Pope Miltiades
| Miltiades | |
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| Birth name | Miltiades |
| Papacy began | July 2, 310 or 311 |
| Papacy ended | January 10 or 11, 314 |
| Predecessor | Eusebius |
| Successor | Sylvester I |
| Born | ??? Africa ? |
| Died | January 10 or 11, 314 Rome, Italy |
| Styles of Pope Miltiades |
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| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | Saint |
Pope Saint Miltiades (also called Melchiades, Meltiades, Melciades, Milciades, and Miltides) was pope from July 2, 310 or 311 to January 10 or 11, 314.
He appears to have been an African by birth, but of his personal history nothing is known. Even his race is unknown, though some documents say he was not dark skinned. He was elected after a period of sede vacante following the simulatenous banishment of Pope Eusebius to Sicily and of his opponent Heraclius to Sardinia.
He became pope after the Roman emperor Galerius had previously passed an edict of toleration ending the persecution of Christians. During his pontificate, in 313, the Edict of Milan was passed by the tetrarchs Constantine and Licinius, declaring that they would be neutral with regard to religious worship and restoring church property. Constantine presented the pope with the Lateran Palace which became the papal residence and seat of Christian governance.
In 313, Miltiades presided over the Lateran Synod in Rome at which Caecilian was acquitted of the charges brought against him, and Donatus Magnus was condemned as a heretic (see Donatism). He was then summoned to the Council of Arles, the first representative meeting of the Western Roman Empire's Christian bishops, but died before it could be held.
The Liber Pontificalis compiled in the 5th century onwards, attributed the introduction of several later customs to Miltiades.
Miltiades was made a saint following his death, with his feast-day being held on December 10. Although his death seems to have been a natural one, he is nonetheless regarded as a martyr because of his earlier suffering under the anti-Christian emperor Maximian.
External links
"Pope St.
Miltiades" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.- Historical "Gift of Constantine": Journal Article Concerning Miltiades and Constantine
- Opera Omnia
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by Eusebius |
Bishop of Rome Pope July 2, 311– January 11, 314 |
Succeeded by Sylvester I |
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