E01285: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Bonifacius (bishop of Rome, ob. 422, S00472), recounts the disputed election of Bonifacius and Eulalius, during which the former stayed at the cemetery of *Felicitas (martyr of Rome, S00525) on the via Salaria and celebrated Easter at the basilica of *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097) on the via Nomentana, both in the suburbs of Rome, while the latter stayed at [the church of?] *Hermes (presumably the martyr of Rome buried on the via Salaria vetus, S00404), at Antium (Anzio, south of Rome), and celebrated Easter at the Lateran, within Rome. It also mentions the construction by Bonifacius of an oratory of Felicitas and her son Silvanus at her cemetery on the via Salaria, and his burial close to her body on 25 October [AD 422].
Creators: name: Robert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2016
Subjects: History

description: Liber Pontificalis 44<br><br>First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)<br><br>Bonifatius, natione Romanus, ex patre Iocundo presbitero, sedit ann. III m. VIII d. VI. Hic sub intentione cum Eulalio ordinantur uno die et fuit dissensio in clero menses VII et dies XV...<br>Qui etiam sepultus est in cimiterio sanctae Felicitatis via Salaria, VIII kal. novemb.<br><br>'Bonifacius, born in Rome, son of the priest Iocundus, held the see 3 years 8 months 6 days. He and Eulalius were ordained in rivalry on the same day and the clergy were divided 7 months 15 days...<br>He was buried in the cemetery of saint Felicitas on the via Salaria on 25 October.'<br><br><br>Second edition<br><br>Bonifatius, natione Romanus, ex patre Iocundo presbitero, sedit ann. III m. VIII d. VII. Hic sub intentione cum Eulalio ordinantur uno die et fuit dissensio in clero mens. VII et d. XV. Eulalius vero ordinatur in basilica Constantiniana, Bonifatius autem in basilica Iuliae. Eodem tempore audiens hoc Placidia Augusta cum filio suo Valentiniano Augusto, dum sederent Ravenna, retulit Honorio Augusto Mediolano sedenti. Eodem tempore ambo Augusti missa auctoritate hoc praeceperunt, ut ambo exirent civitate. Qui cum pulsi exissent, habitavit Bonifatius in cymiterio sanctae Felicitatis martyris via Salaria, Eulalius vero in civitate Antio ad sanctum Hermen. Veniens autem dies proximus Paschae praesumpsit Eulalius, eo quod ordinatus fuisset in basilica Constantiniana, et introibit in urbem et baptizavit et celebravit Pascha in basilica Constantiniana; Bonifatius vero, sicut consuetudo erat, celebravit baptismum Pasche in basilica sanctae martyris Agnae<br><br><br>'Bonifacius, born in Rome, son of the priest Iocundus, held the see 3 years 8 months 7 days. He and Eulalius were ordained in rivalry on the same day and the clergy were divided 7 months 15 days. Now Eulalius was ordained in the Constantinian basilica [= the Lateran basilica], whereas Bonifacius was ordained in that of Julius. On hearing this the empress Placidia, with her son the emperor Valentinian [III], then residing at Ravenna, reported it to the emperor Honorius in residence at Milan. The two emperors sent a warrant ordering that both men should leave the city. When they had been forced out, Bonifacius stayed at the cemetery of the martyr saint Felicitas on the via Salaria, while Eulalius stayed at saint Hermes’ in the city of Antium. But when the following Easter was coming, Eulalius, relying on the fact he had been ordained in the Constantinian basilica, dared to enter the city and perform baptisms and celebrate Easter in the Constantinian basilica, while Bonifacius celebrated the Easter baptism in the normal way at the basilica of the martyr St Agnes.'<br><br><br>There follows the further history of the conflict in which ultimately Bonifatius got the better over Eulalius. <br><br><br>Hic fecit oratorium in cymiterio sanctae Felicitatis iuxta corpus eius et ornavit sepulchrum sanctae martyris Felicitatis et sancti Silvani, ubi et posuit hoc: <br>pateam argenteam, pens. lib. XX; <br>scyphum argenteum, pens. lib. X; <br>amam argenteam, pens. lib. XIII; <br>calices minores II, pens. sing. lib. IIII; <br>coronas argenteas III, pens. sing. lib. XV<br>...<br>Qui etiam sepultus est via Salaria iuxta corpus sanctae Felicitatis martyris VIII kal. novemb.<br><br><br>'He built an oratory in the cemetery of saint Felicitas, close to her body, and decorated the tomb of the martyr saint Felicitas and of saint Silvanus, where he placed the following:<br>a silver paten weighing 20 lb;<br>a silver scyphus weighing 10 lb;<br>a silver ama weighing 13 lb;<br>2 smaller chalices each weighing 4 lb;<br>3 silver crowns each weighing 15 lb.<br>...<br>He was buried on the via Salaria close to the body of the martyr saint Felicity on 25 October.'<br><br><br>Text: Duchesne 1886, 87/89 and 227-228. Translation: Davis 2010, 32-33, lightly modified.