Symmachus Fortunatus

Born [date unknown] in Sardinia, Vandal Kingdom

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Biography

Pope St Symmachus Fortunatus is Notable.

Symmachus, son of Fortunatus, was born on the island of Sardinia (then under the rule of the Vandals).^[1] It is thought he was a member of the Aurelii Symmachi family, an aristocratic senatorial family of the late Roman Empire. He was baptised in Rome and became Archdeacon of the Roman Church under Pope Anastasius II.^[1]

He was elected pope on 22 November 498 in the basilica of Saint John Lateran. The archpriest of Santa Prassede, Laurentius, was elected pope on the same day at the basilica of Saint Mary Major, supported by Byzantine sympathizers. the Gothic King Theodoric the Great arbitrated over the dispute as to who was pope and selected Symmachus.^[1]

Pope Symmachus was party to a number of synods, all of which were the same synod across various locations and timeframes:^[1]

• Roman Synod I, held on 1 March 499
• Ariminum Synod II, held in 501 to face several charges against himself, from which he fled
• Roman Synod II, reconvened on 1 September 501, but led to a bloody street battle and Symmachus retreating to St Peter's Basilica for safety.
• Palmaris Synod IV, convened on 23 October 502 at Palma, at which it was decided that since the pope was the successor of Saint Peter, they could not pass judgment on him, and left the matter to God to decide.

Despite this decision, Laurentius returned to Rome and ruled as pope (known now as an antipope) for 4 years until Theodoric withdrew his support of Laurentius in 506, instructing Festus to had over the Roman churches to Symmachus.^[1][2]

Pope Symmachus provided funds and clothing to the Catholic bishops of Africa and Sardinia who were in exile.

Symmachus died on 19 July 514 and was buried in St Peter's Basilica after a rule of 15 years, seven months, and twenty-seven days.^[1]

Flocknote Popes in a Year ^[3] tells us:

Our 51st pope was a convert to the faith, having been baptized in Rome after being born on the island of Sardinia. Within days of Anastasius II’s death, a majority of clergy in Rome called upon Symmachus and said, “you’re next.” Much of Symmachus’ papacy was wrapped up in resolving the still-brewing Acacian schism (rift between East and West over Christ’s nature), which included dealing with a pesky antipope (more on that in a second). Symmachus wrote letters defending both orthodoxy and the independence of the Church, in addition to other matters.

He took part in restoring existing churches and erecting new ones, and also built houses for the poor near the churches of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Lawrence. Symmachus died on July 19, 514 after reigning for nearly 16 years.

Around the time of Symmachus’ election, a small group sympathetic to the Eastern churches conspired to elect a different man, Laurentius, after having their palms greased by Festus, a rich Roman senator. This proved to be a major pain in the neck for Symmachus, even after Theodoric, the Gothic king of Italy, came to the decision that Symmachus was the rightful pope.

For starters, the “Laurentians,” as they were called, continued petitioning Theodoric of Symmachus’ illegitimacy by spitting falsehoods about the good pope and forced Symmachus from his rightful residence at the Lateran Basilica for a time. Then, to make matters worse, when venturing to a synod Symmachus convened to sort it all out, a small group of violent Laurentians attacked his travel party, injuring some and killing others. Our pope barely escaped with his life.

The situation was resolved after some time, with Laurentius moving out of Rome and his remaining followers eventually reconciling to St. Hormisdas, the successor of Symmachus.

St. Symmachus sent help to those still being persecuted in various parts of the known world, having sent alms to exiled African bishops and their fellow prisoners, as well as to Catholics in upper Italy being pestered by barbarian tribes.

Around the year 500, burials in the underground Roman catacombs, which had housed the bodies of Christians for centuries, were brought to a halt. The Church being legal for decades allowed for more public burials in churches and less clandestine cemeteries, so the catacombs became primarily reserved for memorial celebrations for martyrs instead.

Research Notes

Go to Aurelii Symmachi for genealogy of this family and add profiles to Wikitree.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Wikipedia
2. ↑ Richards 1979, p. 243: Of the 17 Popes between 483 and 604, seven were certainly or likely members of Roman aristocratic families, and three more had provincial aristocratic origins
3. ↑ Flocknote Popes in a Year
   SOURCES (and further reading)
   John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
   Pope St. Symmachus - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14377a.htm
   Pope Symmachus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Symmachus
   Catacombs of Rome - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Rome