Antipope Laurentius

Laurentius (possibly Caelius) was an antipope of the Roman Catholic Church, from 498 to 506.

Archpriest of Santa Prassede, Laurentius was elected pope on 22 November 498, in opposition to Symmachus, by a dissenting faction. If Theodore Lector can be trusted, he was picked by the ex-consul Rufius Postumius Festus as a candidate, after Festus had secretly promised the Byzantine Emperor Zeno that Pope Anastasius would approve the Henotikon, but upon returning from Constantinople he found Pope Anastasius had died.^[1]

The groups supporting Laurentius and Symmachus split the clergy, Senate, and common people, leading to violent clashes between rival groups of supporters. It was clear that some form of arbitration was needed, and both groups proceeded to Ravenna to present their arguments to king Theodoric of the Ostrogoths. Jeffrey Richards observes that "it is a a remarkable state of affairs when an Arian king has for whatever reason to choose a Catholic pope."^[2] Theodoric reviewed the facts, and found that Symmachus fulfilled his criteria for being duly consecrated pope. However, a document known as the "Laurentian Fragment" claims that Symmachus obtained the decision by paying bribes,^[3] while deacon Magnus Felix Ennodius of Milan later wrote that 400 solidi were distributed amongst influential personages, whom it would be indiscreet to name.^[4]

Finding himself victorious, Symmachus proceeded to call a synod held at Rome on March 1, 499, which was attended by 72 bishops and all of the Roman clergy, with the aim of confirming that his congregation accepted the king's judgment, as well as ensuring in the future there would be no rioting or illegal canvassing at election time. He also tried to appease his opposition by offering Laurentius the Diocese of Nuceria, in Campania.^[5] According to the account in the Liber Pontificalis, Symmachus bestowed the see on Laurentius "guided by sympathy", but the "Laurentian Fragment" states that Laurentius "was severely threatened and cajoled, and forcibly despatched" to Nuceria.^[6] In either case, the subscription of Aprilis, bishop of Nuceria, to the acta of the synod of 502 suggests Laurentius either never took up the see, or was deposed from it soon after.^[7]

However, Laurentius' supporters sustained the schism. Led by Festus, a group of clerics and senators laid charges against Symmachus in an attempt to secure his deposition; king Theodoric summoned Symmachus to Ariminum answer these charges. But having gone to Ariminum, Symmachus fled the city in the middle of the night, returning to Rome where he took refuge in St. Peter's. His flight proved to be a major mistake, for it was widely seen as an admission of guilt. Many of the clergy withdrew from communion with Symmachus, and entered into communion with Laurentius.^[8]

A contentious synod held in 502 failed to resolve schism. Laurentius returned to Rome later that year, and for the following four years, according to the "Laurentian Fragment", he held its churches and ruled as pope, with the support of Festus.^[9] Laurentius was only forced from his position when a diplomatic effort to convince king Theodoric to intervene succeeded. Conducted chiefly by two non-Roman supporters, the Milanese deacon Ennodius and the exiled deacon Dioscorus, they convinced the king's personal physician, the deacon Helpidius, at last they convinced Theodoric to instruct Festus to hand over the Roman churches to Symmachus.^[10]

Once news of Theodoric's decision reached Rome, Laurentius retired from the city to one of Festus's estates, according to the "Laurentian Fragment", because "he did not want the city to be troubled by daily strife", where he fasted constantly until his death.^[11]

References

1. ^ Historia ecclesiastiae 2.16.17, quoted in John Moorhead, "The Laurentian Schism: East and West in the Roman Church", Church History, 47 (1978), p. 129
2. ^ Richards, The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1979), p. 69
3. ^ Davies (trans.), Book of Pontiffs, p. 97
4. ^ Richards, Popes and the papacy, pp. 70f
5. ^ Richards, Popes and the papacy, pp. 70
6. ^ The Book of Pontiffs (Liber Pontificalis), translated with introduction by Raymond Davies (Liverpool: University Press, 1989), pp. 44, 97
7. ^ Richards, Popes and the papacy, p. 327
8. ^ Richards, Popes and the papacy, p. 71
9. ^ Davies (trans.), Book of Pontiffs, p. 98
10. ^ Richards, Popes and the papacy, p. 76
11. ^ Davies (trans.), Book of Pontiffs, p. 99