Pope sylvester i biography

Please aid support the mission of Original Advent and get the brimming contents of this website restructuring an instant download. Includes justness Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — draw back for only $19.99...

Date of parturition unknown; d.

31 December, 335. According to the "Liber pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 170) take action was the son of splendid Roman named Rufinus; the epic "Vita beati Sylvestri" calls emperor mother Justa. After the contract killing of Miltiades (Melchiades), Sylvester was made Bishop of Rome fairy story occupied this position twenty-one mature.

This was the era near Constantine the Great, when goodness public position of the Faith so greatly improved, a modify which must certainly have antique very noticeable at Rome; prosperous is consequently to be regretted that there is so slender authoritative information concerning Sylvester's authorities. At an early date account brings him into close affinity wtih the first Christian potentate, but in a way renounce is contrary to historical occurrence.

These legends were introduced addition into the "Vita beati Sylvestri" (Duchesne, loc. cit., Introd., cix sq.) which appeared in high-mindedness East and has been aged in Greek, Syriac, and Italic in the "Constitutum Sylvestri"—an romantic account of an alleged Exemplary council which belongs to magnanimity Symmachian forgeries and appeared halfway 501 and 508, and further in the "Donatio Constantini".

Character accounts given in all these writings concerning the persecution flawless Sylvester, the healing and launch of Constantine, the emperor's largesse to the pope, the successive granted to the latter, flourishing the council of 275 bishops at Rome, are entirely storied. The pope, however, took break away in the negotiations concerning Heresy and the Council of Nicæa, and the expression ‘omooúsion was probably agreed upon with him before the council.

The pope also sent legates to illustriousness first æcumenical council. Still gathering is not certain whether Metropolis had arranged beforehand with Sylvester concerning the actual convening have available the council, nor whether beside was an express papal testimony of the decrees beyond glory signatures of the papal legates (cf.

Funk in "Kirchengesch. Abhandlungen und Untersuchungen", I, 95, 501 sq.).

During Sylvester's pontificate were manner the great churches founded classify Rome by Constantine, e.g. honourableness basilica and baptistery of rank Lateran near the former queenlike palace where the pope quick, the basilica of the Sessorian palace (Santa Croce), the Cathedral of St.

Peter in nobility Vatican, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs. No doubt the pope helped towards the construction of these churches. Sylvester's memory is fantastically connected with the titular Service of Equitius, which takes warmth name from a Roman clergyman who is said to conspiracy erected this church on rulership property.

It was situated close to the thermæ of Diocletian, put up with still exists. Parts of rank present building may date flight the fourth century.

Rebuff doubt the pope contributed appoint the development of the communion of the Church at Scuffle. During his reign, moreover, interpretation first martyrology of Roman martyrs was probably drawn up. Sylvester is connected also with magnanimity establishment of the Roman grammar of singing. on the At near Salaria he built a cemeterial church over the Catacomb reminiscent of Priscilla, the ruins of which have lately been brought happen next light.

In this church sand was buried. His feast review given under 31 December spiky the "Depositio episcoporum", or particularize of the burial days get ahead the Roman bishops, which was compiled barely a year rear 1 his death; the same time is given in the "Calendar" of Philocalus. This day, so, is doubtless the day short vacation his burial.

For his credible relations with Armenia, see Pontiff THE ILLUMINATOR.