Antipope Dioscorus
Encyclopedia
Dioscorus was a deacon of the Alexandria
n and the Roman
church from 506. In a disputed election following the death of Pope Felix IV
, the majority of electors picked him to be Pope, in spite of Pope Felix's wishes that Boniface
succeed him. However, Dioscurus died less than a month after the election, allowing Boniface to be consecrated Pope and Dioscurus branded an Antipope
.
, arriving in Rome around 506 during the Laurentian schism. There, he was adopted into the ranks of the Roman clergy, and soon acquired considerable influence in the Church of Rome. Jeffrey Richards credits him with persuading king Theodoric the Great
to recognize Symmachus
as the rightful Pope. Later, under Pope Hormisdas
, he served as papal apocrisiarius
, or legate, to the court of Justinian
at Constantinople, ending the Acacian schism
, and was instrumental in persuading Pope Hormisdas to reject Theopaschism
. During the pontificate of Felix IV he became the recognized head of the pro-Byzantine party.
Pope Felix IV wished Boniface to succeed him, partially to avoid the riots that had occurred on his own accession. Further, Richards describes him as being part of the pro-Gothic party of clergy, bishops and aristocrats, and his "principal concern, however, was to ensure that the pro-Gothic party remained in control of the papacy." During the sixth century an tradition had evolved where Popes would informally nominate their successors, but Felix wnet beyond this and issued a praeceptum formally nominating Boniface, and on his sickbed gave his pallium
to him, on the condition that should Felix recover Boniface would return it. However, the Senate
was outraged that it had been pre-empted from the process, and issued an edict fobidding anyone from accepting the nomination or discussing it during Pope's Felix's life, on pain of exile and confiscation of property. Richards notes that the clergy did not voice a similar outrage, "perhaps because the majority of the clergy agreed on this occasion with the senate in censuring the action of Pope Felix.
When the election was held in the Lateran palace
on 22 September 530 following Felix' death, a majority of the electors voted for Dioscorus; Richards concludes at least 60 of the Roman priests supported Dioscurus, based on their subsequent act of submission. Boniface's supporters retreated to the basilica Julia
, where they elected Boniface. Dioscurus was later recognized as Pope by the East. Although his prospects for his consecration looked dark, the dispute was resolved when Dioscorus died three weeks later. The pro-Byzantine faction was left leaderless; Felix' wishes were acceded to with his chosen candidate becoming Boniface II.
According to the Liber Pontificalis
, Boniface forced the clergy who had nominated Dioscorus to sign a retraction and condemn his memory. This document was later destroyed, although the Liber Pontificalis contains contradictory accounts: in one passage, Pope Agapetus I burned the document in front of an audience at the beginning of his tenure, while in another, it was Boniface himself who burned the document.
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
n and the Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
church from 506. In a disputed election following the death of Pope Felix IV
Pope Felix IV
Pope Saint Felix IV was pope from 526 to 530.He came from Samnium, the son of one Castorius. Following the death of Pope John I at the hands of the Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great, the papal voters gave in to the king's demands and chose Cardinal Felix as Pope...
, the majority of electors picked him to be Pope, in spite of Pope Felix's wishes that Boniface
Pope Boniface II
Pope Boniface II was pope from 530 to 532.He was by birth an Ostrogoth, the first Germanic pope, and he owed his appointment to the influence of the Gothic king Athalaric. Boniface was chosen by his predecessor, Pope Felix IV, who had been a strong adherent of the Arian king, and was never elected...
succeed him. However, Dioscurus died less than a month after the election, allowing Boniface to be consecrated Pope and Dioscurus branded an Antipope
Antipope
An antipope is a person who opposes a legitimately elected or sitting Pope and makes a significantly accepted competing claim to be the Pope, the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church. At times between the 3rd and mid-15th century, antipopes were typically those supported by a...
.
Career
Originally a deacon of the Church of Alexandria, Dioscurus was forced to flee as an opponent of MonophysitismMonophysitism
Monophysitism , or Monophysiticism, is the Christological position that Jesus Christ has only one nature, his humanity being absorbed by his Deity...
, arriving in Rome around 506 during the Laurentian schism. There, he was adopted into the ranks of the Roman clergy, and soon acquired considerable influence in the Church of Rome. Jeffrey Richards credits him with persuading king Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
to recognize Symmachus
Pope Symmachus
Saint Symmachus was pope from 498 to 514. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was legitimately elected pope by the citizens of Rome....
as the rightful Pope. Later, under Pope Hormisdas
Pope Hormisdas
Pope Saint Hormisdas was Pope from July 20, 514 to 523. His papacy was dominated by the Acacian schism, started in 484 by Acacius of Constantinople's efforts to placate the Monophysites...
, he served as papal apocrisiarius
Apocrisiarius
An apocrisiarius, the Latinized form of apokrisiarios , sometimes Anglicized as apocrisiary, was a high diplomatic representative during Late Antiquity and the early medieval period. The corresponding Latin term was responsalis...
, or legate, to the court of Justinian
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
at Constantinople, ending the Acacian schism
Acacian schism
The Acacian schism between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches lasted thirty-five years, from 484-519. It resulted from a drift in the leaders of Eastern Christianity toward Monophysitism, and Emperor Zeno's unsuccessful attempt to reconcile the parties with the Henotikon.-Chronology:In the...
, and was instrumental in persuading Pope Hormisdas to reject Theopaschism
Theopaschism
Theopaschism is the belief that a god can suffer. In Christian theology this involves questions like "was the crucifixion of Jesus a crucifixion of God?".-Cyrillianism vs. Theodoreanism:...
. During the pontificate of Felix IV he became the recognized head of the pro-Byzantine party.
Pope Felix IV wished Boniface to succeed him, partially to avoid the riots that had occurred on his own accession. Further, Richards describes him as being part of the pro-Gothic party of clergy, bishops and aristocrats, and his "principal concern, however, was to ensure that the pro-Gothic party remained in control of the papacy." During the sixth century an tradition had evolved where Popes would informally nominate their successors, but Felix wnet beyond this and issued a praeceptum formally nominating Boniface, and on his sickbed gave his pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
to him, on the condition that should Felix recover Boniface would return it. However, the Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
was outraged that it had been pre-empted from the process, and issued an edict fobidding anyone from accepting the nomination or discussing it during Pope's Felix's life, on pain of exile and confiscation of property. Richards notes that the clergy did not voice a similar outrage, "perhaps because the majority of the clergy agreed on this occasion with the senate in censuring the action of Pope Felix.
When the election was held in the Lateran palace
Lateran Palace
The Lateran Palace , formally the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran , is an ancient palace of the Roman Empire and later the main Papal residence....
on 22 September 530 following Felix' death, a majority of the electors voted for Dioscorus; Richards concludes at least 60 of the Roman priests supported Dioscurus, based on their subsequent act of submission. Boniface's supporters retreated to the basilica Julia
Basilica Julia
The Basilica Julia , is a structure that once stood in the Roman Forum. It was a large, ornate, public building used for meetings and other official business during the early Roman Empire. Its ruins have been excavated...
, where they elected Boniface. Dioscurus was later recognized as Pope by the East. Although his prospects for his consecration looked dark, the dispute was resolved when Dioscorus died three weeks later. The pro-Byzantine faction was left leaderless; Felix' wishes were acceded to with his chosen candidate becoming Boniface II.
According to the Liber Pontificalis
Liber Pontificalis
The Liber Pontificalis is a book of biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the Liber Pontificalis stopped with Pope Adrian II or Pope Stephen V , but it was later supplemented in a different style until Pope Eugene IV and then Pope Pius II...
, Boniface forced the clergy who had nominated Dioscorus to sign a retraction and condemn his memory. This document was later destroyed, although the Liber Pontificalis contains contradictory accounts: in one passage, Pope Agapetus I burned the document in front of an audience at the beginning of his tenure, while in another, it was Boniface himself who burned the document.
External link
- Oestereich, Thomas. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 5. (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909)
Further reading
- Georg Schwaiger, "Die Rechtmäßigkeit der Päpste Dioskur (530) und Konstantin II. (767-768)," in Fleckenstein, Gisela / Klöcker, Michael / Schloßmacher, Norbert (Hrsg.), Kirchengeschichte. Alte und neue Wege. Festschrift für Christoph Weber. Band 1 und 2. Frankfurt am Main u.a., Peter Lang, 2008.