Difference between revisions of "Pope Sylvester I" - New World Encyclopedia
m (→Biolgraphy) |
m |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
deathplace=???| | deathplace=???| | ||
other=Sylvester|}} | other=Sylvester|}} | ||
| − | |||
'''Pope Saint Sylvester I''' also call '''Silvester I''' was [[pope]] from January 31, 314 to December 13, 335, succeeding [[Pope Miltiades]]. The son of a [[Rome|Roman]] named Rufinus, served as the [[bishop of Rome]] at a very important era in the history of the Christian, during the reign of Constantine I and the emergence of [[arianism|Arian controversy]]. | '''Pope Saint Sylvester I''' also call '''Silvester I''' was [[pope]] from January 31, 314 to December 13, 335, succeeding [[Pope Miltiades]]. The son of a [[Rome|Roman]] named Rufinus, served as the [[bishop of Rome]] at a very important era in the history of the Christian, during the reign of Constantine I and the emergence of [[arianism|Arian controversy]]. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
In the West, the liturgical feast of Saint Sylvester is celebrated on December 31, the day of his burial in the [[Catacomb of Priscilla]]. | In the West, the liturgical feast of Saint Sylvester is celebrated on December 31, the day of his burial in the [[Catacomb of Priscilla]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Biography== |
According to the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'' Sylvester I was the son of a Roman named Rufinus, and another source, the highly legendary ''Vita beati Sylvestri'' calls his mother Justa. He came to the Roman [[episcopacy]] after the death of [[Pope Miltiades]] (Melchiades), who led the city's church during the period of Emperor [[Constantine I]]'s accession to the imperial dignity, resulting it a sudden change in the church's former position as a persecuted sect. | According to the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'' Sylvester I was the son of a Roman named Rufinus, and another source, the highly legendary ''Vita beati Sylvestri'' calls his mother Justa. He came to the Roman [[episcopacy]] after the death of [[Pope Miltiades]] (Melchiades), who led the city's church during the period of Emperor [[Constantine I]]'s accession to the imperial dignity, resulting it a sudden change in the church's former position as a persecuted sect. | ||
| Line 33: | Line 32: | ||
The pope sent legates to this first [[ecumenical council]], but it is doubtful that Constantine had consulted beforehand with Sylvester concerning the convening of the council. Earlier he had requested Pope Miltiades to convene a western council to deal with the [[Donatist]] controversy in Africa. The papal delegates signed the council's decrees, but it was not thought necessary to gain the pope's approval beyond this. | The pope sent legates to this first [[ecumenical council]], but it is doubtful that Constantine had consulted beforehand with Sylvester concerning the convening of the council. Earlier he had requested Pope Miltiades to convene a western council to deal with the [[Donatist]] controversy in Africa. The papal delegates signed the council's decrees, but it was not thought necessary to gain the pope's approval beyond this. | ||
| − | During Sylvester's pontificate | + | During Sylvester's pontificate Constantine build several great churches in Rome, namely the basilica and baptistery of the [[Lateral Basilica|Lateran]] near the former imperial palace which the emperor had given the previous pope as his residence, the basilica of the Sessorian palace (renamed [[Santa Croce]]), [[Saint Peter's Basilica|Saint Peter's famous church]] in the [[Vatican]], and several cemetery-churches over the graves of martyrs in the Roman catacombs. It is nearly certain that the pope assisted in the construction of and consecration of the these churches, but his role is not specifically indicated. |
| + | |||
| + | Sylvester's memory is especially connected with the tiitular [[Church of Equitius]], which takes its name from a Roman [[presbyter]] who is said to have built this church on his property. It was situated near the baths of [[Diocletian]], and still exists. Parts of the present building may date from the fourth century. | ||
| + | |||
| + | No doubt the pope contributed to the development of the liturgy of the Church at Rome. However, the list given by the ''Liber Pontificalis'' of regulations passed by him cannot be considered historically reliable. During his reign,the first [[martyrology]] of Roman saints who suffered under previous persecutions was probably drawn up. Sylvester is connected also with the establishment of the Roman school of singing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the Via Salaria, he built a cemeterial church over the [[Catacomb of Priscilla]], the ruins of which discovered in the nineteenth century. In was here that he was buried. His feast is given under December 31 in the ''Depositio episcoporum'', a list of the burial days of the Roman bishops which was compiled barely a year after his death. This day, therefore, is doubtless the day of his actual burial. | ||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
Revision as of 16:04, 19 January 2009
| Sylvester I | |
|---|---|
 Sylvester I and the Emperor Constantine | |
| Birth name | Sylvester |
| Papacy began | 31 January 314 |
| Papacy ended | 31 December 335 |
| Predecessor | Miltiades |
| Successor | Mark |
| Born | ??? Sant'Angelo a Scala, Avellino [1] death_date=December 31 335 |
| Other popes named Sylvester | |
Pope Saint Sylvester I also call Silvester I was pope from January 31, 314 to December 13, 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades. The son of a Roman named Rufinus, served as the bishop of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Christian, during the reign of Constantine I and the emergence of Arian controversy.
During Sylvester's pontificate, Christianity became the favored religion of Roman emperor, after having endured centuries of intermittent persecution. Although Sylvester did not himself attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, he was represented by two legates, Vitus and Vincentius. Under his administration, several great churches were founded at Rome by Constantine. Later legend brought him into close relationship with Constantine as the first Christian emperor.
Silvester figures in the "Donation of Constantine," fabricated in the second half of the eighth century, purporting to record Constantine's conferring on Silvester as his successors, as Rome's bishop, special privileges and powers. It is now universally admitted to be a forgery designed to bolster the claims of the papacy as the ruling institution of the Christian church.
In the West, the liturgical feast of Saint Sylvester is celebrated on December 31, the day of his burial in the Catacomb of Priscilla.
Biography
According to the Liber Pontificalis Sylvester I was the son of a Roman named Rufinus, and another source, the highly legendary Vita beati Sylvestri calls his mother Justa. He came to the Roman episcopacy after the death of Pope Miltiades (Melchiades), who led the city's church during the period of Emperor Constantine I's accession to the imperial dignity, resulting it a sudden change in the church's former position as a persecuted sect.
Sylvester held position of bishop of Rome for 21 years, making him one of the longer-reigning popes. During this time, the public position of the church greatly improved, a change which must certainly have been very noticeable at Rome. Unfortunately, this is little authoritative information concerning Sylvester's pontificate. At an early date, legend brings him into close relationship with the first Christian emperor, but most of these stories are contrary to historical fact. Especially important to his legend was the Vita beati Sylvestri, which appeared in the East and has been preserved in Greek, Syriac, and Latin in the in an equally apocryphal account of a supposed Roman council produced between 501 and 508. The forged Donatio Constantini Donation of Constantine made Sylvester a pivotal figure in medieval Christianity, as it portrayed him as the recipient of imperial lands and authority, along with his successors in the papacy.
The accounts given in all these writings concerning the persecution of Sylvester, the healing and baptism of Constantine, the emperor's gift to the pope, the rights granted to Sylvester by Constantine, and the council of 275 bishops at Rome, are recognized today entirely legendary by Catholic, Protestant, and secular scholars alike.
The pope, however, did take part in the important negotiations concerning Arianism, which resulted in Constantine's calling the Council of Nicæa, to which Sylvester sent delegates. The debate centered on the question of Christ's relationship to God the Father, specifically whether the Logos—the preexisting Son of God—was begotten at a definite point in time or whether he existed with God from the beginning. In condemning the views of Arius, the council adopted the idea that Christ and the Father were not merely of like substantce but of precisely the same substance, with Christ having been "eternally begotten of the Father" and "not made." The key expression homooúsion (same substance or "consubtantial") was championed by Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria and approved by Emperor Constantine himself, but is thought to have been agreed upon with with the pope before the council.
The pope sent legates to this first ecumenical council, but it is doubtful that Constantine had consulted beforehand with Sylvester concerning the convening of the council. Earlier he had requested Pope Miltiades to convene a western council to deal with the Donatist controversy in Africa. The papal delegates signed the council's decrees, but it was not thought necessary to gain the pope's approval beyond this.
During Sylvester's pontificate Constantine build several great churches in Rome, namely the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran near the former imperial palace which the emperor had given the previous pope as his residence, the basilica of the Sessorian palace (renamed Santa Croce), Saint Peter's famous church in the Vatican, and several cemetery-churches over the graves of martyrs in the Roman catacombs. It is nearly certain that the pope assisted in the construction of and consecration of the these churches, but his role is not specifically indicated.
Sylvester's memory is especially connected with the tiitular Church of Equitius, which takes its name from a Roman presbyter who is said to have built this church on his property. It was situated near the baths of Diocletian, and still exists. Parts of the present building may date from the fourth century.
No doubt the pope contributed to the development of the liturgy of the Church at Rome. However, the list given by the Liber Pontificalis of regulations passed by him cannot be considered historically reliable. During his reign,the first martyrology of Roman saints who suffered under previous persecutions was probably drawn up. Sylvester is connected also with the establishment of the Roman school of singing.
On the Via Salaria, he built a cemeterial church over the Catacomb of Priscilla, the ruins of which discovered in the nineteenth century. In was here that he was buried. His feast is given under December 31 in the Depositio episcoporum, a list of the burial days of the Roman bishops which was compiled barely a year after his death. This day, therefore, is doubtless the day of his actual burial.
Legacy
This is the last day in the year and, accordingly, in German-speaking countries and in some others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvester. In other countries too, the day is usually referred to as Saint Sylvester's Day or the Feast of Saint Sylvester (in French as la Saint-Sylvestre).
| Roman Catholic Popes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Miltiades |
Bishop of Rome Pope 314–335 |
Succeeded by: Mark |
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
| ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
- ↑ Annuario Pontificio (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2008 ISBN 978-88-209-8021-4), p. 8*.
