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Silvérius, Campánus, post Agapítum próxime Póntifex
creátus est : cujus doctrína et sánctitas illúxit in insectándis hæréticis,
et constántis ánimi magnitúdo perspécta est in tuéndo judício Agapíti.
Nam Anthimum, quem, quia Eutychiánam hæresim defendébat Agapítus ab
episcopátu Constantinopolitáno deposúerat, cum a Theodóra Augústa sæpíssime rogátus esset, restitúere nóluit. Quam ob rem iráta múlier
mandat Belisário ut Silvérium mittat in exsílium. Qui exsulávit in
ínsula Póntia, unde his verbis scripsísse fertur ad Amatórem epíscopum :
Susténtor pane tribulatiónis et aqua angústiæ ; nec tamen dimísi, aut
dimítto offícium meum. Et sane, brevi incómmodis ærumnísque
conféctus, obdormívit in Dómino, duodécimo Kaléndas Júlii. Cujus
corpus, Romam delátum et in basílica Vaticána depósitum, multis miráculis
illustrátum fuit. Præfuit Ecclésiæ annos tres et ámplius, creátis
mense Decémbri presbyteris trédecim, diáconis quinque, epíscopis per
divérsa loca decem et novem. |
Silverius was a native of Campania, and succeeded
Agapitus in the Papacy. His orthodoxy and holiness shone brightest
in his onslaughts upon heretics, and he shewed admirable firmness in
upholding a sentence by Agapitus. Agapitus had deposed Anthimus from
the Patriarchate of Constantinople for defending the heresy of Eutyches ;
and Silverius would never allow of his restoration, although the Empress
Theodora repeatedly asked him to do so. The woman was enraged at him
on this account, and ordered Bellisarius to send Silverius into exile.
He was accordingly banished to the island of Ponza, whence he is said to
have written these words to Bishop Amator : I am fed upon the bread of
tribulation and the water of affliction, but nevertheless I have not given
up, and I will not give up, doing my duty. But sickness and the
hardships of his exile soon broke his strength, and he fell asleep in the
Lord upon the 20th day of June. His body was taken to Rome, and laid
in the Vatican Basilica and made illustrious by many miracles. He
ruled the Church for more than three years, and ordained in the month of
December thirteen Priests, five Deacons, and nineteen Bishops for divers
Sees. |
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V.
Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R. Deo grátias. |
V.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
