Zacharias

ON ST. ZACHARIAS, ROMAN PONTIFF.

YEAR 752.

Preliminary Commentary.

St. Zacharias, Roman Pontiff.

[1] The deeds of St. Pope Zacharias were described by Anastasius the Librarian in his Book of the Lives of the Pontiffs, reprinted at Paris with the royal press with variant readings at the end, with which we collated this Life of St. Zacharias, as with three other very ancient codices: the Trier one of St. Maximin, Life written the Saint-Omer one of Saint-Bertin, and the Cusan one of St. Nicholas. In this Life he is said to have been buried at the church of Blessed Peter the Apostle on the Ides of March: on which day his name is inscribed in the MSS. Martyrologies of the Vatican, of the Church of St. Peter, of St. Paulinus at Trier, and those preserved at Paris at Saint-Germain and at Cologne in the Carmelite monastery. Sacred veneration Ado, published by Rosweyde, has in the first place: "At Rome, of Zacharias the Pontiff, who sat at Rome for ten years." In the Lobbes MS. of the same Ado is added: "He found in the Patriarchate the head of St. Gregory (rather, George) the Martyr, hidden in a casket, in which he also found a small note, and this very note written in Greek letters." and various encomia Similar things are found in the MS. of St. Lambert at Liège and in the MS. codices of Usuard from Anchin and one of Queen Christina of Sweden. But with that encomium omitted, he is read to have translated the Dialogues of St. Pope Gregory into Greek in the MS. Ado of St. Lawrence at Liège, the Brussels Usuard of St. Gudula, and the Florarium of the Saints. Furthermore, in the MS. codices of Usuard customarily preserved at Utrecht, Leiden, Hagenau, and elsewhere, there is added: "He also, through Blessed Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, elevated Pepin, father of Charlemagne, to the throne of the kingdom in the city of Soissons." The same is found in Greven and Molanus in the Supplement to Usuard of the first edition, Maurolycus, and Canisius. But the Martyrologies printed at Cologne and Lübeck in 1490 add to these: "He also made Carloman, King of the Franks, brother of Pepin, become a Cleric, and sent him to the Cassinese monastery to become a monk: to which monastery he also bestowed many gifts with Apostolic privileges." Finally, after all these things, with a brief but elegant encomium he is inscribed in the present Roman Martyrology in these words: "At Rome, the birthday of St. Zacharias the Pope, who governed the Church of God with the utmost vigilance, and renowned for his merits, rested in peace."

[2] Gifts bestowed on the Cassinese monastery The gifts bestowed on the monastery of Monte Cassino and its Abbot Petronax are thus described by Leo of Ostia in Book 1, chapter 4, of the Chronicle of Monte Cassino:

"The most holy Pope Zacharias bestowed many aids upon this monastery: namely certain sacred books and the holy Rule which Father Benedict had written with his own hand; also the standard weight of a pound of bread and the measure of wine — which the monks, fleeing under the Lombard assault, had once carried away with them from there to Rome. and a privilege of immunity He also bestowed, with Apostolic liberality, various ornaments for the ecclesiastical ministry, as well as certain things pertaining to the diverse needs of the monastery. From this same most holy Pope the aforesaid Abbot first received a privilege: that this monastery with all its cells pertaining to it, wherever built throughout the world, on account of the honor and reverence of the most holy Father Benedict, should be free from the jurisdiction of all Bishops: so that it should be subject to no authority except that of the Roman Pontiff alone." So far the Chronicle, to which are appended two privileges of this Pope Zacharias: which, since they are disputed among learned men, even of the Benedictine Order, it is safer to remain silent in this matter, since those who deny them defend their position with Pontifical diplomas and the judgments of prudent men. Name in the Benedictine calendars Meanwhile, relying on these, Wion, Ménard, Dorgan, and Bucelin inscribed him in the Benedictine calendars, and Wion in Book 2, chapter 2 of the Lignum Vitae places him among the Supreme Pontiffs of the Order of St. Benedict whose place of profession is unknown. The authority of Onuphrius Panvinius in the Chronicon of Supreme Pontiffs is also cited, asserting: "Zacharias, son of Polychronius, a Greek monk, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church," etc. But in the book we use, printed at Venice by Michele Tramezzino in 1557, the word "monk" is absent. And even if it were present, and in ancient or contemporary writers as well, the Basilian monks could with equal right ascribe him to their Order, since they flourished more among the Greeks. But we do not consider this dispute to be one for us to resolve. Let them love, honor, and venerate so great a benefactor of their Order. and of the Canons Regular On the other hand, Constantinus Ghinius in his Birthdays of the Holy Canons Regular thus begins the encomium of this Pontiff: "At Rome, of St. Zacharias the Pope, who, born at Severena in Calabria, a Canon Regular, was created Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church by Gregory III and succeeded him in the Pontificate." And Alfonso Ciacconio is cited in his History of the Supreme Pontiffs and Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. But he, to please everyone, says he became a monk of St. Benedict from being a Canon Regular. Since, however, we find nothing of the sort among ancient writers, we dare not, nor can we, give our assent to such minor inventions. Certainly Liutprand of Pavia, Giovanni Battista Platina, Giovanni Stella, and others generally in the Lives of the Pontiffs are silent on this, as are Peter de Natalibus, who has his Life in Book 10 of his Catalog, chapter 26, Ferrari in the Catalog of the Saints of Italy at this day, Baronius in the Annals, and others.

[3] Aegidius Gelenius in the Cologne calendars inscribed him on this day in these words: "Of St. Zacharias the Pontiff, The German dioceses distinguished who is written to have organized the dioceses of Germany beyond the Rhine, and among others especially favored the Church of Cologne: and who established that its Prince Pepin be consecrated as King through Archbishop Boniface, by the solemn Christian rite." Miraeus for this same reason inscribed him in the Belgian and Burgundian calendars. But these things will especially need to be discussed on June 5, for the Life of St. Boniface. We excerpt a few things from Epistle 13 of St. Zacharias to the said Boniface: "By the authority of Blessed Peter the Apostle," he says, "we decree that the Church of Mainz be confirmed as a Metropolis for you and your successors in perpetuity: having under it these cities, that is, Tongeren, Cologne, Worms, Speyer, and Utrecht, and all the nations of Germany which your brotherhood, by its preaching, has caused to know the light of Christ." Dated on the day before the Nones of November, Pepin crowned King of the Franks in the fifth Indiction, that is, the year of Christ 751. At that time the See of Tongeren was at Liège, the city of the Tongrians having been transferred from Utrecht on the Meuse by St. Hubert. The city of Utrecht indicated above is Utrecht on the Rhine, where the Episcopal See had already been established by St. Boniface. Concerning Pepin, crowned as King of the Franks by command of Pope Zacharias through St. Boniface, the Annals of the Franks, written by ancient and contemporary authors, everywhere treat.

[4] On the day before the Ides of March, or the fourteenth of this month, the following is found in the Martyrology of Bellinus, according to the practice of the Roman Curia, published at Venice in 1498: Memorial on March 14 "On the same day, of Zacharias the Pontiff, who sat at Rome for ten years." But Notker, much older, after relating these same things, adds the discovery of the head of St. George and his burial. These very things are read in the Appendix to Ado, published by Rosweyde. In the Prague MS. he is praised for the Dialogues of St. Gregory translated into Greek, and Pepin elevated to the royal throne. Molanus has the same in later editions; in his earlier edition, at this day he copied from the Roman Martyrology of Bellinus. Maurolycus has: "On the same day, of St. Zacharias the Pontiff, a Greek, who, at a synod held in Gaul, forbade hunting and falconry to Clerics." perhaps the day of his death The other notable things then established at various Councils the reader will find in the Volumes of the Councils, in which are also inserted the illustrious letters composed by him. Many things from these and the Life about to be given are gathered by Galesin also for the fourteenth day, on which Felicius also listed him. Moreover, St. Zacharias could be said to have departed this life on the fourteenth day, since Anastasius reports he was buried on the Ides of March.

[5] In Michael Monachus, in the third and fourth Martyrologies in the Sanctuarium Capuanum, and on March 6 the veneration of St. Zacharias the Pope is listed for the sixth day of March, where an error seems to have crept in: instead of "the day before the Ides of March" there being substituted "the day before the Nones of March."

LIFE

By Anastasius the Librarian,

collated with various MSS.

St. Zacharias, Roman Pontiff.

CHAPTER I

The virtues of St. Zacharias. Peace concluded with King Liutprand. Territories restored to the Apostolic See.

[1] Zacharias, a Greek by nation, son of Polychronius, sat for ten years, three months, and fourteen days. A man most gentle and agreeable, Zacharias, gentle and merciful adorned with all goodness, a lover of the Clergy and of all the Roman people. Slow to anger and swift to mercy: rendering evil to no one for evil, nor granting retribution according to merit, but pious and merciful. From the time of his ordination, becoming all things to all people, he even returned good for evil to those who had been his persecutors, and promoting them with honors, he enriched them with resources as well.

[2] He found the whole province of Italy greatly disturbed, together with the Duchy of Rome, since King Liutprand of the Lombards was persecuting it on account of Duke Trasimundus of Spoleto, who had taken refuge in this city of Rome when the same King was pursuing him. Italy and the Papal territory thrown into turmoil under Gregory III And when neither by his predecessor of blessed memory, Pope Gregory, nor by Stephen, the former Patrician and Duke, nor by the entire Roman army, was the aforesaid Trasimundus surrendered, after a siege was conducted, four cities were taken from the Duchy of Rome by the same King — namely Ameria, Orta, Polimartium, and Blera. And so the same King returned to his palace in the month of August, in the eighth Indiction. Duke Trasimundus, however, having taken counsel with the Romans and having gathered the general army of the Duchy of Rome, entered through two routes into the territory of the Duchy of Spoleto with them. The inhabitants, immediately struck with fear at the multitude of the Roman army, submitted to the same Trasimundus: to settle matters the Marsicans, the Forconians, and the Balvensians or Pinnensians. Then, advancing through the Sabine territory, they came to the city of Rieti. And immediately the Reatines also submitted to them. Thence they advanced and entered Spoleto in the month of December, in the eighth Indiction. There was great turmoil between the Romans and the Lombards: because both the Beneventans and the Spoletans sided with the Romans. But when the same Trasimundus, Duke of Spoleto, refused to fulfill what he had promised to the aforesaid Pontiff and the Patrician and the Romans regarding the recovery of the four cities which had been lost on his account, and the other terms he had pledged; and the aforesaid King was preparing to make a campaign against the Duchy of Rome — amidst these things the aforesaid Pope Gregory of blessed memory was taken from this light by the divine summons, and by the divine will the aforesaid most holy Zacharias was elected to the Pontificate. To whom Almighty God granted such grace that he did not hesitate to lay down his own life for the salvation of the Roman people.

[3] Having therefore sent an embassy to the aforesaid King of the Lombards, he preached salutary things to him; by whose admonitions, as a holy man, the King was inclined and promised to restore the aforesaid four cities which he had taken from the Duchy of Rome. He goes to King Liutprand While the King was making a military advance to seize Duke Trasimundus of Spoleto, at the exhortation of the holy man, the Roman army went forth to aid the said King. And when the same Trasimundus saw his deception, he went out from the city of Spoleto and surrendered himself to the aforesaid King. But when the same King delayed in restoring, according to his promise already made, the four cities, the aforesaid Pontiff, as a true Pastor of the people entrusted to him by God, putting his hope in God, went out from this city of Rome with his Priests and Clergy, and proceeded confidently and boldly to the town of Interamna, where the King himself was residing on the borders of Spoleto. He is kindly received When he arrived at the city of Orta, and the King learned of his arrival, he sent Grimoald, his envoy, who met him and led him to the city of Narnia. At the arrival of the holy man, the aforesaid King sent his Dukes and Satraps and a large part of his army to meet him; and from the city of Narnia, about eight miles distant, with the same King receiving him, on a Friday they conducted him to the basilica of Blessed Valentine, Bishop and Martyr, situated in the aforesaid town of Interamna in the Duchy of Spoleto. Before the doors of this basilica, the same King with the rest of his nobles and his army received the holy man; and after prayer, exchanging mutual greetings, when the King had been admonished with divine discourses and had shown every charity, he went out from the same church, and accompanied by the King for about half a mile in his honor, they both remained in their tents on that same Friday.

[4] On Saturday, meeting again, filled with divine grace, he addressed him with admonitions pleasing to God, he urges peace and restitution upon him preaching to him to cease from hostile movements and the shedding of blood, and always to pursue the things that make for peace. Bending to his pious words and admiring the constancy of the holy man and his admonition, through the grace of the Holy Spirit he obtained everything he asked, and the aforesaid four cities, which the King himself had taken from the Duchy of Rome two years before by siege on account of the aforesaid Duke Trasimundus of Spoleto, he restored to the same holy

man together with their inhabitants. These he confirmed by a donation in the oratory of the Savior, he receives back what was formerly taken away situated within the church of Blessed Peter the Apostle, built in His name. For the Sabine patrimony, which had been taken away for nearly thirty years, and also the Narnian, the Auximanian, the Anconitan, the Humanatensian, and the valley called the Great Valley, situated in the territory of Sutri — all these he reconceeded by title of donation to Blessed Peter, the Prince of the Apostles; and the King confirmed peace with the Duchy of Rome for twenty years. He also released all the captives whom he had detained from the various provinces of the Romans — sending letters to both his own Tuscany and beyond the Po — together with the Ravennate captives: the consuls Leo, Sergius, Victor, and Agnellus, and restored them to the aforesaid Most Blessed Pontiff. He consecrates a Bishop in the King's presence In the aforesaid basilica of Blessed Valentine, at the request of the same King, in place of the deceased Bishop of the see of Consigna, he ordained another Bishop. At whose consecration, when the same King was present with his judges, by the inspiration of divine compunction, prayers were uttered with such sweetness that, as they beheld the holy man offering his prayers, many of the Lombards were moved to tears. On that same Lord's Day, after the solemnities of the Mass were completed, he dines with him the most Blessed Pontiff himself invited the same King to a meal to receive the Apostolic blessing. Where the King partook of food with such pleasantness and hilarity of heart that the King himself said he never remembered having dined so well.

[5] On another day, which was Monday, the King bade him farewell and sent in his escort Duke Agibrand of Chiusi, his nephew, or Castald Tacipert, he is honorably escorted and Castald Raming of Tuscania, and Grimoald, who should escort the same holy man to the aforesaid cities and deliver those same cities with their inhabitants; which was done: first the city of Ameria, then Orta. he receives the recently taken places When they had arrived at the fortress of Polimartium and he had received it, since the distance of the journey around the borders of the Republic to reach the city of Blera through the territory of the city of Sutri would have been too great, through the Lombard territories of Tuscany, because it was nearby — that is, through the fortress of Viterbo — the King's envoy Grimoald conducted the same Most Blessed Pontiff to the city of Blera, which the aforesaid Castald Raming and the said envoy Grimoald also handed over to the same holy man. He returns to Rome and publicly gives thanks to God And so he returned, by God's favor, to this city of Rome with the palm of victory. He also gathered all the people and addressed them, urging them all to go forth together in a general litany from the church of the Mother of God, called "at the Martyrs," to offer thanksgiving to Almighty God at the church of the Blessed Prince of the Apostles; and so it was done.

o. November 28, 741.

p. The printed text reads: "the Spoletine joined by exhortation."

q. Interamna, commonly Terni, on the Nera river, which flowing past Narnia empties into the Tiber near the city of Orta.

r. We gave the Life of Blessed Valentine on February 14.

s. Cities in Picenum restored There are three episcopal cities of Picenum: Auximum, Ancona (from which the March of Ancona is named), and Humana or Numana, now destroyed, its bishopric suppressed in 1422 and subjected to the See of Ancona, near Loreto. These three are at nearly equal distance from one another and form a triangle. Ciacconio omits the restoration of Humana or Numana.

t. Sutrium is a city of the Province of the Patrimony of St. Peter: where the valley seems to be understood as extending toward Viterbo, which was reckoned as part of the Lombard territory.

u. The passage is obscure: whether a Bishop of the Interamnensian Church or of another was consecrated. If a proper name of the Bishop is indicated, Constantine, Bishop of Interamna we are surprised that Ughelli omitted him, who could have succeeded Constantine, who he reports died on March 21, 726, and could have presided for 16 years; in which year 742, upon his death, Trasimundus, a Duke turned Bishop, would have been consecrated in the King's presence — though his name is not expressed here. Baronius at the year 742, number 32, published "of the Bishop of Consentia," and in the margin, "of Constantine." In other MSS. also "Continensis," "Consinensis," "Cosinensis," and "Cosensis" are read. What if Constantine is said to have lived at Interamna up to this time?

x. So generally the MSS., for which others have written by way of correction "consumed" and "had dined."

y. Aribrandus, by others Ariprandus, Aldeprandus, and Hildebrandus: Aribrandus from Duke of Chiusi in the present-day territory of Siena toward Perugia, he was created Duke of Spoleto in place of Trasimundus, as Paul the Deacon indicates, Book 6, chapter 57.

CHAPTER II

The war of Liutprand with the Ravennates, extinguished by St. Zacharias. Restoration procured.

[6] When these things had been accomplished in the tenth Indiction, in the following eleventh Indiction, while the aforesaid King was excessively oppressing the province of the Ravennates In the new oppression of the Ravennates and had been prepared to make a campaign and besiege the city of Ravenna, when the movement of the same King became known, the most excellent Patrician and Exarch Eutychius, together with Archbishop John of the Church of Ravenna and the entire people of the aforesaid city and of the cities of the Pentapolis and of Aemilia, sent a written supplication to the aforesaid holy man, asking him to hasten to their liberation. He sends envoys to Liutprand The holy man, having sent an embassy and gifts to entreat the same King, through Bishop Benedict and the Vicedominus, and Ambrose the Primicerius of the notaries, requested him to desist from his campaign and restore the fortress of Cesena to the Ravennates; but the King would not agree. When the aforesaid most holy man perceived his hard obstinacy, armed with the trophy of faith, leaving the city of Rome in the care of the said Patrician and Duke Stephen to govern, not like a hireling but like a true Pastor who, leaving his own sheep, setting out for the King, on the journey hastened to rescue those that were about to perish. As he set out on his journey, commending himself in prayers to Blessed Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, with his Priests and Clerical companions, by the will of Almighty God, so that they might not be scorched by heat during the day, he is covered by a cloud a cloud covered them up to the place where they pitched their tents, and settled at evening. On the following day it was divinely present for their protection. The aforesaid most excellent Exarch came to meet him at the basilica of Blessed Christopher, situated at the place called ad-Aquilam, about fifty miles from the city of Ravenna. That cloud accompanied and covered them all the way to the basilica of St. Apollinaris in the city of Ravenna. From there a sign was given, so that fiery columns in the clouds preceded the holy Pontiff on his way to the city of Pavia. He is gratefully received by the Ravennates Going out from the city, Ravennate men and women, of different sex and age, giving thanks to Almighty God with flowing tears, received the same holy Pontiff, crying out and saying: "Welcome, our Pastor, who left his own sheep and came to deliver us, who were about to perish."

[7] From the same city of Ravenna the Pope sent to the aforesaid King the priest Stephen and Ambrose the Primicerius, to announce his arrival. These men, having entered into the Lombard territories at the city called Imola, and learning that an attempt was being made to impede the aforesaid holy man, he goes to the King sent a letter written during the silence of the night to prevent him from going there. When this became known, the aforesaid Pontiff, at daybreak on Saturday, not terrified by the fear of death but relying on the aid of Christ, boldly went out of the city of Ravenna, entered the Lombard territories, and followed in the footsteps of his envoys. But the aforesaid King, struck with grief, refused to receive them as they preceded him. The Supreme Pontiff himself, however, arrived at the Po on the twenty-eighth day of June; where the King also sent his nobles to receive him. Arriving with them at Pavia, he celebrates at Pavia the feast of SS. Peter and Paul where the King himself was residing, he passed through outside the walls of the same city, and at the ninth hour of prayer he went to the basilica of St. Peter, called Ad Caelum Aureum, to celebrate the vigil solemnities of the Masses for the feast of the Blessed Prince of the Apostles, Peter. After the oblation was completed, he entered the same city and remained there. On the following day, for the celebration of the birthday of the same Prince of the Apostles, in the aforesaid

church, invited by the aforesaid King, he celebrated the solemnities of the Mass; and there, greeting each other in turn, they took food together, and so returned to the aforesaid city. On another day the same King invited the holy man through his nobles to proceed to his palace; he moves the King to restitution of Cesena and received by the same King with the greatest honor, he addressed him with salutary counsels, beseeching him no longer to oppress the province of the Ravennates by making war, but rather to restore to him the captured cities of the Ravennates and also the fortress of Cesena. After much resistance, the aforesaid King was inclined to extend the boundaries of the Ravennate territory, as they were originally held: and he restored two-thirds of the territory of the fortress of Cesena to the Republic, but retained the remaining third under the pretense of a pledge, with the agreement that by the Kalends of June, when his envoys returned from the royal city, he would restore the same fortress and the third part which he was holding as a pledge to the Republic. he is escorted by the King and his nobles After this, the same King, going out from place to place as far as the Po, accompanied the same holy man and escorted him. At which place, bidding him farewell, he released him with fitting arrangements to return, giving him as escort his Dukes and chief men, as well as other men to restore the aforesaid Ravennate territories and the fortress of Cesena; and so it was done. God worked wonderfully: and liberated the peoples of Ravenna and the Pentapolis from the oppression and calamity in which they were held, and they were satisfied with grain, oil, and wine.

[8] Having returned to the city of Rome with all who were with him, giving thanks to God, at Rome he again celebrates the feast of SS. Peter and Paul he again celebrated the birthday of the Blessed Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, with all the people, and gave himself to prayers, seeking from Almighty God mercy and consolation for the people of Ravenna and Rome against that insidious and persecuting King Liutprand. The divine clemency, not despising his prayers, took the same King from this light before the day previously appointed, and all persecution ceased. upon the death of Liutprand There was joy not only for the Romans and Ravennates, but also for the Lombard nation, because they cast out from the kingdom his nephew Hildebrand, whom he had left as a malevolent King, and the Lombards elected as their King Ratchis, who had been a Duke. He confirms peace with Ratchis To whom the Most Blessed Pontiff sent an embassy, and immediately out of reverence for the Prince of the Apostles, the King was inclined by his prayers, and with peace established for a period of twenty years, the entire people of Italy was at rest.

m. Duke of Forlì.

CHAPTER III

Various deeds of St. Zacharias. Churches adorned and endowed. Almsgiving. Carloman and Ratchis become monks.

He in the Lateran patriarchate, before the basilica of the late Pope Theodore, made a new triclinium, He adorns the Lateran patriarchate which he adorned with various marbles, glass-metals, mosaic, and painting, and also decorated with sacred images the oratory of Blessed Sylvester as well as the portico. Where he also ordered all his substance to be brought in through the hands of Ambrose, the Primicerius of the notaries. He built from the foundations before the Lateran secretarium a portico and a tower, where he also installed bronze gates and screens, and adorned the front with a figure of the Savior. And by ascending steps in the upper parts above the same tower he built a triclinium and bronze screens. Where he also painted a map of the world and adorned it with various verses, and the church of SS. Peter and Paul and restored almost the entire patriarchate anew: for he had found the same place in great poverty. In the church of the Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, he made hanging curtains between the columns of silken fabrics. In the church of the aforesaid Prince of the Apostles he arranged in a bookcase all the codices of his own house, which are read throughout the year at Matins. He newly established the estate called Lauretum, he makes various ornaments adding also the estate of Fonteiana, which is surnamed Paunaria. He instituted twenty pounds of gold for the annual purchase of oil, so that the proceeds might benefit the Apostolic luminaries; and he confirmed the statute under the bond of anathema. He made a vestment over the altar of Blessed Peter, woven of gold, depicting the nativity of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, and adorned it with precious gems. He also made four silken curtains of purple, which he adorned with wheels and various ornaments woven of gold. He likewise made a crown of the purest silver with dolphins, from his own resources, weighing one hundred and twenty pounds.

[10] This most blessed man, according to ecclesiastical rite and his orthodox profession of faith, sent a synodical letter to the Church of Constantinople, and at the same time directed another address to the most serene Emperor Constantine. When the representatives of the Apostolic See were traveling to the royal city, they found within the palace of the royal power a certain invader and rebel he sends his representatives to Constantinople named Artabasdus: for when the same Emperor had hastened to fight against the Saracen nation, the aforesaid Artabasdus, having given bribes to the people who remained in the royal city, immediately seized the imperial throne. And afterwards, the aforesaid Emperor Constantine, having gathered a multitude of Eastern armies, went to Constantinople, vigorously besieged it, and surrounded it from without, captured the city, and recovered the former height of his kingdom. Immediately he put out the eyes of the said Artabasdus and his sons, and banished many of his rebels from their own habitations. After this, seeking the envoy of the Apostolic See who had happened to arrive there during the time of the disturbance, and finding him, he receives the requested territories he released him to the Apostolic See, and according to what the Most Blessed Pontiff had requested, he directed a donation in writing of two estates called Nymphas and Normias, being public property, to the same Most Holy and Most Blessed Pope of the holy Roman Church to be possessed by perpetual right.

[11] In his time, Carloman, son of Charles, King of the Franks, leaving the glory and earthly power of this present life, came devoutly to Blessed Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, with several of his faithful followers, He clothes Prince Carloman in the clerical garb and committed himself to the same Apostle of God; and promising that he would remain in the spiritual habit, he received the yoke of the clerical state from the same Most Holy Pontiff. And among many other gifts, he offered to Blessed Peter the Apostle before the Confession a large silver arch weighing seventy pounds. After some time, he departed to the monastery of Blessed Benedict, which is situated on the borders of Aquinum, He forbids the selling of Christian slaves to Pagans in which he professed with an oath that he would end his life.

[12] At the same time it happened that many Venetian merchants came to this city of Rome and, extending the fairs of their trade, were seen to buy a multitude of slaves, of both male and female sex, whom they were striving to transport to Africa, to the Pagan nation. When this became known, the same Most Holy Father forbade it to be done, judging that it was not right that those washed by the baptism of Christ should serve Pagan nations. Having given to those same Venetians the price which they proved they had paid for their purchase, he redeemed all from the yoke of servitude, and released them to live as free persons.

[13] At the same time, Ratchis, King of the Lombards, set out with violent indignation to capture the city of Perugia, He dissuades King Ratchis from war as he had done with other strongholds of the Pentapolis, and surrounding it, he was besieging it fiercely. Hearing this, the most holy Pope, relying at once on divine hope, taking with him some of his Clergy and nobles, hastened as quickly as possible to the same city; and having bestowed many gifts on the same King and earnestly entreating him, with the Lord's help he removed him from the siege of that city. And preaching salutary things to him, by God's inspiration he was able to incline his soul to the spiritual pursuit. He clothes him in the monastic habit And after some days the same King Ratchis, leaving the royal dignity, devoutly went with his wife and children to the threshold of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles; and having received prayer from the aforesaid most holy Pope, and having been made a cleric, he was clothed in the monastic habit together with his wife and children.

[14] Finally, in his time, the Lord our God deigned to reveal in this city of Rome, through the same most gracious Pontiff, a great treasure. In the venerable Patriarchate, the same Most Holy Pope found the most sacred head of Blessed George the Martyr, hidden in a casket, in which he also found a small note, likewise written in Greek letters, indicating what it was. The Most Holy Pope, entirely overjoyed and satisfied, immediately gathered the people of the city of Rome and, with hymns and spiritual canticles, had it conducted to the venerable deaconry of his name, situated in this city of Rome, in the second region, at the Velum Aureum. Where Almighty God deigns to work immense miracles and benefits to the praise of His name through the same most sacred Martyr.

[15] In his time, the deceased Theodore, elder son of Megistus Catarantes, for the pardon of his sins, left to Blessed Peter the estate which he enjoyed from his paternal inheritance, situated at the fifth mile from this city of Rome on the Tiburtine Way, He acquires various possessions for St. Peter in which an oratory of St. Cecilia is known to exist. The Most Blessed Pope adorned this with great construction works and paintings, and enlarged its boundaries on every side. For, giving a fitting price to those who were seen to possess properties in the vicinity of the same place, doing violence to no one,

but rather, as befits a father, he bought all the lands adjacent to the same place through friendly negotiation and at a price; and he established that the same place should remain in perpetuity as an estate belonging to Blessed Peter. This estate is called St. Cecilia to the present day. He also built in it an oratory of St. Abba-Cyrus, where he also deposited many relics of Saints. This estate he assigned for his own use, namely for the Lord's celebration. He also established another estate at the fourteenth mile from this city of Rome in the patrimony of Tuscany, and bound it by constitutions to remain for the use of the Church — as well as the properties which appear to have been granted to Blessed Peter by Anna, the widow of the former Primicerius Agatho. He acquired by his own effort, for the right of Blessed Peter, the estates called Antrus and Formiae, which he also established as cultivated estates. And concerning all the above-mentioned estates, he drew up constitutions of Apostolic form and, assembling the Priestly College, he decreed under prohibitions of anathema that it should not be lawful for any of his successor Pontiffs, or for any other person, in any way to alienate these estates from the use of the Church.

[16] He made a vestment over the altar of Blessed Andrew the Apostle at the church of Blessed Peter, exceedingly fine. This Most Blessed Pope established that on frequent days supplies of food — he makes generous almsgiving which is even now called the alms — should be carried from the venerable Patriarchate by the Cellarians to the poor and pilgrims who stay at the church of Blessed Peter, and distributed to them: and he likewise instituted that the same alms of food be distributed to all the needy and sick throughout all the regions of this city of Rome.

[17] In his time it happened that the roof of the church of Blessed Eusebius, Martyr of Christ, suddenly collapsed. This most holy man, he repairs and adorns churches contending with all his might and laboring prudently, restored what had fallen, just as it was originally, and most excellently repaired it. This distinguished Pontiff brought many holy places to a better condition. And he made excellent vestments for the altars of those same churches of God. He is generous to the Clergy He loved his Clergy greatly, and he bestowed upon them annual presbytery payments in double and more. Embracing all as a father and a good pastor, and usefully nurturing them, he permitted no one at all to be troubled. In his time, therefore, the people committed to him by God lived in great security and joy.

[18] This Most Blessed Pope, by his most prudent effort, translated the four books of Dialogues which Pope Gregory of blessed memory had composed, He translates the Dialogues of St. Gregory into Greek from the Latin into the Greek language, and by the instruction of the same reading he illuminated many who were ignorant of the Latin text. He held three ordinations in the month of March, creating thirty Presbyters, five Deacons, and eighty-five Bishops for various places. He was buried at the church of Blessed Peter the Apostle on the Ides of March, in the fifth Indiction, and his episcopate was vacant for twelve days.

i. In the year 747.

p. Baronius explains these "cultivated estates" as latifundia with attached houses, in which families of colonists were enrolled for cultivation.

q. St. Eusebius the Martyr St. Eusebius, killed under the Emperor Constantius, is venerated on August 14; where Baronius observes that this restoration is attested by inscriptions carved in marble. Pancirollus treats of it, Church 16 of Region 2.

r. The following are absent from some codices.

ON BLESSED VALERIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF RAVENNA IN ITALY.

From the Antiquities of Ravenna by Girolamo de Fabris, published in Italian.

YEAR 812.

Blessed Valerius, Archbishop of Ravenna in Italy.

St. Valerius, whom others call Valerian, in the year 807 succeeded John, the seventh Archbishop of Ravenna of that name, in the pastoral care: Created Archbishop in 807 whose fame is celebrated in our histories and praised for his distinguished zeal in promoting divine worship by adorning sacred churches, and especially that which is consecrated to St. Apollinaris in Classe — where among other things he consecrated an altar to St. Eleuchadius, inscribed in the calendar of Saints on February 14, which is to the left of those entering the church, beside the bell tower. He adorns churches The Ursiana basilica was also enriched by him with many silver vessels, to which he also donated a silver table, so wrought by the hand of a most ingenious craftsman that the engraving represents a shady plane tree. It is moreover reported that from the ruins of two ancient churches (one of which had been dedicated to St. George, the other to St. Eusebius, by the Arians, he founds the Valeriana outside the gate of St. Victor — which he, abominating the memory of the heretics, had ordered to be razed to the ground), he built a most beautiful church, which kept from its founder the name of the Valeriana. After these and other things gloriously and magnificently accomplished, and virtues no less eminently cultivated, he departed this life in the year of our redemption 812, on March 15, while Leo III still held the Roman Chair, and Charles the Great indeed held the Western Empire, his body solemnly translated from Classe but Michael, successor of Nicephorus, the Eastern. His body was buried in the Classensian basilica, and from there in the year 1222, on May 9, it was solemnly translated by Archbishop Simeon; with Ubertello, Bishop of Forlimpopoli, Odo, Bishop of Cesena, and Rustico, Bishop of Cervia, honoring the ceremony by their presence. Our historian Girolamo Rossi thus recalls this translation in Book 6: "On the same day, the bones of the Lord Archbishop Valerius in the Classensian church were translated by the same Simeon, with a solemn procession of Bishops formally declared, to the Ursiana church." In the histories of the Camaldolese, published by Augustino Fortunio, Part 2, Book 1, Chapter 4, it is also read that the aforesaid Archbishop Simeon adorned the same Classensian basilica with one year of Indulgences the memory obscured among posterity out of reverence for Blessed Valerius. From these testimonies we know how undoubted in those times was the sanctity of Blessed Valerius, and what truly religious and public veneration was also paid to his relics — even though the carelessness of a forgetful age has now almost lost his memory, and it remains uncertain in what part of our Metropolitan church his sacred bones rest; just as his virtues too are obscure, on account of which he so merited to be honored. So that about him too it may be said what Thomas Herrera said in the Alphabetum Augustinianum on the occasion of Blessed Franceschinus of Ravenna: "Sometimes the Saints too, by a hidden dispensation of God, have a certain, I know not what, unhappiness about them: since, though they are in the supreme felicity of enjoying the clear vision of God and cannot be unhappy, nevertheless through the yawning or negligence of their companions, they lack, without unhappiness, the felicity of human veneration."