HANDOUT FOR OCT. 11: THE CHURCH AND THE PAPACY
Pope from papa, "father": honorific title originally applied to a variety of prominent bishops (e.g. the patriarch of Alexandria) but eventually associated (in the western church) with the bishops of Rome.
Bishop, from episkopos, orig. "overseer."
Priest, from presbyter, orig. "elder."
AD 64: Apostle Peter in Rome; martyred by Nero.
Third century: legends circulate regarding Peter’s battle with Simon Magus.
312: Constantine’s conversion and entry into Rome.
Pope Sylvester (314-335) had much less to do with it than later legends give him credit for.
410: Sack of Rome by the Goths. From this point onward, collapse of secular government leaves Popes as the de facto political leaders of the city of Rome.
Mid-Fifth Century: Legends regarding Constantine’s conversion and miraculous cure, and Pope Sylvester’s role, circulate widely.
440-461: Papacy of Leo the Great. Claims doctrinal authority over all churches based on apostolic succession.
451: Ecumenical council of Chalcedon, in the eastern empire. Council adopts the 28th canon, which claims that the bishop of Constantinople ("New Rome") should be the equal of the Pope. Leo is not amused.
492-496: Pope Gelasius. Sets forth theory of the "two swords" (secular authority and ecclesiastical authority) and argues the superiority of the latter.
533-560: Justinian’s war against the Goths devastates Italy. Rome damaged and depopulated. Popes are threatened or arrested for not supporting Justinian’s controversial theological policies.
568: Lombards invade Italy.
590-604: Papacy of Gregory the Great (born c.540). Writes Life of St. Benedict, sends missionaries to Christianize the Anglo-Saxons.
c.750: The forged "Donation of Constantine" is composed to legitimize papal claims to political power in western Europe, at the same time that the popes are forming an alliance with the Carolingian kings.
800: Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as Western Roman Emperor.
827: Einhard (Charlemagne’s biographer) sends his servants to Rome to steal some holy relics.