Difference between revisions of "Pope Silverius" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Pope Saint Silverius''' was [[pope]] from June 8, 536 to March 537). | + | '''Pope Saint Silverius''' was [[pope]] from June 8, 536 to March 537). Although his reign was short, it was remarkable for two reasons. First, Silverius was the son of a previous pope, [[Hormisdas]], having been born before his father became a Roman deacon. Second, he was deposed due to political intrigues. |
| − | He was a | + | Two accounts of his reign in the Liber Pontificalis run diametrically opposite to each other. The first characterizes him as having been irregularly appointed pope not by the clergy by the Ostrogothic king [[Theodahad]], much to the dismay of the other leaders of the church, who accepted him only out of fear. The second portrays him as the victim of the intrigues of the Byzantine empress Theodora, who arranged for him to be ousted because he opposed [[Monophysitism]]. |
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| + | Silverius had been a subdeacon when Theodahad appointed him pope. He succeeded [[Agapetus I]], who had earlier condemned Patriarch [[Anthimus of Constantinople]] for [[Monophysitism]]. Silverius continued the policy of excommunication against Anthimus, and consequently Theodora sent the eastern general [[Belisarius]] to Rome. After taking military control of the city, he gained the cooperation of key members of the Roman clergy, and had Silverius deposed and replaced by deacon [[Pope Vigilius|Vigilius]], who had been the papal delegate to Constantinople. The Ostrogothic king [[Witigis]], Theodahad's successor, then surrounded Rome and besieged Belisarius' forces. Silverius, meanwhile, was accused of collaboration with the "barabarian" Goths, who had actually been in control of Rome for more than a century, with the close collaboration of many popes. | ||
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| + | Silverius, stripped of his episcopal dignity and degraded to the rank of a simple monk, was banished from Rome to the Anatolian city of Lycia, in modern Turkey. Emperor [[Justinian I]], after receiving his appeal, sent Silverius back to Rome for an inquiry, claiming not to have been fully aware of the situation previously. In the subsequent proceedings, however, Silverius was unable to regain control of the papacy from Vigilius. He was banished again, this time to Naples, where he reportedly died either by murder or starvation. | ||
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| + | ==Biography== | ||
He opposed the restoration of the [[Monophysitism|monophysite heretic]], former [[patriarch of Constantinople]] [[Anthimus I of Constantinople|Anthimus]], whom [[Pope Agapetus I|Agapetus]] had deposed, and thus brought upon himself the hatred of [[Empress]] [[Theodora (6th century)|Theodora]]. Theodora then sought to have [[Pope Vigilius|Vigilius]] made pope. During Silverius' papacy, it was alleged that he had purchased his elevation to the see of St. Peter from King [[Theodahad]]. | He opposed the restoration of the [[Monophysitism|monophysite heretic]], former [[patriarch of Constantinople]] [[Anthimus I of Constantinople|Anthimus]], whom [[Pope Agapetus I|Agapetus]] had deposed, and thus brought upon himself the hatred of [[Empress]] [[Theodora (6th century)|Theodora]]. Theodora then sought to have [[Pope Vigilius|Vigilius]] made pope. During Silverius' papacy, it was alleged that he had purchased his elevation to the see of St. Peter from King [[Theodahad]]. | ||
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According to the "New Catholic Encyclopedia" (1966), the dates of Pope Silverius' pontificate are in doubt: "June 1 or 8, 536, to c. Nov. 11, 537; d. Palmaria, probably Dec 2, 537." Likewise, he was never beatified or canonized, but simply acclaimed a saint by the people. The first mention of his name in a list of saints is in the 11th century. | According to the "New Catholic Encyclopedia" (1966), the dates of Pope Silverius' pontificate are in doubt: "June 1 or 8, 536, to c. Nov. 11, 537; d. Palmaria, probably Dec 2, 537." Likewise, he was never beatified or canonized, but simply acclaimed a saint by the people. The first mention of his name in a list of saints is in the 11th century. | ||
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| + | Dates of birth and death unknown. He was the son of Pope Hormisdas who had been married before becoming one of the higher clergy. Silverius entered the service of the Church and was subdeacon at Rome when Pope Agapetus died at Constantinople, 22 April, 536. The Empress Theodora, who favoured the Monophysites sought to bring about the election as pope of the Roman deacon Vigilius who was then at Constantinople and had given her the desired guarantees as to the Monophysites. However, Theodatus, King of the Ostrogoths, who wished to prevent the election of a pope connected with Constantinople, forestalled her, and by his influence the subdeacon Silverius was chosen. The election of a subdeacon as Bishop of Rome was unusual. Consequently, it is easy to understand that, as the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the "Liber pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 210) relates, a strong opposition to it appeared among the clergy. This, however, was suppressed by Theodatus so that, finally, after Silverius had been consecrated bishop (probably on 8 June, 536) all the Roman presbyters gave their consent in writing to his elevation. The assertion made by the author just mentioned that Silverius secured the intervention of Theodatus by payment of money is unwarranted, and is to be explained by the writer's hostile opinion of the pope and the Goths. The author of the second part of the life in the "Liber pontificalis" is favourably inclined to Silverius. The pontificate of this pope belongs to an unsettled, disorderly period and he himself fell a victim to the intrigues of the Byzantine Court. | ||
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| + | After Silverius had become pope the Empress Theodora sought to win him for the Monophysites. She desired especially to have him enter into communion with the Monophysite Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, who had been excommunicated and deposed by Agapetus, and with Severus of Antioch. However, the pope committed himself to nothing and Theodora now resolved to overthrow him and to gain the papal see for Vigilius. Troublous times befell Rome during the struggle that broke out in Italy between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines after the death of Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great. The Ostrogothic king, Vitiges, who ascended the throne in August, 536, besieged the city. The churches over the catacombs outside of the city were devastated, the graves of the martyrs in the catacombs themselves were broken open and desecrated. In December, 536, the Byzantine general Belisarius garrisoned Rome and was received by the pope in a friendly and courteous manner. Theodora sought to use Belisarius for the carrying out of her plan to depose Silverius and to put in his place the Roman deacon Vigilius, formerly apocrisary at Constantinople, who had now gone to Italy. Antonina, wife of Belisarius, influenced her husband to act as Theodora desired. By means of a forged letter the pope was accused of a treasonable agreement with the Gothic king who was besieging Rome. It was asserted that Silverius had offered the king to leave one of the city gates secretly open so as to permit the Goths to enter. Silverius was consequently arrested in March, 537, roughly stripped of his episcopal dress, given the clothing of a monk and carried off to exile in the East. Vigilius was consecrated Bishop of Rome in his stead. | ||
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| + | Silverius was taken to Lycia where he was went to reside at Patara. The Bishop of Patara very soon discovered that the exiled pope was innocent. He journeyed to Constantinople and was able to lay before the Emperor Justinian such proofs of the innocence of the exile that the emperor wrote to Belisarius commanding a new investigation of the matter. Should it turn out that the letter concerning the alleged plot in favour of the Goths was forged, Silverius should be placed once more in possession of the papal see. At the same time the emperor allowed Silverius to return to Italy, and the latter soon entered the country, apparently at Naples. However, Vigilius arranged to take charge of his unlawfully deposed predecessor. He evidently acted in agreement with the Empress Theodora and was aided by Antonina, the wife of Belisarius. Silverius was taken to the Island of Palmaria in the Tyrrhenian Sea and kept their in close confinement. Here he died in consequence of the privations and harsh treatment he endured. The year of his death is unknown, but he probably did not live long after reachingPalmaria. He was buried on the island, according to the testimony of the "Liber pontificalis" on 20 June; his remains were never taken from Palmaria. According to the same witness he was invoked after death by the believers who visited his grave. In later times he was venerated as a saint. The earliest proof of this is given by a list of saints of the eleventh century (Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, 1893, 169). The "Martyrologium" of Peter de Natalibus of the fourteenth century also contains his feast, which is recorded in the present Roman Martyrology on 20 June. | ||
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| + | [Editor's note: According to the Liber Pontificalis, Pope St. Silverius was exiled not to Palmaria, but rather to the Island of Palmarola, a much smaller and more desolate island near Ponza, Italy, in the Bay of Naples.] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:38, 14 July 2008
| Silverius | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth name | Silverius |
| Papacy began | June 8, 536 |
| Papacy ended | March 537 |
| Predecessor | Agapetus I |
| Successor | Vigilius |
| Born | ??? ??? |
| Died | June 20 537 Palmarola, Italy |
| Styles of Pope Silverius | |
|
| |
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | Saint |
Pope Saint Silverius was pope from June 8, 536 to March 537). Although his reign was short, it was remarkable for two reasons. First, Silverius was the son of a previous pope, Hormisdas, having been born before his father became a Roman deacon. Second, he was deposed due to political intrigues.
Two accounts of his reign in the Liber Pontificalis run diametrically opposite to each other. The first characterizes him as having been irregularly appointed pope not by the clergy by the Ostrogothic king Theodahad, much to the dismay of the other leaders of the church, who accepted him only out of fear. The second portrays him as the victim of the intrigues of the Byzantine empress Theodora, who arranged for him to be ousted because he opposed Monophysitism.
Silverius had been a subdeacon when Theodahad appointed him pope. He succeeded Agapetus I, who had earlier condemned Patriarch Anthimus of Constantinople for Monophysitism. Silverius continued the policy of excommunication against Anthimus, and consequently Theodora sent the eastern general Belisarius to Rome. After taking military control of the city, he gained the cooperation of key members of the Roman clergy, and had Silverius deposed and replaced by deacon Vigilius, who had been the papal delegate to Constantinople. The Ostrogothic king Witigis, Theodahad's successor, then surrounded Rome and besieged Belisarius' forces. Silverius, meanwhile, was accused of collaboration with the "barabarian" Goths, who had actually been in control of Rome for more than a century, with the close collaboration of many popes.
Silverius, stripped of his episcopal dignity and degraded to the rank of a simple monk, was banished from Rome to the Anatolian city of Lycia, in modern Turkey. Emperor Justinian I, after receiving his appeal, sent Silverius back to Rome for an inquiry, claiming not to have been fully aware of the situation previously. In the subsequent proceedings, however, Silverius was unable to regain control of the papacy from Vigilius. He was banished again, this time to Naples, where he reportedly died either by murder or starvation.
Biography
He opposed the restoration of the monophysite heretic, former patriarch of Constantinople Anthimus, whom Agapetus had deposed, and thus brought upon himself the hatred of Empress Theodora. Theodora then sought to have Vigilius made pope. During Silverius' papacy, it was alleged that he had purchased his elevation to the see of St. Peter from King Theodahad.
On December 9 536, the Byzantine general Belisarius entered Rome, with the approval of Pope Silverius. Theodahad's successor, Witiges, gathered together an army and besieged Rome for several months, subjecting the city to privation and starvation. It was alleged that Pope Silverius wrote to Witiges offering to betray the city.
He was deposed accordingly by Belisarius in March 537 on a charge of treasonable correspondence with the Goths, and degraded to the rank of a simple monk. He found his way to Constantinople, and Justinian I, who entertained his complaint, sent him back to Rome, but Vigilius was eventually able to banish his rival to the prison island Pandataria (Ventotene), where the rest of his life was spent in obscurity. The date of his death is unknown.
According to the Liber Pontificalis, Pope St. Silverius was exiled not to Ventotene, but rather to Palmarola, where he died a couple of months later, on June 20 537.
Pope Silverius was later beatified and made into a saint and is now the patron saint of the island of Ponza, Italy.
He is also called Saint Silverius (San Silverio). According to Ponza Islands legend, fishermen were in a small boat in a storm off Palmarola and they called on Saint Silverius for help. An apparition of Saint Siverius called them to Palmarola where they survived. This miracle made him a saint.
According to the "New Catholic Encyclopedia" (1966), the dates of Pope Silverius' pontificate are in doubt: "June 1 or 8, 536, to c. Nov. 11, 537; d. Palmaria, probably Dec 2, 537." Likewise, he was never beatified or canonized, but simply acclaimed a saint by the people. The first mention of his name in a list of saints is in the 11th century.
Dates of birth and death unknown. He was the son of Pope Hormisdas who had been married before becoming one of the higher clergy. Silverius entered the service of the Church and was subdeacon at Rome when Pope Agapetus died at Constantinople, 22 April, 536. The Empress Theodora, who favoured the Monophysites sought to bring about the election as pope of the Roman deacon Vigilius who was then at Constantinople and had given her the desired guarantees as to the Monophysites. However, Theodatus, King of the Ostrogoths, who wished to prevent the election of a pope connected with Constantinople, forestalled her, and by his influence the subdeacon Silverius was chosen. The election of a subdeacon as Bishop of Rome was unusual. Consequently, it is easy to understand that, as the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the "Liber pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 210) relates, a strong opposition to it appeared among the clergy. This, however, was suppressed by Theodatus so that, finally, after Silverius had been consecrated bishop (probably on 8 June, 536) all the Roman presbyters gave their consent in writing to his elevation. The assertion made by the author just mentioned that Silverius secured the intervention of Theodatus by payment of money is unwarranted, and is to be explained by the writer's hostile opinion of the pope and the Goths. The author of the second part of the life in the "Liber pontificalis" is favourably inclined to Silverius. The pontificate of this pope belongs to an unsettled, disorderly period and he himself fell a victim to the intrigues of the Byzantine Court.
After Silverius had become pope the Empress Theodora sought to win him for the Monophysites. She desired especially to have him enter into communion with the Monophysite Patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, who had been excommunicated and deposed by Agapetus, and with Severus of Antioch. However, the pope committed himself to nothing and Theodora now resolved to overthrow him and to gain the papal see for Vigilius. Troublous times befell Rome during the struggle that broke out in Italy between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines after the death of Amalasuntha, daughter of Theodoric the Great. The Ostrogothic king, Vitiges, who ascended the throne in August, 536, besieged the city. The churches over the catacombs outside of the city were devastated, the graves of the martyrs in the catacombs themselves were broken open and desecrated. In December, 536, the Byzantine general Belisarius garrisoned Rome and was received by the pope in a friendly and courteous manner. Theodora sought to use Belisarius for the carrying out of her plan to depose Silverius and to put in his place the Roman deacon Vigilius, formerly apocrisary at Constantinople, who had now gone to Italy. Antonina, wife of Belisarius, influenced her husband to act as Theodora desired. By means of a forged letter the pope was accused of a treasonable agreement with the Gothic king who was besieging Rome. It was asserted that Silverius had offered the king to leave one of the city gates secretly open so as to permit the Goths to enter. Silverius was consequently arrested in March, 537, roughly stripped of his episcopal dress, given the clothing of a monk and carried off to exile in the East. Vigilius was consecrated Bishop of Rome in his stead.
Silverius was taken to Lycia where he was went to reside at Patara. The Bishop of Patara very soon discovered that the exiled pope was innocent. He journeyed to Constantinople and was able to lay before the Emperor Justinian such proofs of the innocence of the exile that the emperor wrote to Belisarius commanding a new investigation of the matter. Should it turn out that the letter concerning the alleged plot in favour of the Goths was forged, Silverius should be placed once more in possession of the papal see. At the same time the emperor allowed Silverius to return to Italy, and the latter soon entered the country, apparently at Naples. However, Vigilius arranged to take charge of his unlawfully deposed predecessor. He evidently acted in agreement with the Empress Theodora and was aided by Antonina, the wife of Belisarius. Silverius was taken to the Island of Palmaria in the Tyrrhenian Sea and kept their in close confinement. Here he died in consequence of the privations and harsh treatment he endured. The year of his death is unknown, but he probably did not live long after reachingPalmaria. He was buried on the island, according to the testimony of the "Liber pontificalis" on 20 June; his remains were never taken from Palmaria. According to the same witness he was invoked after death by the believers who visited his grave. In later times he was venerated as a saint. The earliest proof of this is given by a list of saints of the eleventh century (Mélanges d'archéologie et d'histoire, 1893, 169). The "Martyrologium" of Peter de Natalibus of the fourteenth century also contains his feast, which is recorded in the present Roman Martyrology on 20 June.
[Editor's note: According to the Liber Pontificalis, Pope St. Silverius was exiled not to Palmaria, but rather to the Island of Palmarola, a much smaller and more desolate island near Ponza, Italy, in the Bay of Naples.]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
"Pope St. Silverius" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.- Louise Ropes Loomis, The Book of Popes ("Liber Pontificalis"). Merchantville, NJ: Evolution Publishing. ISBN 1-889758-86-8 (Reprint of the 1916 edition. English translation with scholarly footnotes, and illustrations).
| Roman Catholic Popes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Agapetus I |
Bishop of Rome 536–537 |
Succeeded by: Vigilius |
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Incorporating text from the 9th edition (1887) of an unnamed encyclopedia.
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