Difference between revisions of "Pope Pontian" - New World Encyclopedia
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===Condemnation of Origien=== | ===Condemnation of Origien=== | ||
| − | It was also during Pontian's episcopacy that a Roman synod condemned certain teachings of the great African Christian writer [[Origen]]. It is likely that Pontian presided at this council, which, according to [[Jerome]] (Epist. 33 | + | It was also during Pontian's episcopacy that a Roman synod condemned certain teachings of the great African Christian writer [[Origen]]. It is likely that Pontian presided at this council, which, according to [[Jerome]] (Epist. 33, to Paula), upheld the decisions of an Alexandrian synod against Origen in (231-2). |
| − | Jerome, in | + | Although Jerome, writing in the late fourth century, eventually joined in the growing condemnation of Origen, he makes it clear in his letter to Paula that he did not concur with the Roman synod that had anathematized him: |
<blockquote>Who has ever managed to read all that he has written? Yet what reward have his exertions brought him? He stands condemned by his bishop, Demetrius, only the bishops of [[Palestine]], [[Arabia]], [[Phoenicia]], and [[Achaia]] dissenting. Imperial Rome consents to his condemnation, and even convenes a synod to censure him, not—as the rabid hounds who now pursue him cry—because of the novelty or [[heterodoxy]] of his [[doctrines]], but because men could not tolerate the incomparable eloquence and knowledge which, when once he opened his lips, made others seem dumb.</blockquote> | <blockquote>Who has ever managed to read all that he has written? Yet what reward have his exertions brought him? He stands condemned by his bishop, Demetrius, only the bishops of [[Palestine]], [[Arabia]], [[Phoenicia]], and [[Achaia]] dissenting. Imperial Rome consents to his condemnation, and even convenes a synod to censure him, not—as the rabid hounds who now pursue him cry—because of the novelty or [[heterodoxy]] of his [[doctrines]], but because men could not tolerate the incomparable eloquence and knowledge which, when once he opened his lips, made others seem dumb.</blockquote> | ||
| − | + | Although we do not know exactly what the Roman synod in Pontian's time said regarding Origen, one of Origen's ideas was of the pre-existence of souls. In his own time, however, it was not deemed heretical to promote this idea. Origen concluded that human souls exist prior to their connection to earthly forms in the spiritual world with God. He also doubted the resurrection of the physical body, speculated about the life of the stars, and wondered whether heavenly bodies possessed souls. | |
Origen's most widely condemned doctrine, however, was his teaching of universal restoration (''apokatastasis''). He likened the Creator to a divine teacher, who could not fail, in the long run, in properly instructing its students. He thus concluded that, in time, all humans would be restored to their former sinless status, becoming perfect and living in the presence of God. In his view, this restoration included all souls, not just humanity but evil spirits, fallen angels, and even Satan. | Origen's most widely condemned doctrine, however, was his teaching of universal restoration (''apokatastasis''). He likened the Creator to a divine teacher, who could not fail, in the long run, in properly instructing its students. He thus concluded that, in time, all humans would be restored to their former sinless status, becoming perfect and living in the presence of God. In his view, this restoration included all souls, not just humanity but evil spirits, fallen angels, and even Satan. | ||
| − | + | ===Death and legacy== | |
| − | + | In 235, in the reign of Maximinus the Thracian, the Roman church came once again under persecution. The policy was directed chiefly against the heads of the Christian community, rather against the rank and file. One of its first victims were both Pontian and Hippolytus, a fact which argues for Hippolytus still serving as bishop of his own congregation. They were banished to the island of Sardinia, probably forced to do hard labor there in the mines. To make the election of a new pope possible, Pontian resigned September 28, 235, according to the Liberian Catalogue. Consequently, Pope Anterus was elected in his stead. | |
| + | |||
| + | When just before this or soon afterwards the congregation of Hippolytus was reconciled to the Roman church, bringing the schism which he had caused came to an end. How much longer Pontian endured the sufferings of exile and harsh treatment in the Sardinian mines is unknown. The ''Liber Pontificalis'', states that he died in consequence of the privations and inhuman treatment he had to bear, and while this source is not generally reliable about the martyrdom of the early popes, in this case we have no reason to doubt its testimony. Pope Fabian (236-50) had the remains of Pontian and Hippolytus both brought back to Rome at a later date. Pontian was buried on in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus. It would have been the supreme irony if Hippolytus were buried in the same place, which bears the name of his arch-enemy, but he was in fact buried at...... | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1909 the original epitaph of Ponitan was found in the crypt of [[Saint Cecilia]], near the papal crypt. The epitaph, which takes the same form as the other known epitaphs of the papal crypt, reads: ''PONTIANOS, EPISK. MARTUR'' (Pontianus, Bishop, Martyr). The word mártur, however, was added later by a different hand. | ||
| + | |||
| + | His feast day is celebrated jointly with that of Hippolytus on August 13. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to tradition, he died on the island of [[Tavolara]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:48, 1 January 2009
| Pontian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth name | Pontianus |
| Papacy began | 21 July 230 |
| Papacy ended | 29 September 235 |
| Predecessor | Urban I |
| Successor | Anterus |
| Born | ??? ??? |
| Died | 29 September 235 Sardinia, Italy |
Pope Saint Pontian or Pontianus, was pope from 21 July 21, 230 to September 29, 235. He was the first pope to abdicate the office. He is best known, however, for his death in exile together with his adversary, the anti-pope Hippolytus, who along with Pointian was later declared both saint and martyr.
Pontian and other Christian leaders, among them Hippolytus, were exiled by the emperor Maximinus Thrax to Sardinia. Rather then leave the office of bishop or Rome unattended, he Pontian resigned in September 235, dying either there of the island of Tavolara, probably as a result of being forced to do hard labor.
His remains were brought to Rome by Pope Fabian and buried in the Catacomb of Pope Callixtus I. His epitaph was rediscovered in 1909 in the crypt of Saint Cecilia, reading PONTIANOS, EPISK. ("Pontianus, bishop"). The inscription "MARTUR" ("martyr") had been added in another hand.
His feast day was November 19, but he is now celebrated jointly with his erstwhile former adversary and rival Saint Hippolytus, on August 13.
Biography
According to the Liber Pontificalis Pontian was born in Rome, and his father was named Calpurnius. The Liberian Catalogue of the popes is able to add several specific details not available in the biographies of earlier bishops of Rome. According to this account Pontian was made pope July 21, 230 and reigned until 235.
Hippolytus' schism
One of the most notable known feature of his episcopacy was the continuing schism of Hippolytus, the first anti-pope and later saint. Hippolytus had disagreed with two earlier popes, Zephyrinus and Callixtus I over their toleration of Sabellianism, a trinitarian doctrine which declined to recognize distinct "persons" in the Trinity, seeing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit more as operational modes of the one God. Hippolytus especially blamed Zephyrinus' deacon Callixtus for this policy. When Callixtus then succeeded Zephyrinus and pope, Hyppolytus denounced him as a heretic—both for his trinitarian views and for his policy of forgiving sinners guilty of serious crimes like adultery—and formed a rival congregation, becoming the first anti-pope. His reign in opposition to Callixtus lasted through the succeeding pontificates of Urban I (222–230) well into that of Pontian (230–235).
Scholars are divided as to when Hippolytus was reconciled with the Roman church. Catholic traditional holds that near the end of Pontian's term, Hippolytus and his schismatic group found accord with Pontian and were accepted back into the church. However, it is also possible that the schism persisted until both the pope and the anti-pope were exiled, with the two congregations uniting once the schismatic party's leader was out of the picture.
Condemnation of Origien
It was also during Pontian's episcopacy that a Roman synod condemned certain teachings of the great African Christian writer Origen. It is likely that Pontian presided at this council, which, according to Jerome (Epist. 33, to Paula), upheld the decisions of an Alexandrian synod against Origen in (231-2).
Although Jerome, writing in the late fourth century, eventually joined in the growing condemnation of Origen, he makes it clear in his letter to Paula that he did not concur with the Roman synod that had anathematized him:
Who has ever managed to read all that he has written? Yet what reward have his exertions brought him? He stands condemned by his bishop, Demetrius, only the bishops of Palestine, Arabia, Phoenicia, and Achaia dissenting. Imperial Rome consents to his condemnation, and even convenes a synod to censure him, not—as the rabid hounds who now pursue him cry—because of the novelty or heterodoxy of his doctrines, but because men could not tolerate the incomparable eloquence and knowledge which, when once he opened his lips, made others seem dumb.
Although we do not know exactly what the Roman synod in Pontian's time said regarding Origen, one of Origen's ideas was of the pre-existence of souls. In his own time, however, it was not deemed heretical to promote this idea. Origen concluded that human souls exist prior to their connection to earthly forms in the spiritual world with God. He also doubted the resurrection of the physical body, speculated about the life of the stars, and wondered whether heavenly bodies possessed souls.
Origen's most widely condemned doctrine, however, was his teaching of universal restoration (apokatastasis). He likened the Creator to a divine teacher, who could not fail, in the long run, in properly instructing its students. He thus concluded that, in time, all humans would be restored to their former sinless status, becoming perfect and living in the presence of God. In his view, this restoration included all souls, not just humanity but evil spirits, fallen angels, and even Satan.
=Death and legacy
In 235, in the reign of Maximinus the Thracian, the Roman church came once again under persecution. The policy was directed chiefly against the heads of the Christian community, rather against the rank and file. One of its first victims were both Pontian and Hippolytus, a fact which argues for Hippolytus still serving as bishop of his own congregation. They were banished to the island of Sardinia, probably forced to do hard labor there in the mines. To make the election of a new pope possible, Pontian resigned September 28, 235, according to the Liberian Catalogue. Consequently, Pope Anterus was elected in his stead.
When just before this or soon afterwards the congregation of Hippolytus was reconciled to the Roman church, bringing the schism which he had caused came to an end. How much longer Pontian endured the sufferings of exile and harsh treatment in the Sardinian mines is unknown. The Liber Pontificalis, states that he died in consequence of the privations and inhuman treatment he had to bear, and while this source is not generally reliable about the martyrdom of the early popes, in this case we have no reason to doubt its testimony. Pope Fabian (236-50) had the remains of Pontian and Hippolytus both brought back to Rome at a later date. Pontian was buried on in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus. It would have been the supreme irony if Hippolytus were buried in the same place, which bears the name of his arch-enemy, but he was in fact buried at......
In 1909 the original epitaph of Ponitan was found in the crypt of Saint Cecilia, near the papal crypt. The epitaph, which takes the same form as the other known epitaphs of the papal crypt, reads: PONTIANOS, EPISK. MARTUR (Pontianus, Bishop, Martyr). The word mártur, however, was added later by a different hand.
His feast day is celebrated jointly with that of Hippolytus on August 13.
According to tradition, he died on the island of Tavolara.
| Roman Catholic Popes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Urban I |
Bishop of Rome Pope 230–235 |
Succeeded by: Anterus |
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
"Pope St. Pontian" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.
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