Book of the Pontiffs 4 part 2/2

a basilica in the Sessorian palace, where also he enclosed in gold and gems (a portion) of the wood of the holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. At that same time he made a basilica of the holy martyr Agnes at the request of his daughter Constantia. At that same time he made the basilica of Saint Laurentius. At that same time he made a basilica of the holy martyrs Marcellinus the presbyter and Peter the exorcist. Blessed Sylvester was buried on the Via Salaria, in the cemetery of Priscilla, at the third milestone from the city of Rome, on the day before the Kalends of January. The episcopate was vacant for nine days. XXXV. MARK, a Roman by nation, son of Priscus, occupied the see for two years. He lived in the times of Constantine and Nepotianus and Facundus, the consuls, from the day of the Kalends of February down to the day of the Kalends of October.

He instituted that the bishop of Ostia, who consecrates the bishop (of Rome), should use the pallium and be consecrated by the same bishop of the city of Rome. He held two ordinations in the month of December: twenty-five presbyters, six deacons, and seventeen bishops for various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Balbina, on the Via Ardeatina, on the day before the Nones of October. And the episcopate was vacant for twenty days. XXXVI. JULIUS, a Roman by nation, son of Rusticus, occupied the see for fifteen years and one month. He lived in the times of Constantine, Felicianus, and Maximinus. He held three ordinations in the month of December: eighteen presbyters, four deacons, and nine bishops for various places. He was buried on the Via Aurelia, in the cemetery of Calepodius, at the third milestone, on the day before the Ides of April. The episcopate was vacant for twenty-five days. XXXVII.

LIBERIUS, a Roman by nation, son of Augustus, occupied the see for six years, three months, and four days. He lived in the times of Constantius down to the third (consulship of) Constantius Augustus. He was thrust into exile by Constantius because he refused to consent to the Arian heresy. He spent three years (in exile). And Liberius, gathering the priests together with their counsel, ordained in his place the presbyter Felix, a venerable man, as bishop. And Felix held a council and found two presbyters consenting to the Arian Constantius Augustus, named Ursacius and Valens, and condemned them in a council of forty-eight bishops. After a few days, moved by zeal, Ursacius and Valens asked Constantius Augustus to recall Liberius from exile, that he might share in but one communion, except for re-baptizing.

And Liberius consented to the commands of the Augustus, that he should agree to the one participation of communion. Then they recalled Liberius from exile. At that same time Constantius, together with Ursacius and Valens, summoned some who were of the Arian dregs, and sent and recalled Liberius from the cemetery of holy Agnes, where he was staying; and Liberius having entered Rome, at that very hour Constantius held a council with the heretics, together with Ursacius and Valens, and expelled Felix from the episcopate, who was catholic, and recalled Liberius. From that same day there was a persecution among the clergy, so that within the church presbyters and clerics were put to death. And Felix, deposed from the episcopate, dwelt on his own small estate, where he rested in peace on the third day before the Kalends of August.

Liberius, having entered the city on the fourth day before the Nones of August, consented to the heretical Constantius; he was not, however, re-baptized, but gave his consent. He held two ordinations: eighteen presbyters, five deacons, and eight bishops for various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla, on the Via Salaria, on the fifth day before the Ides of September. The episcopate was vacant for six days. XXXVIII. FELIX, a Roman by nation, son of Anastasius, occupied the see for three years. He declared Constantius a heretic and twice re-baptized. He was crowned with martyrdom. He built a basilica on the Via Aurelia, two miles from the city, where also he rested. He held ordinations in the month of December: twenty-one presbyters, five deacons, and nineteen bishops for various places.

He too was beheaded with many clerics and faithful, secretly, beside the wall of the city, alongside the aqueduct of Trajan, on the third day before the Ides of November. And from there the Christians, together with the presbyter Damasus, snatched away his body by night and buried it in the aforesaid basilica, on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of December. The episcopate was vacant for thirty-eight days. XXXIX. DAMASUS, a Spaniard by nation, son of Antonius, occupied the see for eighteen years, three months, and eleven days. He lived in the times of Julian. He built two basilicas, one on the Via Ardeatina, where he rests. He was accused of the crime of adultery; a synod having been held, he was cleared by forty-four bishops; they condemned the deacons Concordius and Callistus, his accusers, and cast them out of the church. He held five ordinations in the month of December: thirty-one presbyters, deacons

eleven, and sixty-one bishops for various places. He was buried in his own basilica on the third day before the Ides of December, together with his mother and his sister. The episcopate was vacant for thirty-six days. XL. SIRICIUS, a Roman by nation, son of Tiburtius, occupied the see for fifteen years and twenty-five days. He made a regulation concerning the church and directed it throughout the provinces. He instituted that, without the consecrated bishop of any given place, a presbyter should not be permitted to be consecrated. He instituted that a heretic be reconciled by the imposition of hands. He held five ordinations: thirty-one presbyters, sixteen deacons, and thirty-two bishops for various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla, on the Via Salaria, on the eighth day before the Kalends of March. The episcopate was vacant for twenty days. XLI. ANASTASIUS, a Roman by nation, son of Maximus, occupied the see for three years and ten days.

He instituted that, whenever the Gospels are read, the priests should not sit. He held two ordinations: five presbyters, five deacons, and eleven bishops for various places. He was buried at the Ursus Pileatus, on the fifth day before the Kalends of May. The episcopate was vacant for twenty-one days. XLII. INNOCENT, an Albanian by nation, son of Innocentius, occupied the see for fifteen years, one month, and twenty-one days. He instituted that the Sabbath fast be observed, because on the Sabbath the Lord was laid in the tomb and the disciples fasted. He held four ordinations in December: thirty presbyters, twelve deacons, and fifty-four bishops for various places. He was buried at the Ursus Pileatus, on the fifth day before the Kalends of July. The episcopate was vacant for twenty-one days. XLIII. ZOSIMUS, a Greek by nation, son of Abramius, occupied the see for one year, two months, and eleven days.

He instituted that the deacons should have their left arms covered with linen-mixed palls throughout the parishes, and that the wax (candle) be blessed. He held one ordination in the month of December: ten presbyters, three deacons, and nine bishops for various places. He was buried beside the body of blessed Laurentius, on the Via Tiburtina, on the seventh day before the Kalends of January. The episcopate was vacant for eleven days. XLIV. BONIFACE, a Roman by nation, son of the presbyter Jocundus, occupied the see for three years, nine months, and six days. Under his pretension there was, with the ordinand Eulalius, dissension in the clergy for seven months and fifteen days. And a synod having been held, Eulalius was deposed under (the judgment of) other bishops, because he had not been justly ordained, and by the consent of all Boniface sat as prelate, and Eulalius was established as bishop in the city of Nepi.

He decreed that no woman or nun should touch, wash, or place incense upon the consecrated altar-cloth in church, except a minister; and that no slave should be made a cleric. He held one ordination in the month of December: 13 presbyters, 4 deacons, and 36 bishops in various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Saint Felicitas, on the Salarian Way, on the eighth day before the Kalends of November. The episcopate was vacant for nine days. 45. CELESTINE, of Campanian birth, son of Priscus, sat for 8 years, 10 months, and 17 days. He ordained that the 150 psalms of David should be sung before the sacrifice, which was not done before, but only the Epistles of Paul the Apostle and the holy Gospel were read, and thus Masses were celebrated. He held three ordinations in the month of December: 32 presbyters, deacons

12 deacons, and 46 bishops in various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla, on the Salarian Way, on the eighth day before the Kalends of April. The episcopate was vacant for 21 days. 46. SIXTUS, of Roman birth, son of Xystus, sat for 8 years and 19 days. He was incriminated and accused by a certain Bassus; by command of Valentinian Augustus, a synod was convened with great examination, and he was cleared by 54 bishops, and he cast Bassus out of communion. He held ordinations: 28 presbyters, 22 deacons, and 52 bishops in various places. He was buried on the Tiburtine Way, in the crypt by Saint Lawrence. The episcopate was vacant for 21 days. 47. LEO, of Tuscan birth, son of Quintian, sat for 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. He issued a constitution concerning the church.

He confronted two heresies, those of Eutyches and Nestorius; and at the request of Marcian Augustus, the orthodox prince, by his command a council of holy bishops was held at Chalcedon in the East, in the basilica of the holy martyr Euphemia, and it gathered 266 priests and others, whose signatures were recorded — 406 bishops — who condemned Eutyches and Nestorius. And after 42 days, again assembled together with their signatures, 1,200 bishops who were present, setting forth the faith together with the most pious Augustus Marcian, who together with the Augusta Placidia publicly declared his faith before the presence of the holy priests and bishops, where again Eutyches was condemned.

And afterward the emperor Marcian, together with 150 bishops, sent and requested in writing of Pope Leo that he should set forth and direct to him the faith as an exposition of the catholic and apostolic faith. The blessed Leo indeed set it forth and sent his Tome and confirmed the holy synod. He composed many letters expounding the right catholic faith, which are kept today in the archive of the Roman church, and a decretal which he sowed and scattered throughout the whole world. He held four ordinations in the month of December: 81 presbyters, 31 deacons, and 175 bishops in various places. He ordained that a nun should not receive the blessing of the veil of the head unless she had been proven in virginity for 60 years. He was buried in the basilica of blessed Peter on the third day before the Ides of April. The episcopate was vacant for six days.

48. HILARY, of Sardinian birth, son of Crispinian, sat for 6 years, 3 months, and 10 days. He issued a decretal and sent it throughout the whole East, and letters concerning the catholic faith. He held one ordination in the month of December: 15 presbyters, 6 deacons, and 22 bishops in various places. He was buried at Saint Lawrence's, in the crypt, beside the body of blessed Sixtus. The episcopate was vacant for ten days. 49. SIMPLICIUS, of Tiburtine birth, son of Castinus, sat for 15 years, 1 month, and 7 days. He established weekly turns at Saint Peter's, Saint Paul's, and Saint Lawrence's, so that presbyters should remain there for the sake of baptism and penance for those requesting it:

from the first region to Saint Paul's, from the third region to Saint Lawrence's, from the seventh region to Saint Peter's. During his episcopate there came a report from Greece from Acacius, who was bishop of Constantinople, and he affirmed that Peter of Alexandria was a Eutychian heretic; the petition having been made by Acacius, the matter came forward. At that time the church was carrying it out. Then Simplicius the prelate condemned Peter of Alexandria, against whom Acacius affirmed innumerable crimes. At the same time Timothy the catholic and Acacius wrote back, saying that Peter was implicated in the death of a catholic presbyter. Then Pope Simplicius, dissembling, never wrote to Acacius, but condemned Peter. He held ordinations in the month of December, three: 58 presbyters, deacons

11 deacons, and 82 bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the sixth day before the Nones of March. And the episcopate was vacant for five days. 50. FELIX, of Roman birth, son of Felix a presbyter, sat for 8 years, 11 months, and 15 days. During his episcopate there came again a report from the fathers of Greece, that Peter of Alexandria had been recalled to communion by Acacius. Then the venerable Pope Felix, sending a defender by the decree of the synod of his see, condemned Acacius together with Peter. After three years a report came again from the emperor Zeno, that Acacius might return as a penitent. Then Pope Felix held a council and by common consent sent two bishops, Misenus and Vitalis, so that if they found Acacius an accomplice of Peter, they should condemn him again; if not, they should present a written confession of penance.

But when they had entered the city of Constantinople, the aforesaid bishops, corrupted by a gift of money, did not act according to the command of the apostolic see. Coming then to Rome to the apostolic see, Pope Felix held a council; and after an examination was made in the council he found them guilty and cast out the bishops Misenus and Vitalis from communion. Then bishop Misenus did not keep silent that he had been corrupted by money; to whom the council granted a time of penance. This indeed was done in the times of King Odoacer. He held two ordinations in the month of December: 28 presbyters, 5 deacons, and 31 bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Paul's. The episcopate was vacant for five days. 51. GELASIUS, of African birth, son of Valerius, sat for 4 years, months

8 months, 8 days. He was in the times of King Theodoric and Zeno Augustus. By the proceedings of a synod he recalled, with weeping and upon the satisfaction of a written recantation, the now-cleared bishop Misenus. He composed prefaces for the sacraments in careful language, and letters of the faith in polished language. He held three ordinations in the month of December: 32 presbyters, 2 deacons, and 67 bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the eleventh day before the Kalends of December. The episcopate was vacant for seven days. 52. ANASTASIUS, of Roman birth, son of Peter, sat for 1 year, 11 months, and 24 days. He held one ordination in the month of December: 12 presbyters and 9 bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Peter's in the Vatican on the twelfth day before the Kalends of December. And the episcopate was vacant for six days. 53.

SYMMACHUS, of Sardinian birth, son of Fortunatus, sat for 15 years, 7 months, and 26 days. He was in the times of the heretic Theodoric and the Eutychian Anastasius Augustus. He loved the clergy and the poor, being good, prudent, kindly, and gracious; and during his time Laurentius was ordained as bishop in rivalry. For this reason a part of the clergy and senators split off, some with Symmachus and others with Laurentius. And after this contention they jointly determined that both should go to Ravenna to the judgment of King Theodoric. When they had arrived, this just verdict was found: that whoever had been ordained first or where the greater part consented, he should sit in the apostolic see;

and this equity nonetheless found in favor of Symmachus, and the recognition of the truth; and blessed Symmachus was the prelate. At the same time Pope Symmachus held a synod and appointed Laurentius bishop in the city of Nuceria, out of consideration of mercy. But after four years, some of the clergy and some of the senate, led by zeal and guile, incriminated Symmachus and suborned false witnesses, whom they sent to Ravenna to the heretic King Theodoric, accusing blessed Symmachus; and secretly they recalled Laurentius to Rome; and they made a schism and a certain party separated themselves from one another from the communion of Symmachus, sending a report to the king, and they asked of King Theodoric a visitor of the apostolic see, Peter of Altinum.

At the same time blessed Symmachus gathered 115 bishops, and a synod having been held he was cleared of the false charge, and Peter of Altinum, the usurper of the apostolic see, and Laurentius of Nuceria were condemned. Then by all the bishops, presbyters, deacons, and clergy, blessed Symmachus was restored to the apostolic see, to sit as prelate with glory at blessed Peter's. He held four ordinations in the city of Rome in the month of December: 47 presbyters, 15 deacons, and 117 bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of August, in peace. The episcopate was vacant for three days. 54. HORMISDAS, of Campanian birth, son of Justus, from the city of Frusino, sat for 9 years and 16 days.

By the authority of his episcopate, and according to the decree of a synod, he sent into Greece, according to the humanity of the apostolic see, and reconciled the Greeks, who had been bound under anathema on account of Peter of Alexandria and Acacius of Constantinople. This pope went to King Theodoric at Ravenna, and by the king's counsel he dispatched Ennodius bishop of Ticinum and Fortunatus bishop of Catania and Euantius a presbyter of the city and Vitalis a deacon of the city: going to Anastasius Augustus, that the Greeks might be recalled upon the satisfaction of a written confession, they accomplished nothing. Again a second time Hormisdas sent the bishops Ennodius and Peregrinus and Pullio a subdeacon of the city, and they carried letters of the faith and secret protestations, nineteen in number, and a written confession, by which they might return;

but if they were unwilling to receive the protestations of the letters, they should scatter them throughout the cities. To this Anastasius Augustus was unwilling to consent, because he was a consenting party in the heresy of Eutyches. Wishing therefore to corrupt them by reward: but they, despising the prince, by no means consented to accept money. Inflamed with rage, the emperor cast them out through a dangerous route and placed them on a ship under peril of death, with the magistrian and prefectorial officers Heliodorus and Demetrius; and the emperor gave this charge, that they should enter no city. But they secretly placed the aforesaid nineteen letters of the faith, by the hands of catholic monks, throughout all the cities.

Yet these letters, received by the bishops of the cities who consented to the heretic Anastasius Augustus, were all out of fear directed to Constantinople into the hands of Anastasius. Driven by fury, Anastasius wrote among other imperial documents to Pope Hormisdas, saying: 'We wish to command, not to be commanded by you.' Struck by a divine blow, Anastasius perished. So Justin the orthodox took up the imperial power; and sending to the apostolic see, to Pope Hormisdas, a man illustrious by name Gratus, he hoped that they might be sent bound to the apostolic see, yet with the counsel of King Theodoric.

And he dispatched Germanus bishop of Capua and John a bishop and Blandus a presbyter and Felix a deacon of the apostolic see and Dioscorus a deacon of the see, whom, fortified on every side with the faith together with a written confession, he received, as to how the Greeks might return to the communion of the apostolic see. When they came near Constantinople, a multitude of monks and illustrious men ran out to meet them, among whom the emperor Justin and Vitalian the master of soldiers; and together from the place called the Round Castle as far as into the city of Constantinople they entered with glory and praises, together with the illustrious Gratus. So having entered the city, they were received by Justin Augustus the orthodox with glory.

So all the clergy of Constantinople, together with John the bishop, perceiving that they had been graciously received, shut themselves up within the great church which is called Holy Wisdom, and having taken counsel they sent word to the emperor, saying: 'Unless an account is rendered to us as to why Acacius, the bishop of our city, was condemned, we by no means agree with the apostolic see.' And a council having been held together with Justin Augustus in the sight of all the illustrious men, then the legates of the apostolic see chose from among their own number the deacon Dioscorus to render the account. He so set forth to them the faults of Acacius that even all, together with Justin Augustus, cried out, saying: 'Both here and forever let Acacius be condemned.' At the same time Justin Augustus ordered

once the truth was accepted, that without any delay all the bishops who were in the kingdom of Justin should make a written confession and return to the communion of the apostolic see, which indeed was done. And they were brought into concord from the East as far as the West, and the peace of the church prevailed. The text of which written confession is today kept stored in the archive of the church. He confronted the Manichaeans, whom he also examined under the trial of scourges; whose books he consumed by fire before the doors of the Constantinian basilica. In his times the episcopate of Africa was reordered after 74 years, since it had been destroyed by the heretics from the time of persecution. At the same time there came a golden crown with most precious gems as a gift from the king of the Franks.

He held ordinations of presbyters and bishops in various places. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the seventh day before the Ides of August. The episcopate was vacant for six days. 55. JOHN, of Tuscan birth, son of Constantius, sat for 2 years, 8 months, and 15 days, from the consulship of Maximus to the consulship of Olybrius. He was summoned by King Theodoric to Ravenna; and the king, entreating him, sent him on an embassy to Constantinople to Justin Augustus — a religious man, who out of the highest love of the Christian religion wished to root out the heretics. For with the greatest fervor he dedicated the churches of the Arians within the catholic faith. Whereupon Theodoric the Arian, being angered, wished to destroy all Italy with the sword.

Then John the venerable pope set out, walking with weeping and lamentation, together with religious men and consuls and the patricians Theodore, Importunus, Agapitus, and another Agapitus, receiving this as the charge of the embassy, that the churches should be restored to the heretics in the regions of Greece: but if this were not done, Justin Augustus would destroy all Italy with the sword. To him indeed, and to such great senators and illustrious ex-consuls and patricians of the city of Rome — Flavius Theodore an illustrious man, surpassing the splendor of all dignities, and also Importunus an illustrious man of consular rank, and Agapitus an illustrious man of consular rank, and another Agapitus a patrician — he granted the whole petition:

on account of the blood of the Romans, he restored the churches to the heretics. And when it had been carried out in the regions of Greece according to the will of the heretic King Theodoric — chiefly that the priests and Christians should be put to the sword — yet that most blessed bishop John together with the illustrious men was stationed at Constantinople; and King Theodoric seized two senators of consular rank and patrician status, and slew them with the sword, Boethius and Symmachus, whose bodies he also ordered to be hidden. But when these aforesaid illustrious men came back with bishop John, all things having been done in order — Agapitus the patrician having died in Greece — they were received by King Theodoric with guile and great hatred; he received bishop John and also the religious illustrious senators.

Receiving them then with such great indignation, he wished to punish them with the sword, but fearing the indignation of Justin Augustus the orthodox, he did not do so: yet he confined them all in custody, so that blessed Pope John, wasted away by the affliction of custody, growing faint, died. He died indeed at Ravenna with glory, on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of June, in the custody of King Theodoric. After this, by the will of God almighty, on the forty-eighth day after bishop John died in custody, King Theodoric suddenly perished, struck down by divine power. He held ordinations in various places. The episcopate was vacant for ten days. 56. FELIX, of Samnite birth, son of Castorius, sat for 2 years and 14 days, from the consulship of Aburtus to the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, from the fourth day before the Ides of July

to the fourth day before the Ides of October. He built the basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in the city of Rome, beside the Temple of the City of Rome. He died in the times of King Athalaric, on the third day of October. He was buried at blessed Peter's. He held two ordinations: 52 presbyters, 4 deacons, and 29 bishops in various places. The episcopate was vacant for one day.