Agatho

ON ST. AGATHO, WONDER-WORKER, ROMAN PONTIFF.

Circa A.D. 682

Agatho the Wonder-Worker, Pope of Rome (S.)

[1] The Calendar of the Roman Martyrology records the feast of the most holy Pontiff Agatho on January 10, with these words: "At Rome, St. Agatho, Pope, who, conspicuous in holiness and learning, rested in peace." Galesinius writes more fully: "At Rome, St. Agatho, Pope. Born of a Roman father, The feast of St. Agatho he was made Pontiff from a monk, of great gentleness and such holiness that he freed a leper who met him on the road from his disease by a kiss. He held a Council at Constantinople against the Monothelite heretics. He sat two years and three months. He is buried at St. Peter's." He is celebrated in a still more extensive encomium by Francis Maurolycus and the German Martyrology. He is commemorated on this day by the Cologne Carthusians in their Additions to Usuard, Hugh Ménard, Wion, Dorganius, our Octavius Caietanus in his Idea of the work on Sicilian Saints, manuscripts, and others.

[2] Under February 21, Galesinius has the following: "In Greece, St. Agatho the Pontiff. Instructed by the care of his parents most studiously in all the letters of Sacred Scripture, he bore such a fruit of piety The surname of Wonder-Worker that, on the death of his parents, having gathered together his accumulated wealth into one place, he distributed it to the poor in a single day. Then, embracing the discipline of the monastic life, he gave himself wholly to divine worship. Being day and night in prayer and supplication, by the gift and grace of God it came about that he performed many miracles, whence he received the name of Wonder-Worker." Afterwards, having been created Supreme Pontiff, with the public affairs of the Church excellently administered, he left a singular example of the purest religion, sanctimony, and admirable diligence. On the same day Wion writes: "In Greece, St. Agatho the Pope, whose feast is celebrated by the Latins on January 10." And Ferrarius: "At Rome, St. Agatho the Pope."

[3] The Greek Menaea for February 20 record nearly the same things as Galesinius: "This our holy Father and wonder-worker Agatho was from Italy, born of Christian, pious, and religious parents; with their help and his own efforts, he learned the saving letters dictated by the Holy Spirit. Life from the Menaea In which he drank in so much of the Spirit and was so deeply moved to compunction that, on the death of his parents, he spent and dispersed all their wealth and treasures in a single day upon the poor, whom he had summoned; and he himself entered a monastery and put on the religious habit, and served God day and night, and poured out constant prayers for the whole world. In his monastic life he made such progress and advanced so far in virtues that he received the grace of healing. At last, his virtues becoming well known, he was created Roman Pontiff; in which office, having conducted himself excellently in accordance with the dignity of his position, he departed to the Lord."

[4] From Galesinius and the Menaea it may be conjectured that his Life was read at greater length among the Greeks. A very brief account exists in the book on Roman Pontiffs by Anastasius Bibliothecarius, which contains a summary of the Acts of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (or the Third of Constantinople), Miracles which are set forth more fully in volume 3 of the Councils, part 1, though corrupted by the Greeks. Baronius also reviews them in volume 8 at the years 679, 680, 681. Whoever has written the lives of the Supreme Pontiffs or pursued ecclesiastical history treats of Agatho. Andreas Du Chesne does so carefully in volume 1 of his History of the Pontiffs. Platina narrates, among other things, the miracle of the leper whom Agatho healed with a kiss, which is recorded in Galesinius and other more recent martyrologies. Many other miracles must have been performed by him, to merit the name of Wonder-Worker, or miracle-worker.

[5] It is not sufficiently established on what day, or even in what month, Agatho entered the pontificate, The period of his See as we shall note in the Annotations. The letter of Constantine Pogonatus to Donus, Agatho's predecessor, dated August 12, Indiction 6, was delivered to Agatho. From which we at least know that he was sitting by the end of A.D. 678. Concerning the year, month, and day of his death, there is even less certainty... Detailed chronological discussion follows

LIFE BY ANASTASIUS BIBLIOTHECARIUS.

Agatho the Wonder-Worker, Pope of Rome (S.) BHL Number: 0141

By Anastasius Bibliothecarius.

[1] Agatho, (a) a Sicilian by birth, from the monks, sat (b) two years, six months, and three days. He was so kind and gentle that he proved himself pleasant and agreeable to all. The kindness of St. Agatho In his time (c) Theodore, Archbishop of Ravenna, presented himself to the Apostolic See after a period of many years.

[2] He received (d) an imperial decree from the most pious Emperors (e) Constantine, Heraclius, and Tiberius Augustus, sent through Epiphanius the glorious secretary, addressed to his predecessor Pope Donus, Legates sent to Constantinople inviting and exhorting him to send priests or envoys to the royal city for the purpose of achieving unity among the holy Churches of God. This he did not delay to (f) arrange. He sent Abundantius, Bishop of (g) Paterno, John of (h) Reggio, and John of Portus as bishops; (i) Theodore and George as priests, John as deacon, and Constantine as subdeacon, Theodore, a priest of Ravenna, and devoted servants of God as monks.

[3] He had been Treasurer. He increased the clergy with various orders and honored them with fitting distinctions. He was made (k) Treasurer of the Roman Church beyond the usual custom, and by his own hand managed the affairs of the treasury, issuing receipts signed in his own hand through the nomenclator for the sums received; when he was detained by illness, he appointed a Treasurer according to custom.

[4] In his time, in Indiction 8, the moon suffered an eclipse in the month of June, on the (l) 28th day. Likewise a (m) plague, greater and most severe, followed in the aforementioned month, Plague in his time in July, August, and September, in the city of Rome, such as is not recorded as having occurred in the time of any other pontiffs, so that even parents together with their children and brothers and sisters were carried two at a time in their beds to the tombs. Afterwards the same plague did not cease to devastate the suburbs and surrounding towns.

[5] The aforesaid envoys of the Apostolic See, entering the royal city (n) on November 10, The legates arrive at Constantinople Indiction 9, with the Lord's consolation and the Prince of the Apostles accompanying them, were received by the Emperor in the oratory of Blessed Peter the Apostle within the palace, as they presented the writings of the Pontiff. After receiving them, he admonished and exhorted them not to proceed through schism or fury, but with peaceful disposition, setting aside philosophical assertions, to provide satisfaction through synodal decrees based on the proven and pure faith of the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers. They are honorably treated Granting them time to review the writings, he provided everything necessary for their support and expenses at the house called Placidia. On the 18th day of the aforementioned month, a Sunday, they were summoned in procession to the holy Mother of God at the Blachernae, with such honor that from the palace the imperial piety even sent saddled horses with an escort, and thus received them, advising them to propose the testimonies of the venerable Fathers with a peaceful assertion.

[6] On the (o) twenty-second day of November, (p) in the basilica called the Trullus, within the palace, The Sixth Ecumenical Council under royal state, with the Augustan Constantine presiding together with George, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Macarius of Antioch, the envoys of the Apostolic See were received; then the Metropolitans and Bishops of the Eastern regions, (q) one hundred and fifty in number, were admitted. Prostrating themselves in adoration, the Emperor ordered them to sit together with our representatives. After this, the (r) Patricians, Consuls, and all the nobles entered. An inquiry being made by his piety as to which party's demonstration should be accepted, the legates of the Apostolic See said: "Right truth and reason require that the authority of the Apostolic See be set forth by those who assert one will and one operation in the Lord Jesus Christ." Hearing this, they were pleased and said they were ready. The fraud of the heretics in corrupting books Having received permission, they immediately brought in their books and various volumes and synods, which they had falsified. For they did not think they could prevail through truth, but through lies and various fabrications which they themselves had added to their books. And when each item was read through, they were found to be liars, saying that there is one operation and one will in the Lord Jesus Christ. And in the Fifth Synod they had falsified a letter of Pope (s) Vigilius to Patriarch Menas, and a booklet of the same Menas, in newly added pages, asserting one will and one operation. This was made clear before the Emperor and the Council. On another day, the pious Emperor and defender of the Catholic faith, sitting in the secretarium and conducting an investigation of those same codices, found that the false additions had been newly made.

[7] (t) On December 12, with the Council sitting together with His Piety, the envoys of the Apostolic See were received, and the Emperor ordered them to sit in the Council, representing the person of the most holy and blessed Pope Agatho. They were told to bring before the Council all the books they knew to pertain to the matter of faith; which was done. The lies of Macarius of Antioch exposed George the deacon and chartophylax of the Church of Constantinople was summoned and ordered to bring out from the library of the Church the codices known to them. When they were brought and read, both sets were found to be similar, containing two natures, two wills, and two operations in the Lord Jesus Christ. And Macarius was found to be a liar before the Council, put to shame. Then the imperial authority forbade George the Patriarch to receive Macarius in his Church or his followers, interdicting him from proceeding. This was the first step in his downfall.

[8] On February 13, with the aid of Blessed Peter the Apostle, so that the light of truth might appear, the sayings of the venerable Fathers were introduced before the Council: The Fathers teaching two operations in Christ (v) of John of Constantinople, Cyril, Athanasius, Basil, Gregory, Dionysius, Hilary, Ambrose, Augustine, and Leo -- all declaring two natural wills and operations in Christ, to the satisfaction of the Emperor and the Council. (x) On the following day, with the Council sitting in the same secretarium together with the Emperor, the Synodical letter of the most holy Pope Agatho was read, and the sayings of the Fathers inserted at each point were confirmed. In this Synodical letter, (y) one hundred and twenty-five bishops of the Western regions had subscribed.

[9] After this, Macarius was admonished by the holy Council The obstinacy of Macarius and by the pious Emperor and the entire Senate to profess whether he confessed one or two wills or operations. He absolutely refused to listen, but rather said that he would persist in the perfidy he had earlier proposed, and would in no way yield to the orthodox faith. Then the most pious and serene Emperor produced a volume to be read, in which the vain heretical dogma of Macarius had been written and subscribed in his own hand, most openly affirming one will in the Lord. Under his subscription there was also the subscription of (z) Theodore the ex-Patriarch, in the same tenor. And when George the Patriarch was asked whether he embraced the faith taught by the Apostolic See, according to the writing of the venerable Pope Agatho and the holy and venerable Fathers, he replied that, having received permission, he would respond in writing with what was appropriate. And with this they withdrew. On (Aa) February 17, a Sunday, within the oratory of St. Peter in the palace, with the (Bb) Syncletus Senate standing by, together with the Patriarch, the Emperor received the legates of the Apostolic See, reading another petition sent by the most holy Pope for their commendation. The profession of faith of George of Constantinople Patriarch George professed on that day in writing his belief in and preaching of two natures, two wills, and two operations in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Apostolic See believes, anathematizing those who assert one nature, one will, and one operation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[10] On February 25, with the Council sitting together with the pious Emperor and the legates of the Apostolic See, The obstinate Macarius is ejected from the Council they ordered Macarius to be present. Permission being given by the Emperor for each party to divide itself as it wished, George the Patriarch of the royal city with his followers stood on the side of the Orthodox; Macarius with his followers stood on the other side, that of the heretics. The profession of Patriarch George was brought forward, read, and presented to the Emperor. The aforementioned Macarius was admonished as to what he believed. He replied that he would persist in the perfidy he had previously proposed, and would in no way yield to the orthodox faith. At that moment the holy Council, together with the Emperor, ordered his (Cc) orarium stole to be removed from his neck. And (Dd) Basilius, Bishop of the Church of Crete, leaping forward, tore off his stole. Anathematizing him, they cast him out of the Council together with his throne. (Ee) As for Stephen, his disciple, the Roman clergy ejected him from the holy Council by the scruff of his neck.

[11] A symbol of the heresy At that moment such webs of the blackest spiders fell in the midst of the people that all marveled and said that the filth of the heresies had been expelled. And with God's help, the holy Churches of God were united. In place of Macarius, (Ff) Stephen, abbot of a monastery called (Gg) Baias on the island of Sicily, was ordained Patriarch of the Church of Antioch. The heretics are banished; others condemned Macarius, however, together with his followers -- that is, (Hh) Stephen and Anastasius, former priests, and Leontius, a former deacon; Polychronius and Epiphanius, former priests and recluses -- were sent into exile (Ii) to the city of Rome. Then they removed from the (Kk) diptychs of the churches the names of the Patriarchs, and from the paintings of the churches their images, or from the doors, wherever they might be found -- that is, of (Ll) Cyrus, Sergius, Paul, Pyrrhus, and Peter, through whom the error against the orthodox faith had flourished until now.

[12] The papal legates win favor with the Greeks So great was the divine grace of the Almighty granted to the envoys of the Apostolic See that, to the joy of the people and the holy Council who were in the royal city, (Mm) John, Bishop of Portus, on the Sunday of the Octave of Easter, publicly celebrated Mass in the Latin rite in the church of Blessed Sophia, before the Emperor and the Patriarch, so that all might unanimously acclaim in Latin voices the praises and victories of the most pious Emperors on that day.

[13] He received an imperial decree according to his petition, as he had requested, by which the sum that was customarily given (Nn) for the ordination of the Pontiff was remitted. Other acts of St. Agatho On condition, however, that if after his death an election should take place, the one elected should not be ordained until the general decree was presented in the royal city according to ancient custom, and ordination should proceed with their knowledge and command. He remitted to the entire clergy one payment, and for the lights of the Apostles and of St. Mary at the Manger, 2,140 solidi. He performed one ordination: ten priests, three deacons, and eighteen bishops in various places. He was buried at Blessed Peter the Apostle on January 10; and the episcopate was vacant for one year, seven months, and five days.

a Ferrarius says his father was Pantonius; Galesinius and Platina say he was Roman. But Ciaconius makes him the son of Pannonius Ammo, born at the castle of Aquilano in the Sicilian valley, in the province of Farther Abruzzo.

b The codex of Baronius had "three years, 8 months, 15 days." The book published under the name of Luitprand: "2 years, 5 months, 4 days." Some manuscripts and the Cologne Carthusians: "5 years, 6 months." The Cologne Martyrology: "5 years, 6 months, 15 days." Binius adds approximately five months to three years...

c Hieronymus Rubeus treats of this matter in book 4 of his History of Ravenna...

d It is extant before the Sixth Council.

e Constantine Pogonatus succeeded his father Constans in 668, and associated his brothers Heraclius and Tiberius as colleagues, though he afterwards removed them. He died in 685, leaving his son Justinian as heir, who later became known as Rhinotmetus.

f First, various councils were held in Italy, Gaul, and Britain against the Monothelites, by Agatho's authority...

z This man was created Patriarch of Constantinople in the year 666, as Baronius has it here at number 1; in the year 678, because he was a heretic, he was ejected by the Emperor Constantine, and George was substituted in his place. But when he afterwards feigned himself Catholic, upon George's death in 682, he was restored to the See and corrupted the Acts of the Sixth Council.

Aa This Action is also missing in the printed editions. The Dominical letter in that year 681 was F, which corresponds to the seventeenth of February.

Bb That is, the Senate. Others read "Syncellus."

Cc In Action 8, which is said to have been held on March 7, the following is pronounced against Macarius: "Justly let him be removed from the episcopate; let the pallium placed upon him be stripped off, and with him stripped bare and standing in the midst together with Stephen," etc. The orarium here is a linen episcopal vestment, which is commonly called a rocchetta. Thus on January 1, in the life of St. Fulgentius, chapter 18, number 38: "He by no means used an orarium, as all bishops do; he used a leather belt, as a monk." St. Gregory, book 6, epistle 191, seems to have used the term for a common linen garment: "I have sent you two shirts and four oraria"; for they were to be given to married men. More commonly, it signifies a linen cloth that is applied to the mouth. St. Jerome, epistle 2 to Nepotian, a little past the middle: "Otherwise it is ridiculous and full of disgrace to boast of a full purse while not having a handkerchief or orarium." St. Ambrose, On the Faith of the Resurrection: "And his Lazarus's face was bound with an orarium."

Dd Basilius, Bishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete, is named first in Action 1 after the Patriarchs and the Western legates.

Ee This is recounted in Action 9, held on March 8.

Ff In the Acts of the Council he is called Theophanes; in Abbo of Fleury, Theophanius. He had come with the Apostolic legates, as Baronius writes, in the year 680, number 7.

Gg Abbo of Fleury writes "Bagias."

Hh Stephen was an abbot and priest; Polychronius was a monk and priest. Concerning the latter's arrogant stupidity, see Action 15 of the Council.

Ii There, by St. Leo II, the successor of St. Agatho, Macarius, Polychronius, Stephen, and other obstinate persons were confined in a monastery; Anastasius the priest and Leontius the deacon of the Church of Constantinople, having professed the orthodox faith, were absolved. So obstinate was Macarius that not even after the death of Stephen or of the Patriarch Theophanes, when his own See was offered to him again by St. Benedict II, Pope, on condition that he condemn his former errors, was he willing to comply -- as Baronius relates from the Second Council of Nicaea, in the year 685, number 8.

Kk We have treated of the diptychs on January 8, in the life of St. Atticus, sections 5 and 6.

Ll These are the standard-bearers of the Monothelites: Cyrus, Bishop of the Lazi at Phasis, intruded by Heraclius onto the throne of Alexandria in the year 630, who died in 640. Sergius, Bishop of Constantinople, created in 608, died in 639. Pyrrhus succeeded him, who in 642, having come under suspicion of conspiracy against the Emperor, voluntarily withdrew, and Paul was substituted for him; when Paul died in 652, Pyrrhus was restored; when Pyrrhus died shortly after, Peter was appointed in 653, who died in 656. And all of these were now condemned at the Sixth Council.

Mm He was not the chief of the legates (for as is clear from Action 1, the priests Theodore and George and the deacon John presided over the Council, acting on behalf of Agatho, the most holy and blessed Archbishop of ancient Rome); but because John was a bishop by rank, he therefore celebrated the Mass.

Nn The impious Gothic kings first ordered that a sum of money be paid to them by newly created Roman Pontiffs; which the Eastern Emperors afterwards also exacted, down to the most pious Constantine IV Pogonatus. Luitprand writes that Agatho obtained this imperial decree from Constantine, Heraclius, and Tiberius.

EPITAPH OF ST. AGATHO

Agatho Thaumaturgus, Pope of Rome (S.)

Once inscribed upon his tomb, long lost, at length found again among other ancient inscriptions, and published by Baronius after the twelfth volume of the Annals.

Upheld by the weight of virtues, the pontifical summit shines like a sunbeam, resounds like thunder. This very one now accomplishes as kindling and author of doctrine, for he forms by his deeds those whom he teaches by his words. While virtue and the height of honor advance together, he adorns his office with his character, and carries it out with skill. Endowed with these merits, the supreme Bishop Agatho holds firm the bonds of the Apostolic See. Behold piety, behold ancient faith: the emblems of the Fathers remain inviolate, O gracious one, through your efforts. Who indeed could count the lessons of your character, when your life was the very pattern of virtues?

aequiparat*.

numeret, or enumeret*.