ON ST. SYRUS, BISHOP OF PADUA.
Third century.
His cult, and the time of his death.
Syrus, bishop of Padua (St.)
J. P.
Padua, of which mention was made on the XIII day of June, page 703, in the account of St. Anthony of Padua, is so well known that it need not be described here at any length. St. Syrus adorned its episcopal chair. Ferrarius records this prelate in both of his Catalogues, and in that of the Saints of Italy he praises him thus: Syrus, a Paduan by birth, illustrious for holiness, governed the church of Padua in the ninth place, at the time when Antoninus Caracalla was carrying on a savage persecution against the Christians; in which, nevertheless, the holy Bishop failed in nothing, so far as he could, toward the flock committed to him. And when he had presided over the church of Padua for XXIV years, he at length rested in peace on the day before the Kalends of September. He is held in veneration in a village of his own name in the Paduan territory, in a church dedicated to him. Thus far Ferrarius, who adds that he drew this from the records of the church of Padua and from Bernardo Scardeone, book 2, class 6, On the Antiquity of the City of Padua. Ughelli has almost the same things concerning the Saint in volume 5 of his Italia Sacra, column 397, where he fixes the beginning of his episcopate in the year 191, and says that he presided for XXIV years. Scardeone, in the place cited, page 105, says: He died in the year of salvation CCII. These chronological calculations do not agree. Who will supply the true ones? These two authors report nothing of the said persecution of Caracalla, which Ferrarius wrongly fits to the time of St. Syrus, since that emperor, though otherwise wicked, nevertheless never stirred up any persecution against the Christians. See Baronius, volume 2 of the Annals, at the year 214; and it is said in the Index to that same volume that Antoninus Caracalla contrived no evil against the Christians, which was reckoned almost a miracle. Ferrarius above marked the day of his death, but Scardeone and Ughelli do not note it. In what place his body lies, says the same Scardeone, is hitherto unknown. That village, of which we spoke above, is today called by all, from his name, the Villa of St. Syrus. I have placed him in the third century, to which others also referred him.