Pammachius
Pammachius (* 4th century; † around 409 probably in Rome ) was a Roman senator , leading member of the Christian community of Rome and friend and correspondent of Jerome . He is one of the saints of the Catholic Church (remembrance day August 30 ).
Life
Pammachius came from the wealthy Gens Furia . His father Byzantius was already a Christian. Pammachius attended the rhetoric school of Aelius Donatus in Rome . There he met Hieronymus, with whom he remained lifelong.
In 385 he married Paulina, a daughter of Hieronymus' colleague Paula .
In the 390s he took part in the Roman controversy over the teachings of Jovinians , who had denied the higher rank of a life according to the evangelical councils . On Pammachius' initiative, Hieronymus wrote the treatise Adversus Iovinianum , which went so far in the degradation of marriage compared to virginity that Pammachius disagreed with Hieronymus and bought up the existing copies to prevent further distribution, which did not succeed. Hieronymus responded with thanks and self-criticism and corrected the ambiguous passages in another text, Apologia ad Pammachium pro libris adversus Iovinianum .
Numerous other writings by Hieronymus dedicated to Pammachius, a.o. a. about the art of translation and the theology of Origen , show his great appreciation for the friend.
In 397 Paulina died, and Pammachius chose a monastic and charitable life. Together with Fabiola he founded a hospital for destitute and sick travelers in Portus at the mouth of the Tiber.
Pammachius owned estates in the North African province of Numidia . Around 400 he wrote a letter there in which he took a stand against Donatism and advocated a return to the Catholic Church. Augustine thanked him for this in 401.
The Roman church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo on the site of the martyrdom of Saints John and Paul is considered to be the foundation of Pammachius and his father Byzantius.
literature
- Francis Joseph Bacchus: St. Pammachius . In: Catholic Encyclopedia , Volume 11, Robert Appleton Company, New York 1911.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Pammachius |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Roman senator and Christian, saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 4th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | at 409 |
| Place of death | uncertain: Rome |