ON ST. PETER, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR,
AT RAVENNA IN ITALY.
In the year 425.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
The Peter who is venerated at Ravenna is to be called not the younger but the elder.
Peter, Bishop and Confessor, at Ravenna in Italy (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
There is no need here to repeat the things we said on occasion of St. Ecclesius at the 27th day of this month; namely, that in these our Acts treatment has already been made so often of Ravenna and its prerogatives, that concerning them nothing further occurs to be mentioned. Who was previously believed to be the younger Concerning the just number of the holy bishops, the same question which is there touched upon remains, not easily to be resolved. But here a more entangled knot is to be untied: who this Peter is, who is venerated by the people of Ravenna as a Saint, referred to this day in the Offices cited elsewhere, although the whole festivity is celebrated of St. Germanus. Following Rubeus and other Ravennate writers and Ferrarius, our Elders by no means doubted that he was the one surnamed the younger, third of that name, twenty-fourth in order, and who indeed took part in the Roman synods in the cause of St. Symmachus the Pope, set forth at length at the 19th of July. Exactly the same is the opinion of Ughelli, although he numbers him as the twenty-fifth bishop in order. To say it in a word, one would have seemed to speak against the sun, if anyone, before Agnellus On the Pontiffs of Ravenna was published, had dared to contradict those most received opinions of the people of Ravenna. That the whole matter may be most clearly perceived, I judged that Ferrarius's elogium from the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy should here be prefaced, where he plainly contracts those things which Rubeus, the founder of the Ravennate history, reported a little more fully in various places of his third book. Hear Ferrarius:
[2] Peter, surnamed the Younger, drew his origin from Syria. after Rubeus, Ferrarius, and others, He was substituted for the holy John II of this name, bishop of the people of Ravenna, at the time when King Theodoric was besieging the city; and on that account he suffered many discomforts. He took part in the councils held at Rome under Symmachus and subscribed to them, where he showed himself a most keen defender of ecclesiastical liberty and an enemy of the schismatics. Returned to Ravenna, he began to build for the Prince of the Apostles an admirable temple in the town of Classe, to be reckoned among the chief ones of all Italy. He was a man distinguished by gravity and by innocence of life, of slender body and with a long beard. He bestowed on the church the books of the New Law inscribed on golden tablets and adorned with gems. And so, while he was intent on the building of the mentioned temple, seized by disease, he rendered his soul to God on the day before the Kalends of August, buried in the same temple of St. Peter. Whose body, after many years, was found whole and filled with a most sweet odor. He here alleges, and truly, the monuments of the Ravennate church and Girolamo Rubeo in the history of that same city, book 3.
[3] Then indeed in the annotation he continues thus: This second bishop of Ravenna of this name, from the history of Agnellus at the beginning of the reign of Theodoric in 493, was created by St. Apollinaris the twenty-third, and presided, according to the Calendars of Panvinius, for nine years. Wherefore it cannot be that he lived under Narses the exarch, as some write. Rightly indeed does he remove him from the age of Narses, who, if he had been able to consult Agnellus, ought to have said he was older than Narses by a whole century and more. But how many-th he was in the series, from what has been said you perceive is doubtful enough, and gradually you gather that the things handed down about this St. Peter are disturbed and entangled: for however specious the elogium recited from Ferrarius may appear, confirmed by so many authorities and hitherto admitted, it is nevertheless itself utterly ruinous, and so overthrown and shaken by the authority of Agnellus himself, who produces nearly all the other marks of the Saint, while he proclaims another Peter a saint—namely him who, first of that name, followed St. Ursus, and had St. Neon as his successor, no longer to be removed to the sixth century, or to the times of St. Symmachus the Pope, but who lived in the age of Valentinian III, called to the heavenly ones in the first year of his reign, as the Life to be reviewed by us below most expressly relates.
[4] he is restored to his place and time, The distinguished man Lord Benedetto Bacchini, praised by us more than once, saw the errors of Rubeus, saw all the difficulties, and was the first to weigh them, and with what effort he could, endeavored to explain them, illustrating Agnellus in his third dissertation, of the first edition in quarto, volume 1 from page 206, among the Writers of Italy volume 2 from page 52, where he recognizes the history of the Ravennate church and the chronology pertaining to a whole century to be so disturbed, that one can scarcely hope to escape from so many windings and darknesses of anachronisms. But here it pertains to us chiefly, that in his first observation on the Life of St. Peter, he confesses himself compelled to recognize this earlier Peter, against the common opinion of the popular writers, because otherwise the arguments are lacking (if you except mere tradition) by which we might prove Peter III to have been venerated among the Saints; but the sanctity of the earlier Peter, from the age of Galla Placidia, we know from this passage of Agnellus (to be recited in the Life at no. 8). Peter therefore the bishop, whom the church of Ravenna venerates as a Saint, is not the third but this earlier one. Of the third we know only this, that in the age of Symmachus the Roman Pontiff he sat at Rome in several councils, which by an anachronism … was attributed to the other Peter …
[5] These things Bacchini rightly, I think, and the matter having been attentively and diligently examined, several things being rejected as may be seen at greater length in him in the already-cited third dissertation, where he learnedly disputes concerning the age of the bishops of Ravenna who flourished from Peter the first of his name to Ecclesius; from whose no. 1 you will make a conjecture about the rest. We have come, he says, to the most intricate passages of Agnellus, in which it is scarcely to be hoped that the reckoning of the times can be aptly arranged, unless it be done from conjectures. Until this day the learned, as many as have written about the bishops of the Ravennate church, have trusted the history of Girolamo Rubeo, who, although he asserts that he has arranged everything from the trustworthiness of documents, nevertheless it appears that he has often built only on conjectures, which necessity itself urged. Since I myself am compelled to overcome the rough places by no other means, that those who read my efforts may judge them fairly and kindly, I have thought that all the tangles should first be set forth together, so that, from the difficulty of the matter, I may render the censors of those things which I shall add for dissolving the most intricate knot more benign. He proceeds thence to arrange laboriously the most intricate times of seven bishops throughout the first part of his dissertation.
[6] But the second part reports and refutes the anomalies of Rubeus in arranging that same series of bishops; with the anachronisms of Rubeus but I do not think it necessary to describe these here, since, now published, they are in the hands of the learned. But this is not to be passed over, that in his first observation on the Life of St. Peter, also already cited, for asserting the truth of Peter the bishop first of that name, he sets it forth thus: To admit this Peter against Rubeus and those who followed Rubeus, lest I invert the series of the pontiffs of Ravenna handed down by Agnellus, the arguments explained in the preceding dissertation persuaded me: now it pleases me to add the things which are suggested from his Life. First, therefore, it is improbable that Agnellus was deceived by the elders, in drawing back to nearly the beginning of the fifth century a Peter who flourished in the time of Symmachus, since those things are manifestly narrated of the more ancient Peter which can befit Chrysologus, and not that younger one. That this man came from the parts of Syria with the rest of his predecessors, our author openly hands down. But that would be falsely said either of Peter Chrysologus, whom no one to this day has doubted to have been Italian, or of the later Peter,
who had some Italian predecessors. The longer beard also supplies an argument by which we may distinguish the one from the other, for from it appears that Peter flourished in those times in which the Ravennate church was especially seen to Grecize, namely when, with the Augusti residing there, the ecclesiastics conformed themselves in many respects to the customs of the Greek church.
[7] Nor does Bacchini stop there, thus pursuing the assumed argument: who are solidly refuted. But the western empire being cut off, and the Goths having gained control of affairs and of Ravenna, that the Ravennate bishops shaved their beards can be shown by the most ancient effigy of St. Ecclesius, which below, from an old mosaic of Ravenna, we shall give in its place. To this matter I judge that confers a degree of certainty what is narrated at the end of the Life, namely that, for the sanctity of the same, Galla Placidia ordered his effigy to be fashioned in mosaic in the basilica of St. John the Evangelist, of which effigy the place is assigned, and the parts are described so distinctly, that it is by no means probable that Agnellus could have been deceived, nor failed to distinguish between the effigy of the earlier Peter and that of Peter Chrysologus; for that it could not pertain to Peter III, the beard itself cries out and the reckoning of time declares, for the effigy of Peter III could not have been made by the order of Galla Placidia. And these things seem altogether sufficient for us to conclude with Bacchini, in the order concerning today's St. Peter, that Ferrarius's elogium is confused from the Rubean anachronisms, and consequently for the greater part altogether to be repudiated, and that no other Peter besides this one and his namesake Chrysologus can most probably be admitted among the holy bishops of Ravenna, of whom the former was the true founder of the Petrian church, in which there are said to have been three hundred altars.
[8] Here is given the Saint's elogium. Now, as regards the Agnellian Life; I candidly confess it to be drier and more meager in reviewing the Saint's deeds and virtues; to say nothing now of the digression, in which is more fully recorded the history of some hermit or other, summoned by Rubeus from Egypt, who came to Ravenna accompanied by two lions, to behold some effigy of Christ the Savior, on seeing which he died, buried there with his lions: which narration I judge is clear enough that Agnellus received from popular tradition. What is recorded by the same about the finding of the body of the Lord Peter, marked with the name of archbishop, whether it is to be referred to this Saint, Bacchini does not dare to define; nor do I find a way by which it may easily be determined. The other things which are doubtful, the same Bacchini explains in observation 2, where you will also notice that the Agnellian alapae are not incongruously expounded by Rubeus through these words: that he adorned with most excellent gems the books of the divine law delivered by Christ God, inscribed on golden tablets. The time of his see is not expressed; but if the death of his predecessor St. Ursus be rightly referred to the year 412, and our man succeeded shortly after, having died in the first year of Valentinian, or 425, he must have sat 13 years. Behold now the Life itself, as it is described by Agnellus.
LIFE
From Agnellus's Pontifical book, of the Bacchinian edition, volume 1 from page 226.
Peter, Bishop and Confessor, at Ravenna in Italy (St.)
BHL Number: 6769
FROM Agnellus.
Chapter I.
Peter, the seventeenth prelate, a most holy man, of slender body, tall stature, lean in face, The Saint's fatherland and the founding of the Petrian church. having a long beard. From the time of blessed Apollinaris, together with this man, his predecessors were of Syria. The founder of the Petrian church, building the walls round about, but not yet completing everything. No church was greater in structure, the like of it, neither in length nor in height, and it was greatly adorned with precious stones, and decorated with various mosaics, and greatly enriched in gold and silver, and in sacred vessels, which a he himself ordered to be made. There they assert was present an image of the Savior painted, the like of which no man could ever have seen in paintings, above the Regia b. So very beautiful, and it was made like as the Son of God himself in the flesh did not disdain to appear, when he preached to the nations: but yet I wish it to be known to you, what concerning the above-written holy effigy of our Lord I heard from individual elders, both laymen and priests, as they held it handed down from their predecessors.
[2] The image of the Savior praised. Not only was it made known to me, who wish to write this pontifical book, but also to the rest of my fellow-disciples, and brothers, who were nourished in the bosom of the holy Ursian church; that there had been a certain spiritual father in the desert, who asked daily of the Lord, that he would show him the form of his incarnation. Who, when after many times he was wearied in such prayer with the tedium of his soul, there stood by him at night a man in white garments, clothed in angelic habit, and said to him: Behold, your prayer is heard, and I have looked upon your labor. Rise, go into the city which is called Classe, and seek there the Petrian church, and when you shall have entered there, look above the doors of the same church, below the Ardica c, there you shall see me painted on the plaster of the wall, such as I was in the world in the flesh. Then he, filled with great joy, glad at the word heard, and exulting, left the desert; and two lions accompanied him, and rising up, through long earthly journeys he came to the city Classe, and when he had entered into the aforesaid church together with those lions, weeping and praying a very long time, he began to seek through the walls the holy effigy.
[3] Who, when he had not found it, came to the place which had been revealed to him sleeping, Of a certain hermit that the effigy was painted there, and seeing it, he fell prone to the earth, tearful, adored it, and giving thanks, because he had thus seen it, just as it had been revealed to him in his sleep. And gazing upon it a very long time, he said: I give you thanks, O God who hear all, who do not spurn those who seek you, nor desire the death of sinners, but are at hand to him who calls upon you; with whom there is no need of a mediator, nor messenger, nor intercessor; with whom there is no delay for the faithful who pray, according to what you promised us through the prophets: While you are yet speaking, behold, here I am. Behold, not according to my merits, but according to your mercy, my desire is fulfilled. Now am I satisfied with your holy riches, now am I enriched from the heavenly treasure. Receive my soul into your holy hall, that, invited to the supper of the Lamb, I may deserve to enter into your kingdom, and to sit at your table. And these things said, praying a very long time, and rejoicing, between the two lions roaring around him, he rendered up his spirit.
[4] Which d, seizing from thence, the people ran together, grasping the grave-earth with exceeding fear and veneration, access to it and death. the lions licking his limbs and footprints, and pouring out tears, with great mourning they buried him. Then the lions—one prostrated itself at his head, and the other at his feet, giving great roars between themselves, running together this way and that beside the body of the holy Man, resounding with great voices, and desiring to submit their necks beneath his tomb (most bitterly the people wept with those lions)—both died. And the people themselves buried them in the pit on either side in the earth, beside the body of the holy Man, this side and that. But the people, terrified with exceeding fear, returned to their way, and told the marvels which the Lord had wrought in men and beasts.
Chapter II.
[5] Now it was in the times of Valentinian; for when Valentinian had begun to reign, The Saint's death at the very entrance of his reign this blessed Peter, despoiled of life, sought the stars. As some say, he was buried in his own founded Petrian church. For most certainly may you know, I will tell you the truth, no lie. While I resided in my monastery of the blessed and ever-virgin Mary, which is called At Blachernae, which is founded not far from Guandelaria e, while I wished to search out the lives of all the Pontiffs of Ravenna, I was a hesitator in my soul concerning the tomb of this holy Man.
[6] While I was thus thinking, one of the boys, who daily stood in my sight, announced to me and his sepulchre: that George, a presbyter of the Classe church, had come. He at that time governed the care of the church of St. Severus, confessor of Christ, a man very venerable, constant in all things, firm without weakness. Who, when he had entered to me, after he had sat down, I immediately began to inquire of him whether perhaps, either through old men by hearing, or by sight, he had known anything about the sepulchre glosochonium f of this blessed Pontiff. But he with a cheerful countenance said to me: I will show you what you most desire, where the most precious treasure rests. And when we had mounted our horses, we hastened to Classe: and I ordered my men, who accompanied us, to withdraw farther off, about half a stadium; and we entered within the monastery of St. James, which is founded within the font of the above-written church.
[7] We saw a sepulchre of precious proconnesian g stone, and we raised with difficulty, and slightly, the cover. the body found by Agnellus. We found within that ark a cypress-wood chest: and when we had lifted its covering, we both saw the holy body lying, as if he had been buried that very hour, having a long stature, and skin endowed with pallor, and all the members whole, the chest and belly whole, no part was lacking, except that the little pillow of the head had diminished. And it emitted so great an odor, as if we perceived burning incense of mixtures of myrrh and balsam. A horrible and most vehement terror rushed upon us, and so great sadness, that what before we opened eagerly, we could scarcely even with sighs and groans close again. The odor at last overcame us in all things, and so it was, that for more than a week the odor never departed from our nostrils. And upon that ark his image, wonderfully painted, was contained with letters: The Lord Peter, Archbishop.
Chapter III.
[8] And in the church of blessed John the Evangelist, Galla Placidia ordered, for his sanctity, his effigy to be adorned with mosaics on the tribunal wall behind the back of the Pontiff, above the seat where the Pontiff sits. The effigy procured by Galla Placidia, Which effigy is so made, and having a long beard, with hands extended, as though he sings Mass, and the host is as it were placed upon the altar, and behold an Angel of the Lord in view of that altar, receiving the prayers, is painted.
[9] and the offerings of her and of the Saint to the church. In his times Galla Placidia augusta offered many gifts in the church of Ravenna, and a lamp with wax candles; the whole she made of the finest gold, weighing, as some say, in public weight seven pounds, made together with her own effigy of tabernacle-work art, within a circle, and reading round about: I will prepare a lamp for my Christ. And this most blessed one made the alapae h of the Gospels of the best gold, and most bright gems, and his effigy is made there, which remain unto the present day,
the letters showing this are written above his head: The Lord Peter the prelate, on the day of his ordination, thus offered these to the holy church. He died on the day before the Kalends of August; he sat years… months… Days…