in the city of Ostia, a basilica for blessed John the Baptist. He also built a basilica in the city of Albanum; within the city of Capua a basilica, which he also named the Constantinian; he also built a basilica in the city of Naples. All these basilicas which Constantine Augustus constructed he adorned abundantly with gold and silver, and endowed them with no small possessions in various provinces. And blessed Silvester the bishop ordained, in the month of December, forty-four priests, twenty-six deacons, and at various times and places sixty-five bishops. He was buried on the Salarian Way, in the cemetery of Priscilla, at the third milestone from the city of Rome, on the day before the Kalends of January. And the episcopate was vacant eight days. (35) MARK, of the Roman nation, son of Priscus, sat two years, eight
months, twenty days. He flourished in the times of Constantine and Nepotianus, when Facundus was consul, from the day of the Kalends of February to the third day before the Kalends of October. He decreed that the bishop of Ostia, who consecrates the bishop [of Rome], should use the pallium and should be consecrated by that same bishop of the city of Rome. He held two ordinations: twenty-six priests, six deacons, seventeen bishops. He was buried in the cemetery of Balbina on the day before the Nones of October. The episcopate was vacant twenty days. (36) JULIUS, of the Roman nation, son of Rusticus, sat fifteen years, two months, seven days. He flourished in the times of Constantine and Felicianus and Maximinus. He decreed that no cleric should plead a case in public. He held three ordinations: eighteen priests, four deacons, nine bishops.
He was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius. The episcopate was vacant twenty-five days. (37) LIBERIUS, of the Roman nation, son of Augustus, sat six years, three months, eight days. He flourished in the times of Constantius. He was condemned to exile by Constantius, because he had refused to consent to the Arian heresy, and he spent three years there. Then, with the counsel of the priests, he ordained Felix, a priest, as bishop in his place. Then the aforesaid Felix in his council, together with forty-eight bishops, condemned two priests, Ursacius and Valens, because they consented to Constantius in the heresy.
5:41
PostpaucosdieszeloductiVrsaciusetValensrogaueruntConstantioAugusto, utreuocaretLiberiodeexilioetunamtantumcommunionemparticiparet, exceptorebaptizare. QuiLiberiusconsensit. EtreuocatoeodeexiliohabitauitincimiteriosanctaeAgnisapudgermanamConstantiAug., utquasipereiusrogaturediretinciuitatem ; sedipsaproeorogarenoluit, quiafideliseratinChristo. TuncConstantiuscumVrsatioetValenteetalios, quiexfeceArrianaerant, reuocaueruntLiberiumRomam ; factoqueconciliocumhereticiseieceruntFelicemdeepiscopato. Habitauitinprediolosuo, ubietrequieuitinpaceIIIIk. Aug. IngressusLiberiusurbemIIIInon. Aug.
After a few days, moved by zeal, Ursacius and Valens asked Constantius Augustus to recall Liberius from exile and to admit him to communion only—provided he did not rebaptize. Liberius consented to this. And when he had been recalled from exile, he dwelt in the cemetery of holy Agnes, with the sister of Constantius Augustus, so that as it were at her request he might return to the city; but she would not plead for him, because she was faithful in Christ. Then Constantius, with Ursacius and Valens and others who were of the Arian dregs, recalled Liberius to Rome; and a council having been held with the heretics, they cast Felix out of the episcopate. He dwelt on his own little estate, where he also rested in peace on the fourth day before the Kalends of August. Liberius entered the city on the fourth day before the Nones of August,
and consented to the heretic Constantius; yet Liberius was not rebaptized. Then a great persecution arose in Rome, so that the Catholic clergy had no entrance into the churches or the baths. And so all the years of Felix are reckoned within the reign of this man. He held two ordinations: eighteen priests, five deacons, eight bishops. He too was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the fifth day before the Ides of September. The episcopate was vacant six days. (38) FELIX, of the Roman nation, son of Anastasius, sat one year, three months, two days. He declared Constantius a heretic and rebaptized. He was crowned with martyrdom; and he built a basilica on the Aurelian Way, where he also rests. He held one ordination: twenty-one priests, five deacons, eighteen bishops. He was buried on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of December.
The episcopate was vacant thirty-eight days. (39) DAMASUS, of the Spanish nation, son of Antonius, sat eighteen years, three months, eleven days. He flourished in the times of Julian. He dedicated the burial-place at the Catacombs, where the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul had lain, which he also adorned with verses. He was accused of adultery and, a synod having been held, was cleared by forty-four bishops, who also condemned the deacons Concordius and Calixtus, his accusers, and cast them out of the church. He held five ordinations: thirty-one priests, eleven deacons, forty-one bishops. He too was buried on the Ardeatine Way, in the basilica which he himself built, on the third day before the Ides of December. The episcopate was vacant twenty-six days. (40) SIRICIUS, of the Roman nation, son of Tiburtius, sat fifteen years.
He made a constitution concerning the church and dispatched it throughout the provinces. And he decreed that, without the bishop's consecration of the place, it should not be lawful for any priest to consecrate. He decreed that a heretic should be reconciled by the laying on of the hand. He held five ordinations: thirty-one priests, sixteen deacons, thirty-two bishops. He too was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the eighth day before the Kalends of March. And the episcopate was vacant twenty days. (41) ANASTASIUS, of the Roman nation, son of Maximus, sat three years, twenty-seven days. He decreed that, when the Gospels are read, the priests should not sit, but should stand bowed; and he decreed that no cleric from overseas should be received, unless he produced the signed document of five bishops, on account of the Manichaeans. He held two ordinations: priests
nine, deacons five, bishops eleven. He was buried at Ursus Pileatus on the fifth day before the Kalends of May. The episcopate was vacant twenty-one days. (42) INNOCENT, of the Albanian nation, son of Innocentius, sat fifteen years, two months, twenty-two days. He decreed that the Sabbath should be observed as a fast, because on the Sabbath the Lord was laid in the tomb and the disciples fasted. He held four ordinations: thirty priests, twelve deacons, fifty-four bishops. He was buried at Ursus Pileatus on the fifth day before the Kalends of July. The episcopate was vacant twenty-two days. (43) ZOSIMUS, of the Greek nation, son of Abramius, sat seven years, nine months, twenty-four days.
He made a constitution that the deacons should have their left arms covered with linen palls throughout the parishes, and that the wax should be blessed, and that no cleric should drink in a public tavern, except only in the cells of the faithful, chiefly of the clergy. He held one ordination: ten priests, three deacons, nine bishops. He was buried beside the body of blessed Laurence the martyr on the seventh day before the Kalends of January. And the episcopate was vacant eleven days. (44) BONIFACE, of the Roman nation, son of Jocundus the priest, sat three years, eight months, six days. He was ordained amid contention with Eulalius, and there was dissension in the clergy for four months and fifteen days.
And a synod having been held, Eulalius was deposed by fifty-two priests, because he had been ordained unjustly, and by the consent of all Boniface sat as prelate, and Eulalius was established as bishop in the city of Nepesina. He decreed that no women should touch the consecrated pall or place incense in the church except a minister; nor should a slave be made a cleric, nor one bound to the curia or to any obligation. He held one ordination: thirteen priests, three deacons, thirty-six bishops. He too was buried in the cemetery of holy Felicitas on the eighth day before the Kalends of November. The episcopate was vacant nine days. (45) CELESTINE, of the Campanian nation, son of Priscus, sat nine years, ten months, seventeen days.
He decreed that the one hundred and fifty psalms should be sung before the sacrifice, which was not done before, but only the epistle of the apostle Paul and the holy Gospel were recited, and the Masses were performed. He held three ordinations: thirty-two priests, twelve deacons, forty-six bishops. He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the eighth day before the Ides of April. And the episcopate was vacant twenty-one days. (46) XYSTUS, of the Roman nation, son of Xystus, sat eight years, nineteen days. He was accused by a certain Bassus; and by the command of Valentinian Augustus, with great examination, a synod having been held, he was cleared by fifty-six bishops, and they cast Bassus out of communion. He built a basilica of holy Mary near the Macellum of Livia and adorned the confessio of blessed Peter the apostle with silver.
In his times Valentinian Augustus adorned the basilicas of blessed Peter and Paul with much gold and silver, and in the Constantinian basilica he made a silver fastigium, which had been carried off by the barbarians, and in many other Roman basilicas Valentinian Augustus offered many gifts. He held three ordinations: twenty-eight priests, twenty-two deacons, fifty-two bishops. He too was buried on the Tiburtine Way, at Saint Laurence's. And the episcopate was vacant twenty-two days. (47) LEO, of the Tuscan nation, son of Quintianus, sat twenty-one years, one month, thirteen days. He restored the ministries of the Roman church after the Vandal war.
He, together with many bishops, set forth the right Catholic faith—which today is kept in the archive of the Roman church—on account of the heresy of Eutyches and Nestorius, who were condemned in his times. He held seven ordinations: seventy-seven priests, thirty deacons, one hundred and seventy-five bishops. He restored the basilica of blessed Peter and of blessed Paul the apostles after the divine fire; he also built many basilicas. For the sake of the Roman name he went to Attila, king of the Huns, and delivered all Italy. He established a monastery beside blessed Peter the apostle. He decreed that within the Action the words 'holy sacrifice' and the rest should be said. He decreed that a nun should not receive the blessing of the veil for her head unless she had been proven in virginity for forty years.
He decreed that there should be guardians over the sepulchre, who are called chamberlains (cubicularii). He too was buried in the basilica of blessed Peter on the third day before the Ides of April. The episcopate was vacant seven days. (48) HILARY, of the Sardinian nation, son of Crispinus, sat six years, three months, ten days. He made many vessels and various ornaments for the apostles Peter and Paul, and he adorned the Constantinian, Saint Laurence's, and holy Mary's. He held one ordination: twenty-five priests, six deacons, twenty-two bishops. He too was buried at Saint Laurence's, beside the body of Saint Xystus. And the episcopate was vacant ten days. (49) SIMPLICIUS, of the Tiburtine nation, son of Castinus, sat fifteen years, one month, seven days.
He established weekly turns at Saint Peter's, at Saint Paul's, and at Saint Laurence's, so that priests should remain there for the sake of baptism and of those seeking penance: from the third region at Saint Laurence's, from the first region at Saint Paul's, from the seventh region at Saint Peter's. He held three ordinations: fifty-eight priests, eleven deacons, eighty-two bishops. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the sixth day before the Nones of March. The episcopate was vacant six days. (50) FELIX, of the Roman nation, son of Felix the priest, sat eight years, eleven months, seventeen days. He held two ordinations: twenty-eight priests, five deacons, thirty-one bishops. He was buried at blessed Paul's. The episcopate was vacant five days. (51) GELASIUS, of the African nation, son of Valerius, sat
four years, eight months. He flourished in the times of King Theoderic and of Zeno Augustus. He wrote five books against Nestorius and Eutyches; he also composed hymns in the manner of blessed Ambrose; he wrote two books against Arius, and he composed prefaces for the sacraments in a careful style and letters of the faith in a polished style. He held two ordinations: thirty-two priests, two deacons, sixty-seven bishops. He too was buried at blessed Peter's on the eleventh day before the Kalends of December. The episcopate was vacant seven days. (52) ANASTASIUS, of the Roman nation, son of Peter, sat one year, eleven months, twenty-four days. He made the confessio of blessed Laurence.
From him many of the clergy and priests withdrew from communion, because he had communicated, without their counsel, with a deacon of Thessalonica named Photinus. He held one ordination: eleven priests, eight bishops. He was buried at blessed Peter's on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of December. The episcopate was vacant six days. (53) SYMMACHUS, of the Sardinian nation, son of Fortunatus, sat fifteen years, six months, twenty-seven days. He flourished in the times of the heretic Theoderic and of Anastasius Augustus. He loved the clergy and the poor; and with him Laurentius was ordained amid contention for the episcopate. And the contention having arisen, they determined that both should proceed to Ravenna to the judgment of King Theoderic.
When they had arrived, this judgment of equity was found: that whoever had been ordained first, or where the greater part consented, he should sit in the apostolic see; and this equity was found in favor of Symmachus. Then blessed Pope Symmachus, out of mercy, established Laurentius as bishop in the city of Nuceria. But after four years, certain men of the clergy and certain men of the senate, moved by zeal, brought charges against Symmachus; they sent to the heretic King Theoderic, accusing blessed Symmachus; and secretly they recalled Laurentius to Rome; and they made a schism, and a certain party separated itself from the communion of Symmachus, requesting from the heretic king Peter of Altinum as a visitor.
Then blessed Symmachus gathered one hundred and fifteen bishops, and a synod having been held, he was cleared of the false charge, and Peter of Altinum and Laurentius of Nuceria were condemned; but Symmachus with great honor sat in his see. Then Festus the patrician began within the city to commit slaughter among the clergy who held communion with blessed Symmachus, and, dragging the consecrated holy women from their dwellings, stripping the female sex, beating them with clubs, he there killed many priests. Now blessed Symmachus held office from the consulship of Paulinus to the consulship of Senator, from the tenth day before the Kalends of December to the thirteenth day before the Kalends of August. He built the basilica of Saint Andrew the apostle at Saint Peter's and adorned both it and many others with much gold and silver.
He was a builder of churches; he enlarged the clergy and tripled the gift of the presbytery, and tripled the clothing and provisions for the poor, and many other good things which it would be long to recount. He held four ordinations: ninety-eight priests, sixteen deacons, one hundred and eighteen bishops. He too was buried at blessed Peter's on the fourth day before the Kalends of August. The episcopate was vacant six days. (54) HORMISDAS, of the Campanian nation, son of Justus, from the city of Frisino, sat nine years, seventeen days. He had contests through his letters against the heretic emperor Anastasius. Among the many other things which Anastasius sent to him, he wrote this, saying: 'We wish to command, not to be commanded.' Struck by a divine bolt of lightning, he perished.
So Justin, an orthodox man, took up the imperial power and sent envoys to the Apostolic See. Now Pope Hormisdas made for the Roman Church, throughout many basilicas, diverse ornaments of gold and silver. He performed ordinations of presbyters and bishops in various places. He was also buried near blessed Peter on the eighth day before the Ides of August, in the consulship of Maximus the younger. And the episcopate was vacant for six days. LV. JOHN, Tuscan by birth, son of Constantius, sat two years, seven months, and fifteen days, from the consulship of Maximus to the consulship of Olybrius the younger. King Theodoric, making a request, sent him on an embassy to the emperor Justin, because Justin, out of his supreme love for the Christian religion, wished to destroy the heretics; and on that account King Theodoric, enraged, wished to destroy the Christians of Italy.
Then Pope John with weeping, and religious men of consular rank, received this as the charge of their embassy: that the churches should be restored to the heretics in the regions of the Greeks; and if this were not so done, King Theodoric would destroy all Italy by the sword. When all the aforesaid had entered Constantinople together with Pope John, they came to meet them at the twelfth milestone, in honour of the apostles, longing—since after the time of blessed Pope Sylvester in the days of Constantine they had been deemed worthy—to receive in the parts of Greece the vicar of Saint Peter. And Justin Augustus venerated blessed John, at whose hands he was crowned. Then he granted the petitions of Theodore, an illustrious man, together with the other nobles who had come with blessed Pope John:
for the sake of Roman blood he restored to the heretics their churches. But while Bishop John, together with the illustrious men, was set in Constantinople, King Theodoric seized two senators, Boethius and the patrician Symmachus, slew them with the sword, and ordered them to be hidden away. When Pope John returned with the aforesaid illustrious men, they were received by Theodoric in treachery: he wished to put them to the sword, but, fearing Justin Augustus, he nevertheless wore them all out in custody, so that blessed John, wasted away in confinement, died at Ravenna on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of June. Then, ninety-eight days later, King Theodoric, struck by a thunderbolt, perished. Now blessed John brought from Greece gold, gems, and silver, and adorned many basilicas.
He performed ordinations of bishops in various places. And the episcopate was vacant for fifty-eight days. LVI. FELIX, of Samnium by birth, son of Castorius, sat four years, two months, and thirteen days, from the consulship of Maburtus 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 too was ordained by command of King Theodoric, and died in the time of King Athalaric, on the fourth day before the Ides of October in the consulship aforesaid. He was buried near blessed Peter. The episcopate was vacant for three days. He held two ordinations: fifty-two presbyters, four deacons, in the month of February; twenty-nine bishops.