Thread by @DouayRheims1

20th JUNE: ST SILVERIUS

~thread~
1. Upon the death of St Agapetas, after a vacancy of forty-seven days, Silverius was elected Pope, and ordained on the 8th of June, 536.

Theodora, the empress of Justinian, resolved to promote the sect of the Acephali. #StSilverius #Pope

2. She endeavoured to win Silverius over to her interest, and wrote to him, ordering that he should acknowledge Anthimus lawful bishop. Silverius returned her a short answer,by which he peremptorily gave her to understand that he neither could nor would obey her unjust demands

3. and betray the cause of the Catholic faith.

The empress, finding that she could expect nothing from him, resolved to have him deposed. Through a hireling paid for by her, the Pope was accused of corresponding with the king of the Goths,

4. and of treason, whereupon Silverius was banished to Patara in Lycia.

The bishop of that city received the illustrious exile with all possible marks of honor and respect. Thinking himself bound to undertake his defence,

5. repaired to Constantinople, and spoke boldly to the emperor, terrifying him with the threats of the divine judgments for the expulsion of a bishop of so great a see,telling him, "There are many kings in the world, but there is only one Pope over the Church of the whole world."

6. It must be observed that these were the words of an Oriental bishop, and a clear confession of the supremacy of the Roman See.

Justinian appeared startled at the atrocity of the proceedings, and gave orders

7. that Silverius should be sent back to Rome, but the enemies of the Pope contrived to prevent it, and he was intercepted on his road toward Rome and carried to a desert island, where he was martyred on the 20th of June, 538. (Excerpts from Butler's "Lives of the Saints")