Reign Pope Vitalian

1 reign

1.1 relations england
1.2 ravenna
1.3 authority on eastern church

reign

after death of pope eugene on 2 or 3 june 657, vitalian elected successor, , consecrated , enthroned on 30 july. kept baptismal name pope. eugene, vitalian tried restore connection constantinople making friendly advances eastern emperor constans ii , prepare way settlement of monothelite controversy. sent letters (synodica) announcing elevation emperor , patriarch peter of constantinople, inclined monothelitism. emperor confirmed privileges of holy see head of catholic church , sent rome codex of gospels in cover of gold richly ornamented precious stones good-will gesture.

the patriarch peter replied, although answer noncommittal monothelitism, belief defended. in letter, gave impression of being in accord pope, letter peter had expounded catholic faith. ecclesiastical intercourse between rome , constantinople restored, mutual reserve on dogmatic question of monothelitism remained. vitalian s name entered on diptychs of churches in byzantium—the name of pope entered between reign of honorius (d. 638) , sixth ecumenical council of 680–81. inclusion of vitalian s name on diptych seen being conciliatory towards heresy, charge unfounded.

vitalian showed reciprocity toward constans when latter came rome in 663 spend twelve days there during campaign against lombards. on 5 july, pope , members of roman clergy met emperor @ sixth milestone , accompanied him st. peter s basilica, emperor offered gifts. following sunday, constans went in state st. peter s, offered pallium wrought gold, , present during mass celebrated pope. emperor dined pope on following saturday, attended mass again on sunday @ st. peter s, , after mass took leave of pope. on departure constans removed large number of bronze artworks, including bronze tiles roof of pantheon, had been dedicated christian worship.

constans moved on sicily, oppressed population, , assassinated @ syracuse in 668. vitalian supported constans son constantine iv against usurper mezezius , helped him attain throne. constantine had no desire maintain monothelite decree of father, pope vitalian made use of inclination take more decided stand against monothelitism , win emperor on orthodoxy. in latter attempt, however, did not succeed. monothelite patriarch theodore of constantinople removed vitalian s name diptychs. not until sixth ecumenical council (681) monothelitism suppressed , vitalian s name replaced on diptychs of churches in byzantium.

relations england

pope vitalian successful in improving relations england, anglo-saxon , british clergies divided regarding various ecclesiastical customs. @ synod of whitby, king oswy of northumberland accepted roman practices regarding keeping of easter , shape of tonsure. king ecgberht of kent, sent priest wighard rome, consecrated there after death of archbishop deusdedit of canterbury in 664, wighard died @ rome of plague.

vitalian wrote king oswy promising send suitable bishop england possible. hadrian, abbot of neapolitan abbey, selected, considered himself unworthy bishop. @ recommendation highly educated monk, theodore of tarsus, understood both latin , greek, chosen archbishop of canterbury , consecrated on 26 march 668. accompanied abbot hadrian, theodore went england, recognized head of church of england.

ravenna

the archiepiscopal see of ravenna reported directly rome. archbishop maurus (644–71) sought end dependence, , make see autocephalous. when pope vitalian called upon him justify theological views, refused obey , declared himself independent of rome, becoming schismatic. pope excommunicated him, maurus did not submit, , went far declare pope excommunicated.

emperor constans ii sided archbishop , issued edict removing archbishop of ravenna patriarchal jurisdiction of rome. ordained former should receive pallium emperor. successor of maurus, reparatus, in fact consecrated in 671. not until reign of pope leo ii (682–83) independence of see of ravenna suppressed: emperor constantine iv revoked edict of constans , confirmed ancient rights of roman see on see of ravenna.

authority on eastern church

vitalian enforced authority supreme pontiff in eastern regions of church. bishop john of lappa had been deposed synod under presidency of metropolitan paulus. john appealed pope , imprisoned paulus doing. escaped, however, , went rome, vitalian held synod in december 667 investigate matter , pronounced john guiltless. wrote paulus demanding restoration of john diocese , return of monasteries had been unjustly taken him. @ same time pope directed metropolitan remove 2 deacons had married after consecration.

the introduction of church organ music traditionally believed date time of vitalian s papacy.

vitalian died on january 27, 672. venerated saint roman catholic church, feast day celebrated each year on january 27.