E00400: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Silvester (bishop of Rome, ob. 335, S00397), tells how he was first persecuted by Constantine, then converted and baptised the emperor (who was thereby cured of leprosy); how he established a titulus in Rome and issued many decrees regarding church discipline and practice; of the many churches built and endowed by Constantine in and around Rome; and of Silvester's burial in the cemetery of Priscilla on the via Salaria outside Rome, on 31 December [AD 335]. The second edition states that he died 'truly a catholic and confessor'.

Liber Pontificalis 34.1 and 34

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Silvester, natione Romanus, ex patre Rufino. Sedit ann. XXIII m. X d. XI. Fuit autem temporibus Constantini et Volusiani, ex die kal. febr. usque in diem kal. ian., Constantio et Volusiano consolibus. Hic exilio fuit in monte Seracten, persecutione Constantini concussus, et postmodum rediens cum gloria baptizavit Constantinum Aug., quem curavit Dominus per baptismo a lepra.

'Silvester, born in Rome, son of Rufinus held the see 23 years 10 months 10 days. He was bishop in the time of Constantine and Volusianus from 1 February to 1 January in the consulship of Constantius and Volusianus. He was in exile on Mount Seraptim [= Monte Soratte], troubled by Constantine's persecution; afterwards he returned in glory and baptised the emperor Constantine, whom the Lord cured from leprosy by baptism, and from whose persecution he is known to have previously fled into exile.'

The story of Silvester's pontificate continues with a brief account of the Council of Nicaea and of a church council in Rome, followed by a long list of decrees issued by Silvester regarding church discipline and practice. There follows an list of the churches built and endowed by the emperor Constantine [see below, second edition, for the details], closing with a note of Silvester's death and burial:

Sepultus est via Salaria, in cimiterio Priscillae, ab urbe Roma miliario III, prid. k. ian.

'He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the via Salaria at the 3rd mile from Rome on 31 December.'


Second edition

1. Silvester, natione Romanus, ex patre Rufino. Sedit ann. XXIII m. X d. XI. Fuit autem temporibus Constantini et Volusiani, ex die kal. febr. usque in die kal. ian., Constantio et Volusiano consulibus. Hic exilio fuit in monte Seracten et postmodum rediens cum gloria baptizavit Constantinum Augustum, quem curavit Dominus a lepra, cuius persecutionem primo fugiens exilio fuisse congnoscitur.

'Silvester, born in Rome, son of Rufinus held the see 23 years 10 months 11 days. He was bishop in the time of Constantine and Volusianus from 1 February to 1 January in the consulship of Constantius and Volusianus. He was in exile on Mount Seraptim; afterwards he returned in glory and baptised the emperor Constantine, whom the Lord cured from leprosy, and from whose persecution he is known to have previously fled into exile.'

There follows an account of how Silvester established a titulus church in Rome, on property of a certain presbyter Equitius (it is therefore still known as the titulus Equitii). Its church furnishings and vessels are listed. The story of Silvester's pontificate continues with a brief account of the Council of Nicaea and of a church council in Rome; here, in the second edition, the Council of Nicaea is said to have been held 'on his order' (cum eius praeceptum). A long list of Silvester's decrees on church discipline and practice follows.

Then comes a long excursus opening with the words:

Huius temporibus fecit Constantinus aug. basilicas istas quas ornavit:

'In his time the emperor Constantine built these churches and adorned them:'

The churches are then listed, and their precious vessels and light-fittings, as well as their landed endowments, enumerated in considerable detail, as follows:

1. The Basilica Constantiniana [the Lateran basilica, today San Giovanni in Laterano] - not entered into our database, because at this date not dedicated to a saint.

2. The Lateran baptistery 'ubi baptizatus est Augustus Constantinus' ('where the emperor Constantine was baptised') - not entered, because not dedicated to a saint. But for a statue of John the Baptist in the baptistery, see $E00409.

3. The basilica of St Peter [San Pietro in Vaticano]- see $E00401.

4. The basilica of St Paul [San Paolo fuori le mura]- see $E00402.

5. The basilica in the Sessorian Palace [today Santa Croce in Gerusalemme], with a relic of the True Cross - not entered in our database, because not dedicated to a saint.

6. The basilica of St Agnes [Sant'Agnese fuori le mura] - see $E00403.

7. The basilica of St Laurence [San Lorenzo fuori le mura] - see $E00404.

8. The basilica of Sts Marcellinus and Petrus [on the via Labicana] - see $E00405.

9. A basilica at Ostia dedicated to Sts Peter, Paul and John the Baptist - see $E00406.

10. A basilica at Albanum [Albano] dedicated to John the Baptist - see $E00407.

11. A basilica 'of the Apostles' at Capua - see $E00408.

12. A basilica in Naples - its dedication is not mentioned, so not entered in our database.

13. Gifts of the emperor Constantine to the titulus that Silvester founded close to the baths of Trajan; here it is termed the 'titulus Silvestri'.


The account of the pontificate closes (as with other popes) with a list of ordinations performed by Silvester, and a record of his death and burial:

Hic sepultus est in cymiterio Priscillae, via Salaria, ab urbe Roma miliario III, prid. kal. ianuar. Qui vero catholicus et confessor quievit.

'He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the via Salaria at the 3rd mile from Rome on 31 December. Truly it was as a catholic and a confessor that he went to his rest.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 81 and 187. Translation: Davis 2010, 14 and 26. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.