Pope St. Sylvester I Served as the Church Gained Freedom,
Presided Over Growth –Image: Fr. Terrence Prendergast@Twitter
(Franciscan Media) When you think of this Pope, one thinks of the Edict of Milan, the emergence of the Church from the catacombs, the building of the great Basillicas, St. John Lateran St. Peter’s Basilica and others, the Council of Nicaea together with other critical events but for the most part, these events were planned or brought about by Emperor Constantine.
A great store of legends has grown up around this man who was Pope at this most important time but very little can be established historically.
We know for sure that his Papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335 and reading between the lines of history, we are assured that only very strong and wise could have preserved the essential independence of the Church in the face of the overpowering figure of Emperor Constantine–The Bishop’s in general remained loyal to the Holy See and at times expressed apologies to Sylvester for undertaking important ecclesiastical projects at the urging of Constantine.
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Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of Pope St. Sylvester I, Visit: -USCCB