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Name:
Pope Miltiades
Also: Melchiades, Melciades, Milciades, and Miltides
Preceded by: St. Eusebius (309 or 310)
Succeeded by: St. Sylvester I (314 - 335)
Roman Catholic Pope #32
Dates:
Born: Rome?
Died: January 11, 314
Pope: July 2, 311 - January 11, 314 (2 years)
Biography:
Miltiades was pope when the Roman Emperors Galerius and of Constantine and Licinius
published Edicts of Toleration, each marking improvements in the relationship between
the Roman government and Christianity. During his pontificate, Emperor Constantine not
only returned to Christians and the Chuch all of the land which had been confiscated
under previous emperors, but he also donated to the Church the royal palace of empress
Fausta - this would become the Lateran Palace (because it sits on the Lateran Hill),
the residence of all future popes (except during the years when the papacy had been
moved to Avignon, France).
Constantine also made the city of Byzantium the official seat of power for Rome, having long-lasting repercussions for both secular Rome and the Catholic Church. For Rome, it meant a long decline in power and prestige. For the Catholic Church, it meant a rival when it came to ecclesiastical power and influence, eventually leading to the schism between the Eastern and Western churches. Had Constantine kept the seat of secular power in Rome, what might be the face of Christianity today?
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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