|
Also known as
: Silvester
Memorial: 31 December (Latin calendar); 2 January (Eastern calendar)
Profile
Date of birth unknown; d. 31 December, 335. According to the "Liber
pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 170) he was the son of a Roman named
Rufinus; the legendary "Vita beati Sylvestri" calls his mother Justa.
After the death of Miltiades (Melchiades), Sylvester was made Bishop of
Rome and occupied this position twenty-one years. This was the era of
Constantine the Great, when the public position of the Church so greatly
improved, a change which must certainly have been very noticeable at Rome;
it is consequently to be regretted that there is so little authoritative
information concerning Sylvester's pontificate. At an early date legend
brings him into close relationship with the first Christian emperor, but
in a way that is contrary to historical fact. These legends were
introduced especially into the "Vita beati Sylvestri" (Duchesne, loc.
cit., Introd., cix sq.) which appeared in the East and has been preserved
in Greek, Syrian, and Latin in the "Constitutum Sylvestri"–an apocryphal
account of an alleged Roman council which belongs to the Symmachian
forgeries and appeared between 501 and 508, and also in the "Donatio
Constantini". 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 the latter, and the
council of 275 bishops at Rome, are entirely legendary. The pope, however,
took part in the negotiations concerning Arianism and the Council of Nicæa,
and the expression ‘omooúsion was probably agreed upon with him before the
council. The pontiff also sent legates to the first ecumenical council.
Still it is not certain whether Constantine had arranged beforehand with
Sylvester concerning the actual convening of the council, nor whether
there was an express papal confirmation of the decrees beyond the
signatures of the papal legates (cf. Funk in "Kirchengesch. Abhandlungen
und Untersuchungen", I, 95, 501 sq.).
During Sylvester's pontificate were built the great churches founded at
Rome by Constantine, e.g. the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran near
the former imperial palace where the pope lived, the basilica of the
Sessorian palace (Santa Croce), the Church of St. Peter in the 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 especially connected with the titular Church of Equitius, which takes
its name from a Roman presbyter who is said to have erected this church on
his property. It was situated near the thermæ 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. During his reign, moreover, the first martyrlogy of Roman martyrs
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 have lately been
brought to light. In this church he was buried. His feast is given under
31 December in the "Depositio episcoporum", or list of the burial days of
the Roman bishops, which was compiled barely a year after his death; the
same date is given in the "Calendar" of Philocalus. This day, therefore,
is doubtless the day of his burial.
Born: Roman
Papal Ascension: 314
Died: 31 December 335 at Rome, Italy
source:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14370a.htm
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saints88.htm |
