Siricius

Siricius (* around 334 in Rome ; † November 26, 399 ) was Pope in Rome from December 384, possibly from December 17, until his death. He is venerated as a saint.

Life

Its name means out of the city Siris arise (its Greek and Latin .). He was a Roman and had served the Church since Liberius . He was one of the Roman deacons before his election ; his opponent was the presbyter Jerome , who portrayed him as simple-minded. He was unanimously elected and confirmed by Emperor Valentinian II on February 25, 385 with a view to the antipope Ursinus .

Modern tin medal of Siricius

Siricius successfully emphasized the primacy of the Patriarch of Rome over the rest of the Patriarchs. While his predecessors wrote their letters mostly in the style of a father's admonition and edification, Siricius wrote in the official chancellery style with the tone of command and without legal justification. In the self-confidence that he had been entrusted with the care of all churches , he was the first to issue papal decrees on liturgy and discipline, which he saw as synodal resolutions .

In his letter to Himerius of Tarragona , he answered 14 questions still addressed to Damasus, including instructions for action in which the baptism of converted Arians was forbidden, and the acceptance into the Catholic Church took place through the laying on of hands. The celibacy rule is once again imposed and the age of consecration is determined. The baptism dates are limited to Easter and Pentecost , the discipline of penance is relaxed.

At the Roman synod in 382 it was stipulated, among other things, that in future bishops would only be ordained by several bishops and with the consent of Rome . The resolutions were also sent to the Church of Africa and probably to other churches for consideration. Like Ambrose of Milan, Siricius sharply disapproved of the execution of the theologian Priscillian, who had been sentenced to death as a heretic . Bonosus and Jovinianus were convicted. Siricius was the first bishop of Rome to use the title Pope as a self-designation. In 395 Siricius consecrated the new building of Saint Paul Outside the Walls .

His feast day is November 26th .