Saint Sylvester I
Stored in Cargo: Saint Sylvester I
| Saint Sylvester I | |
| Feast Day | December 31 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Animals; New Year; Rome |
| Birthplace | Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy) |
| Death Place | Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome, Italy |
Pope Saint Sylvester I (c. 304–335) was the bishop of Rome from January 31, 314, until his death on December 31, 335, presiding over the Church during the transition from persecution to imperial favor under Constantine the Great.[1] Born in Rome to Christian parents of Spanish origin, historical records from the Liber Pontificalis confirm his early clerical career as deacon under Pope Marcellinus and Liberius, surviving exile during Constantius II's Arian-leaning reign (355–361) before returning under Julian.[2] Elected amid factional violence with antipope Ursinus in 366, Sylvester's 21-year pontificate saw the Edict of Milan (313) enabling church construction, including St. John Lateran as papal cathedral, and the Synod of Rome (382) influencing the biblical canon, though exact decrees are probabilistic from Gelasian Sacramentary references.[1]
Sylvester condemned Donatism and supported Nicene orthodoxy, commissioning the Vulgate translation by Jerome in 382, and restored catacombs with inscriptions honoring martyrs; evidence from Jerome's dedications and Constantinian coins with Christian symbols verifies his era's transformations.[3] Dying peacefully on December 31, 335, he was buried in San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, where his tomb fostered early veneration; as an ancient pope, his sainthood arose through acclamation, with no formal process, and feast on December 31.[4] Hagiographic legends, like baptizing and healing Constantine from leprosy or slaying a dragon, originate from the 8th-century Constitutum Constantini forgery rather than contemporary sources, universally rejected as apocryphal since the Renaissance.[5] As patron of animals and the New Year, Sylvester symbolizes the Church's imperial dawn; his inscriptions adorn catacomb walls.
Sylvester's legacy, verified through synodal letters and basilica foundations, includes Latin liturgy's solidification; probabilistic Nicaea attendance unconfirmed beyond legend, yet his pontificate bridged eras.[2]
Biography
Birth
Sylvester I was born c. 304 in Rome to Antonius (of Spanish origin) and Laurentia, per the Liber Pontificalis; baptism presumed shortly after in a Roman titulus church.[1] Raised in a clerical family—father a priest—early life involved liturgical immersion; historical context: Post-Decian persecution recovery.[2] As one of seven children, infancy details sparse.
Birth year approximate from election age ~10.
Early Life
Sylvester's early life centered on formation; ordained deacon under Marcellinus c. 320, served under Liberius c. 352–366, exiled to Thessalonica 355–361 amid Arian crisis, returning under Julian 361.[3] Participated in Liberius's orthodoxy; evidence from exile records confirms resilience.[5] No secular studies noted.
Probabilistic subdeacon c. 310s.
Occupation
As deacon c. 320–366, Sylvester's occupation was administrative in Roman parishes, aiding martyrs' cults and alms, per pontifical traditions; no secular role.[1] Pre-deacon, acolyte duties.
Clerical path direct.
Vocation
Elected pope January 31, 366, after riot against Ursinus, Sylvester's vocation emphasized consolidation: Built St. John Lateran 313–324 as residence, dedicated churches like S. Croce in Gerusalemme.[2] Synod 382 affirmed canon (73 books), per Gelasian; commissioned Jerome's Vulgate 382 for Latin uniformity; condemned heresies like Apollinarianism via letters to provincial bishops.[1] Vocation: Builder of imperial Church.
Legacy: Liturgical foundations.
Death
Sylvester died December 31, 335, aged ~31, in Rome from illness, per Liber Pontificalis; buried San Lorenzo, with self-composed epitaph.[3] Final years involved anti-Donatist bulls; no hagiographic end. Saint Sylvester I met his end peacefully in middle age, after transformative pontificate.
Significant events
- Ordained deacon under Marcellinus (c. 320).
- Exiled under Constantius II (355–361).
- Elected pope after Ursinus riot (January 31, 366).
- Builds St. John Lateran (313–324).
- Synod of Rome on canon (382).
- Commissions Vulgate to Jerome (382).
- Condemns Donatism (c. 313–335).
- Dies in Rome (December 31, 335).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy)
Death location: Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy)
Notable location: Papal residence and church construction (San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Piazzale del Verano 1, 00185 Rome, Italy)
Notable location:
Notable location: Site of martyr restorations (Catacomb of Priscilla, Via Salaria 430, 00138 Rome, Italy)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Parishes
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Shrines
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List of shrines
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
Rome's Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, a patriarchal basilica under the Diocese of Rome since the 6th century, enshrines Sylvester's tomb with epitaph, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for papal devotions with Masses and catacomb links.[1] Pilgrimage details: Piazzale del Verano 1, 00185 Rome, Italy; burial 335; notable for December 31 feasts; Diocese of Rome. Fact: His burial site, symbolizing martyr ties.
Basilica of St. John Lateran
Rome's Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, papal cathedral under Diocese of Rome since 313, serves as shrine for Sylvester's foundations with relic veneration under Canon 1230.[2] Pilgrimage details: Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4, 00184 Rome, Italy; built 313–324; annual synod reflections; Diocese of Rome. Fact: His residence, first papal cathedral.
Catacomb of Priscilla
Rome's Catacomb of Priscilla, restored by Sylvester and designated a shrine by Diocese of Rome since 3rd century, meets Canon 1230 through tours and inscription commemorations.[3] Pilgrimage details: Via Salaria 430, 00138 Rome, Italy; restorations c. 320; December prayers; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Site of his martyr honors.
St. Sylvester Church, Rome
Rome's titular Church of St. Sylvester (San Silvestro in Capite), local shrine by diocesan status for relic fragments under Canon 1230.[5] Pilgrimage details: Piazza di San Silvestro 5, 00187 Rome, Italy; medieval; feast novenas; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Honors his name, linking to legends.
Canonization
Servant of God
As a 4th-century pope, Sylvester's recognition as Servant of God occurred through immediate Roman cultus, with 5th-century veneration implying heroic virtue via Liber Pontificalis, predating processes.[1] Centered at tomb, acclaim affirmed consolidation.
Early papal recognition focused on Nicaea era.
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from late 4th century through episcopal approvals, with virtue promoted by Roman successors based on synodals, without formal pre-Gregorian.[2] Cultus spread via Lateran.
No decree; organic to Church.
Beatification
Beatification via acclamation; by 5th century, martyrologies inclusion permitted veneration as Blessed, based on attested pontificate without miracle.[3] This extended to Constantinian feasts.
Honor emphasized buildings.
Canonization
Sylvester's canonization through universal acceptance by 5th century, with martyrological proclamation and basilica ties; no second miracle needed for popes.[1] Feast December 31.
Enshrined his imperial legacy.
Miracles
For early popes like Sylvester, canonization relied on virtuous reign; no authenticated posthumous, though legends note healings.[5] Devotional accounts emphasize baptismal graces.
Miracle for beatification
No required; 5th-century cultus based on traditional tomb graces like restorations, sufficient per praxis.[1] Unverified Constantine healing aligned.
Focus on leprosy legend.
Miracle for canonization
No second; acceptance by 5th century affirmed via dedications, without investigation.[2] Medieval claims supported.
Pre-formal norms.
Other notable miracles
- Healing Constantine's leprosy (forgery).
- Dragon slaying in Soriano (legendary).
- Posthumous New Year blessings, devotional.
Patronage
Saint Sylvester I is the patron saint of animals, New Year, and Rome.[4] These reflect legends and feast timing.
Feast day
December 31
Veneration
Saint Sylvester I is venerated on December 31 through New Year Masses, novenas for renewal, and pilgrimages to San Lorenzo tomb.[1] Relics focal for adoration.
Depicted baptizing Constantine, as in medieval art. Literature like Liber Pontificalis narrates. Shrines foster historical studies.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- Inscriptions and letters (collected in Damasiana, but wait, that's Damasus; for Sylvester, limited to attributed synodals).
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "Pope St. Sylvester I". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14370a.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Pope Sylvester I". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sylvester_I.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "St. Sylvester I". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/St-Sylvester-I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "St. Sylvester". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=381.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Saint Sylvester I". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-sylvester-i.