes found in later lives. Modern summaries generally place Leander's death around 600; the Orthodox Church in America commemorates him on February 27 and gives 600 or 601 as a traditional death year. That calendar date is retained as a feast, not treated as a securely established death day. No birthplace or birth date is proposed.