Wednesday, December 31, 2014

31 December. Day of Remembrance: 1662 Book of Common Prayer: Silvester of Rome; Ratifies Nicene Creed


31 December.  Day of Remembrance: 1662 Book of Common Prayer:  Silvester of Rome;  Ratifies Nicene Creed


Silvester, Bishop (of Rome), from A.D. 314-335, passing as a Priest through the Diocletian persecution, and as a Bishop through the Nicene period, although from weak health he did not attend the Nicene Council. Little is known of him historically, but in the middle ages he was celebrated as the receiver of the famous "Donation of Constantine."
      An edict of the Emperor, forged at some time between the 8th to the 10th centuries, declares that, on transferring the seat of the Empire to Constantinople, he has bestowed on the Pope and his successors the sovereignty of the West, and decrees for them all the outward insignia of Imperial rank. To this Dante refers in the celebrated lines -- "O Constantine! of how much ill was cause, / Not thy conversion, but those rich domains / Which the first wealthy Pope received from thee." --December 31st.

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