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ID
ER 1516
Belisarius makes the clergy of Rome elect Vigilius as their new bishop in AD 537. Account of Liberatus of Carthage, "Breviarium", AD 555/566.
Chapter XXII
 
150. [...] Et alia die Bilisarius conuocatis presbyteris et diaconibus et clericis omnibus mandauit eis ut alium sibi papam eligerent. Quibus dubitantibus et nonnullis resistentibus fauore Bilisarii ordinatus est Vigilius.
 
(ed. Schwartz 1936: 137)
Chapter XXII
 
150. [...] On another day Belisarius summoned the presbyters, the deacons, and all the clerics, and ordered them to choose for themselves another pope. They were vacillating and not a few resisted, but thanks to Belisarius Vigilius was ordained.
 
(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

After the capture of Rome by Belisarius in 536, during the first siege of the city (537-538), Pope Silverius was deposed and sent into exile by Belisarius, and the clergy made to elect Vigilius in his place. Some accounts (Liberatus, Liber Pontificalis) accuse Vigilius of promising the Empress Theodora that he would support Monophystism in order to gain the papal throne. Procopius says that Silverius was deposed because he had collaborated with the Goths.

Place of event:

Region
  • Rome
City
  • Rome

About the source:

Author: Liberatus
Title: Breuiarium causae Nestorianorum et Eutychianorum
Origin: Carthage (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Liberatus was the deacon of Carthage (North Africa). His "Breviarium", written between AD 555 and 566, was meant to explain to the Latin audience the history of the Christological controversies in the East. Based on Oriental sources, it covers the period from Nestorius to the condemnation of the Three Chapters.
Edition:
E. Schwartz ed., Liberatus. Breuiarium causae Nestorianorum et Eutychianorum, Acta Conciliorum Oecomunicorum II/5, Berlin-Leipzig 1936, 98-141.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
    Ecclesiastical administration - Election of Church authorities
      Conflict
        Relation with - Secular authority
          Relation with - Soldier/Warrior
            Equal prerogatives of presbyters and deacons
              Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1516, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1516
              Record by: Stanisław Adamiak
              last edited: 2017-07-20 11:35:15
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