E05799: Agnellus of Ravenna, in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, written in Latin, refers to the burial of several bishops of Ravenna in the church dedicated to *Apollinaris (bishop and martyr of Ravenna, S00331) in Classe (near Ravenna, northern Italy); he claims these burials took place from 606 onward. Account written in Ravenna in 830/846.
Creators: name: Frances
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2018
Subjects: History

description: Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 103<br><br>Igitur, ut diximus, mortuus est hic beatissimus die .x. Kalendas Nouembris, et sepultus est in ardica beati Apolenaris, extra muros Classis, cum multis lamentationibus.<br><br>‘Therefore, as we said, this most blessed man [Marinian, Bishop of Ravenna, 595-606] died on the tenth kalends of November [October 23] and was buried in the narthex of St Apollinaris, outside the walls of Classe, with great lamentations.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 104<br><br>Obiit corpore, sepultus est, ut aestimo, in ardica beati Apolenaris.<br><br>‘He [John III, Bishop of Ravenna, 606-625] died in body, he was buried, I think, in the narthex of St Apollinaris.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 107<br><br>His itaque transactis, defunctus est hic beatissimus et sepultus est, ut suspicatus sum, in ardica beati Apolenaris.<br><br>‘And with these things done, this most blessed man [John IV, Bishop of Ravenna, 625-631] died and was buried, as I suspect, in the narthex of blessed Apollinaris.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 109<br><br>Obiit autem hic beatissimus praesul die .vii. Kalendas Septembris in senectute bona, sepultus que est in pace in basilica sancti Apolenaris sacerdotis et martiris in Classe.<br><br>‘However this most blessed leader [Bonus, Bishop of Ravenna, 631-642] died on the seven kalends of September [August 26] in ripe old age and was buried in the basilica of St Apollinaris priest and martyr, in Classe.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 113<br><br>Et apertis ianuis, quae respiciunt ad ecclesiam beati Seueri, intuisset quis illum lapidem sicut in speculum, tam homines quamque animalia siue uolatilia uel qualiscumque res inde transissent, enigma quasi [in] speculum uidere potuisset.<br><br>‘And with these words he [Maurus, Bishop of Ravenna, 642-671] died; and he was buried in the narthex of blessed Apollinaris, in a wonderful tomb. There was a porphyry stone before the said sarcophagus, most previous and very shiny like glass. And with the doors which look out onto the church of St Severus open, whoever looked at this stone as if in a mirror could see images, men and animals or birds or whatever things were passing by there, just as in a mirror.’<br><br>Agnellus continues to relate how, twelve years earlier, this tomb was removed by the Carolingian emperor, Lothar (ob. 855). <br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 116<br><br>Mortuus igitur et sepultus est in ecclesia beati Apolenaris. Epitaphium ipsius deletum est.<br><br>‘He [Reparatus, Bishop of Ravenna, 671-677] died and was buried in the church of St Appollinaris. His epitaph is destroyed.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 124<br><br>Igitur obiit iste ferocissimus die .xviii. mensis Ianuarii, cum multa alacritate sacerdotum et omnium gratulatione humo submersus est, in ardica beati Apolenaris consubtus iacet. Epitaphium uero eius clare legere non potui.<br><br>‘Therefore when this most arrogant one [Theodore, Bishop of Ravenna, 677-691] died on the eighteenth day of the month of January, with great eagerness of the priests and to the joy of everyone he was buried in the earth, he lies buried in the narthex of St Apollinaris. I could not read his epitaph properly.’<br><br>Agnellus of Ravenna, Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis 135<br><br>Obiit hic beatissimus uir .iii. Idus Mai. Epitaphium inuenies super sepulchrum eius continentem ita:<br><br>Sanctificus semper meritis, memorande sacerdos, <br>Hoc positus tumulo, Damiane, iaces. <br>Corpore defunctus, tamen est tua fama superstes; <br>Artus obit terris, lux tua facta tenet. <br>Dalmatiae is ueniens antistes beatus a rure, [5]<br>Tutasti precibus sancta Rauenna tuis. <br>Cuncta salutifero disponens tempore saecla, <br>Te pius in populo Christus orante dedit. <br>Quod tamen his templis meruisti sumere busta, <br>Te placuisse Deo, tanta sepulcra probant; [10]<br>Vt que uices cuius gessisti rite sacerdos, <br>Ipsius in que locis sit tibi sancta quies. <br><br>Haec infra ecclesiam beati Apolenaris scripta super sepulchrum ipsius inuenimus.<br><br>‘This most blessed man [Damian, Bishop of Ravenna, 692-708] died on the third ides of May [May 13]. You will find his epitaph on his tomb containing the following:<br><br>Always sanctifying by your merits, notable priest, you lie placed in this tomb, O Damian. Although you have died in body, you fame lives on: though your limbs are buried in earth, the light holds your deeds. Blessed bishop coming from the land of Dalmatia [5], you preserved holy Ravenna by your prayers. Governing all the world in a more propitious age, faithful Christ gave you to his praying people. Such a tomb proves that you merited a grave in these temples, that you pleased God [10]. And since as a priest you carried out his duties correctly, you may have holy rest in his grounds.<br><br>We find this written inside the church of St Apollinaris over his tomb.’<br><br>Text: Deliyannis 2006. Translation: Deliyannis 2004.