Difference between revisions of "Miltiades"

<p> also called [[Melchiades]] or Melciades, a bishop of Rome, was born about the middle of the 3d century. He early occupied as a priest a very conspicuous place by his arduous efforts to protect the rights and interests of the [[Roman]] [[Church]] against the many wrongs enacted by pope Maxentius, and was, besides, prominent in the protection of [[Christians]] during the persecutions. He succeeded [[Eusebius]] on the pontifical throne in 310, and, in 313, was ordered by the emperor [[Constantine]] the Great, who was opposed to the Donatists, to bring the Donatist difficulties to a close. In council with twenty Gallican and [[Italian]] bishops, he reinstated Csecilian as bishop of Carthage. For his zeal and exertion in trying to bring back the [[Donatists]] into the union of the Church he was slandered, but [[Augustine]] (Epiist. 162) speaks of him as "vir optimus, filius Christianae pacis et pater Christianoa plebis." The [[Manichaeans]] also, who worked secretly at Rome, found in him a watchful guardian against their doctrines. He was the first pope to live in a royal palace, which was presented to him by the emperor Constantine the [[Great]] with other rich endowments. [[Miltiades]] issued two well-known edicts the one interdicting fasting on Sundays and Thursdays, because the heathens celebrated these days "quasi sacrum jejunium;" and he also enacted, "Ut oblationes consecrate per ecclesias ex consecratu episcopi dirigerentur, quod declaratur fermentum." The true meaning of the latter edict has often been a matter of dispute. Miltiades died in 314: it is erroneously reported of him that he died a martyr. St. Bernard, who, described the life of this pope, makes no mention of the manner of his death. His remains were interred in the Calixtine Chapel, but by pope [[Paul]] I they were removed "in capite" to the Church of St. Sylvester. See Bower, Hist. of the Popes (see [[Index]] in volume 7); D'Artaud, Life and Times of the Roman Pontiffs (N.Y. 1865, 2 volumes, roy. 8vo), 1:67; Herzog, Real- Encyklop. 9:300; Wetzer.u.Welte, Kirchen-Lexikon, volume 6, s.v. </p>