Difference between revisions of "Pope Silverius" - New World Encyclopedia

Silverius
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

Revision as of 02:39, 14 July 2008

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

Background

Silverius's birthdate is not know, but his pedigree could hardly have been higher. He came from a wealthy and noble Roman family and was the son of Pope Hormisdas, who had been married before becoming one of the higher clergy. Silverius entered the service of the Roman church, no doubt at an early age and with his father's support. He must have witnessed his Hormisdas' support, while the latter was still a deacon, of Pope Symmachus' trials under the reign of anti-pope Laurnetius, as well as Hormisdas own long and difficult battles with Constantinople during the Acacian schism, which were ultimately resolved during Hormisdas' papacy.

The split between the Roman and eastern churches had only been healed as a result of the ascendancy of an anti-Monophyiste emperor in the East, namely Justin I. Now, however, Justinian I (the Great) had become emperor, and he pursued a less aggressive policy against Monophysitism. His wife, Theodora, was allegedly a secret Monophysite herself. Even if this were only a rumor, it was clear that Justinian's policy aimed at reconciling the remnant of the Monophysites, especially in Egypt (Alexandria) and Syria (Antioch), with the main body of the eastern church. Meanwhile, the Goths remained in power in the west. Even though most of the Gothic kings were Arian Christians, and thus heretics, they generally interfered little in church affairs, and the papacy succeeded for the most part in maintaining an independent stance. Such was apparently not the case with Sivlerius.

Election

Silverius and was subdeacon at Rome when Pope Agapetus died at Constantinople, April, 22 536. Empress Theodora, and perhaps Justinian I himself, had hoped for the election the Roman deacon Vigilius, who was then at Constantinople as a papal envoy. Vigilius must have seemed more understanding than most other Roman clergy of the need to bring the remnants of the Monophysites back into the fold. However, Theodahad (Theodatus), King of the Ostrogoths, did not want a pope so closely connected with Constantinople. He thus forestalled her, and caused the subdeacon Silverius to be chosen.

The election of a subdeacon as bishop of Rome was highly unusual, and the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the Liber pontificalis characterizes it as the result of Theodahad being bribed by Silverius and his supporters, and accepted by the clergy only "by force of fear" that they would "suffer the sword" if they did not vote for him. After Silverius had been consecrated bishop (probably on June 8, 536) all the Roman presbyters thus gave their consent in writing to his elevation. The author of the second part of Silverius' life in the Liber pontificalis, in complete contrast to the first part, is favorably inclined to the pope, and hostile not the the Ostrogroths, but to the Byzantine court.

According to this source, after Silverius had become pope, the Theodora sought to influence him to soften the papacy's stand against Monophysitism. She desired especially to have him enter into communion with the Monophysite patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, who had been excommunicated and deposed by Agapetus along with with Patriarch 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.

Meanwhile, troubled times befell Rome during the struggle that broke out in Italy between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines after the death of the daughter of Theodoric the Great, Queen Amalasuntha. In December, 536, the Byzantine general Belisarius garrisoned Rome, and was received by the pope in a friendly and courteous manner. The Ostrogothic king Vitiges, who had ascended the throne in August, 536, then besieged the city. In the midst of all this, Antonina, the wife of Belisarius, allegedly influenced her husband to act as Theodora desired. The pope was accused of a treasonable agreement with the Gothic king who was besieging Rome. It was alleged 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, rudely stripped of his episcopal dignity, given the clothing of a monk, and carried off to exile in the East. Vigilius was then duly consecrated bishop of Rome in his stead.

Silverius was taken to Lycia, in Anatolia, where he was later sent to reside at Patara. There, the bishop of Patara soon became convinced that the deposed former pope was innocent. He journeyed to Constantinople and was able to lay before Emperor Justinian various evidence of Silverius' innocence, including an allegation that a letter proving Silverius' conspiracy with the Goths was forged. The emperor then wrote to Belisarius commanding a new investigation of the matter. He instructed that, should it turn out that the letter in question was forged, Silverius should be returned to the papacy. At the same time, the emperor allowed Silverius to return to Italy, and the former pope soon entered the country, apparently at Naples.

However, Vigilius arranged to take charge of his deposed predecessor. In this he allegedly acted in agreement with 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 there in close confinement. There, he died in consequence of the harsh treatment he endured.

The year of his death is unknown, but he probably did not live long after reaching Palmaria. He was buried on the island, according to the testimony of the "Liber pontificalis" on June 20, and his remains were never returned to Rome.

Legacy

The Liber pontificalis indicates that Silverius was invoked as a martyr after his death by the believers who visited his grave. Only in later times, however, was he was venerated as a saint. The earliest evidence of his sainthood is a list of saints of the eleventh century. The "Martyrologium" of Peter de Natalibus in of the fourteenth century also contains his feast, which is celebrated on June 20.

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 Siverius called them to Palmarola where they survived.

Historically, Silverius' successor and later his persecutor, Pope Vigilius, proved to be an unwilling tool of Byzantine policy. During the Three Chapters controversy, he was taken by force to Constantinople, where he was held for eight years until he agreed to endorse the Second Council of Chalcedon, which had been called by Justinian I. While we will never know how Silverius' reign as pope might have turned out if he had remained in office, the reign Vigilius is considered one one of the papacy's low points.

References
ISBN 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

Incorporating text from the 9th edition (1887) of an unnamed encyclopedia.

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@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ===Election===
-Silverius and was subdeacon at Rome when [[Pope Agapetus]] died at Constantinople, April, 22  536. Empress [[Theodora]], and perhaps [[Justinian I]] himself, had hoped for the election the Roman deacon [[Pope Vigilius|Vigilius]], who was then at [[Constantinople]] as a papal envoy. Vigilius must have seemed more understanding than most other Roman clergy of the need to bring the remnants of the Monophysites back into the fold. However, [[Theodahad]] (Theodatus), King of the [[Ostrogoths]], did not want a pope so closely connected with Constantinople. He thus forestalled her, and caused the subdeacon Silverius to be chosen. The election of a subdeacon as bishop of Rome was highly unusual, and the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the "[[Liber pontificalis]]" characterizes it as irregular, accepted by the clergy only on account of fear.
+Silverius and was subdeacon at Rome when [[Pope Agapetus]] died at [[Constantinople]], April, 22  536. Empress [[Theodora]], and perhaps [[Justinian I]] himself, had hoped for the election the Roman deacon [[Pope Vigilius|Vigilius]], who was then at [[Constantinople]] as a papal envoy. Vigilius must have seemed more understanding than most other Roman clergy of the need to bring the remnants of the Monophysites back into the fold. However, [[Theodahad]] (Theodatus), King of the [[Ostrogoths]], did not want a pope so closely connected with Constantinople. He thus forestalled her, and caused the subdeacon Silverius to be chosen.
- 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.
+The election of a subdeacon as bishop of Rome was highly unusual, and the author of the first part of the life of Silverius in the ''[[Liber pontificalis]]'' characterizes it as the result of Theodahad being bribed by Silverius and his supporters, and accepted by the clergy only "by force of fear" that they would "suffer the sword" if they did not vote for him. After Silverius had been consecrated bishop (probably on June 8, 536) all the Roman [[presbyter]]s thus gave their consent in writing to his elevation. The author of the second part of Silverius' life in the ''Liber pontificalis'', in complete contrast to the first part, is favorably inclined to the pope, and hostile not the the Ostrogroths, but to the Byzantine court.
-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]].
+According to this source, after Silverius had become pope, the Theodora sought to influence him to soften the papacy's stand against Monophysitism. She desired especially to have him enter into communion with the Monophysite patriarch of Constantinople, Anthimus, who had been excommunicated and deposed by Agapetus along with with Patriarch [[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.
-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.
+Meanwhile, troubled times befell Rome during the struggle that broke out in Italy between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines after the death of the daughter of [[Theodoric the Great]], Queen Amalasuntha.  In December, 536, the Byzantine general [[Belisarius]] garrisoned Rome, and was received by the pope in a friendly and courteous manner. The Ostrogothic king [[Vitiges]], who had ascended the throne in August, 536, then besieged the city. In the midst of all this, Antonina, the wife of Belisarius, allegedly influenced her husband to act as Theodora desired. The pope was accused of a treasonable agreement with the Gothic king who was besieging Rome. It was alleged 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, rudely stripped of his episcopal dignity, given the clothing of a monk, and carried off to exile in the East. Vigilius was then duly consecrated bishop of Rome in his stead.
-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.
+Silverius was taken to [[Lycia]], in Anatolia, where he was later sent to reside at [[Patara]]. There, the bishop of Patara soon became convinced that the deposed former pope was innocent. He journeyed to [[Constantinople]] and was able to lay before Emperor Justinian various evidence of Silverius' innocence, including an allegation that a letter proving Silverius' conspiracy with the Goths was forged. The emperor then wrote to Belisarius commanding a new investigation of the matter. He instructed that, should it turn out that the letter in question was forged, Silverius should be returned to the papacy. At the same time, the emperor allowed Silverius to return to Italy, and the former pope soon entered the country, apparently at Naples.
-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.
+However, Vigilius arranged to take charge of his deposed predecessor. In this he allegedly acted in agreement with 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 there in close confinement. There, he died in consequence of the harsh treatment he endured.
-Pope Silverius was later [[Beatification|beatified]] and [[Canonization|made into a saint]] and is now the patron saint of the island of [[Ponza]], [[Italy]].
+The year of his death is unknown, but he probably did not live long after reaching Palmaria. He was buried on the island, according to the testimony of the "Liber pontificalis" on June 20, and his remains were never returned to Rome.
-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.
+==Legacy==
+The ''Liber pontificalis'' indicates that Silverius was invoked as a martyr after his death by the believers who visited his grave. Only in later times, however, was he was venerated as a saint. The earliest evidence of his sainthood is a list of saints of the eleventh century. The "Martyrologium" of [[Peter de Natalibus]] in of the fourteenth century also contains his feast, which is celebrated on June 20.
-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 [[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 Siverius called them to [[Palmarola]] where they survived.
+Historically, Silverius' successor and later his persecutor, Pope Vigilius, proved to be an unwilling tool of Byzantine policy. During the [[Three Chapters]] controversy, he was taken by force to Constantinople, where he was held for eight years until he agreed to endorse the Second Council of Chalcedon, which had been called by Justinian I. While we will never know how Silverius' reign as pope might have turned out if he had remained in office, the reign Vigilius is considered one one of the papacy's low points.
-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.]
 ==References==