Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Silvanus, bishop of Cirta

Silvanus (4), bp. of Cirta, subdeacon under Paulus, bp. of that see during the persecution under Diocletian, and, as well as he, guilty of "tradition." These facts were elicited at the inquiry under Zenophilus, 320, at which it was proved, by ample evidence, that Silvanus was guilty of this charge, and also that with others he had appropriated plate and ornaments from the heathen temple of Serapis; and after he became a bishop received as a bribe for ordaining Victor, a fuller, to be a presbyter, money which ought to have been given to the poor. After the inquiry he was banished for refusing to communicate with Ursacius and Zenophilus, at the time of the mission of Macarius, 348. Aug. Petil. i. 23, iii. 69, 70; ''de Gest. Emer. 5; c. Cresc.'' iii. 32, 33, 34, iv. 66; de Unico Bapt. 30. 31; Aug. Ep. 53. 4; ''Mon. Vet. D.'' pp. 178, 180, 182, ed. Oberthür; pp. 167–171 ed. Dupin.

[H.W.P.]