Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 8.djvu/488

 JOHN

422

JOHN

"One of the Trinity has been crucified", which had been put forward as a means of reconciling various heretical sects. Condemned by Pope Hormisdas, the formula fell out of use. Afterwards revived, ii was in a modified form defended by Justinian, and opposed by the Acoemetie, or sleepless monks. But they were condemned by the pope who informed the emperor of his action (24 March, 534). The crimes of Contumelio- sus, Bishop of Riez, in Provence, caused John to order the bishops of Gaul to confine him in a monastery. Till a new bishop should be appointed he bade the clergy of Riez obey the Bishop of Aries. Two hundred and seventeen bishops assembled in council at Car- thage (535) submitted to John II the question as to whether bishops who had lapsed into Arianism should, on repentance keep their rank or be admitted to lay communion. The answer to their question was given by Agapetus, as John II died 8 May, 535. He was buried in St. Peter's.

Liber Pontificalis, ed. Duchesne (Paris, 1886), I, 285 sq.; Ca.ssiodorus, Varia, ed. Mommsen, IX, 15 sq. ; Liberatus, Breviarium in Migne, P, L., LXVIII. xx; Letters of John, ibid., LXVI; Grisar, Hisloire de Rome et des Popes (Paris, 1906), I, pt. II, 54 sq.; Lecrivain, Le St-nat Romain (Paris, 1888), 202 sq.

Horace K. Mann.

John III, Pope (561-574), a Roman surnamed Catelinus, d. 13 July, 574. He was of a distinguished family, being the son of one Anastasius who bore the title of illustris. The year of his birth is not recorded, but he was consecrated pope seemingly on 17 July, 561. Owing to the necessity of waiting for imperial confirmation of his election, an interval of five months elasped between the death of Pelagius I and the con- secration just noted. Although John reigned nearly thirteen years very little is known of his pontificate. It fell during the stormy times of the Lombard in- vasion, and practically all the records of his reign have perished. He would seem, however, to have been a magnanimous pontiff, zealous for the welfare of the people. An inscription still to be seen in the fifteenth century testified that "in the midst of straits he knew how to be bountiful, and feared not to be crushed amidst a crumbling world". Two most unworthy bishops, Salonius of Embrun and Sagitta- rius of Gap, had been condemned in a synod at Lyons (c. 567). They succeeded, however, in persuading Guntram, King of Burgundy, that they had been con- demned unjustly, and appealed to the pope. In- fluenced by the king's letters. John decided that they must be restored to their sees. It is to be regretted that the papal mandate was put into effect. The most important of the acts of this pope were those connected with the great general, Narses. Unfortu- nately the "Liber Pontificalis" is enigmatic regard- ing them. By feminine intrigue at the court of Con- stantinople, a charge of treason was trumped up against the general, and, in consequence, the only man capable of resisting the barbarians was recalled. It is quite possible that Narses may then have invited the Lombards to fall upon Italy; but it is perhaps more probable that, hearing of his recall, they invaded the country. Knowing that Narses was the hope of It.aly, John followed him to Naples, and implored him not to go to Constantinople. 'The general hearkened to the voice of the pope, and returned with him to Rome (571). But seemingly the court party in the city was too strong for Narses and the pope. John retired to the catacomb of Praetextatus, where he re- mained for many months. He even held ordinations there. On the death of Narses (c. 572), John returned to the Lateran Palace. His sojourn in the catacombs gave him a great interest in them. He put them in repair, and ordered that tlic necessaries for Mass sho\ild be sent to them from the Lateran. John died 13 July, 574, and was buried in St. Peter's.

Liber Pontificalis, I, ;J05 sqq.; (iREtjoiiY of Toulia, Hist. Franc., V, 21; Aonellus, Lib. Pont., xciii, in Mon. Germ. Hist.:

Script. Langob.; Grisar, ibid., 154 sqq. ; Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders, V (London, 1895), 60 sqq.

Horace K. Mann.

John IV, Pope (640-642), a native of Dalmatia, and the son of the scholaslicus (advocate) Venantius. The date of his birth is uncertain; d. 12 October, 642. At the time of his election he was archdeacon of the Roman Church. As John's consecration followed very soon after his election, it is supposed that the papal elections were now confirmed by the exarchs resident at Ravenna. Troubles in his native land, caused by invasions of Slavs, directed John's atten- tion there. To alleviate the distress of the inhabitants, Jolm sent the abbot Martin into Dalmatia and Istria with large sums of money for the redemption of cap- tives. As the ruined churches could not be rebuilt, the relics of some of the more important Dalmatian saints were brought to Rome. John erected an ora- tory in their honour which still stands. It was adorned by the pope with mosaics depicting John himself holding in his hands a model of his oratory. Jolm apparently did not content himself with palliat- ing the evils wrought by the Slavs. He endeavoured to convert these barbarians. Emperor Const antine Porphyrogenitus says that Porga, a prince of the Croats who had been invited into Dalmatia by Hera- clius I, sent to an Emperor Heraclius for Christian teachers. It is supposed that the emperor to whom this message was sent was Heraclius I himself, and that the pope to whom he sent was John IV.

Wliile still only pope-elect, John, with the other rulers of the Roman Church, wrote to the clergy of the North of Ireland to tell them of the mistakes they were making with regard to the time of keeping Easter, and exhorting them to be on their guard against the Pelagian heresy. About the same time he condemned Monothelism. Emperor Heraclius immediately disowned the Monothelite document known as the "Ecthesis". To his son, Constantine HI, John addressed his apology for Pope Honorius, in which he deprecated the attempt to connect the name of Honorius with Monothelism. Honorius, he declared, in speaking of one will in Jesus Christ, only meant to assert that there were not two con- trary wills in Him. John was buried in St. Peter's.

Liber Pontificalis, I, 330; Liber Diumits, ed. Sickel (Vienna, 1889); The Apology for Pope Honorius in P. L., CXXIX, 561 sqq.: Constantine Porphyrogenitus, De admin, imp., ce. xxx- xxxii: Bede, Hist.eccles., 11. 19: ST.MAXiMos,inf>.L..CXXIX; Grisar, Anatecta Rom., diss. XII and Append., 671 (Rome, 1899) ; Zeiller, Les origines chret. dans la province romaine de Dalmatie (Paris, 1906). 26; Mann, The Lives of the Popes in the early Middle Ages, I, pt. I (London, 1902), 351 sqq.

Horace K. Mann.

John V, Pope (685-686), a Syrian whose father was one Cyriacus; when he was born is not known; d. 2 August, 686. As a deacon he was one of those who represented the Apostolic See at the Sixth (Ecumenical Council. He returned to Rome in July, 682, with the oflScial documents of the synod. He olitained such favour in the eyes of the Emperor Con- stantine Pogonatus that the latter lessened the taxes which had been imposed on the papal patrimonies in Sicily and Calabria, and generally reduced the fiscal burdens from which the Church suffered. John's energy, learning, and moderation are highly praised by his biographer. It was no doubt the possession of these virtues which caused him to be elected pope in the basilica of St. John Lateran. The necessity of waiting for the imperial confirmation of papal elec- tions having been abolished by Constantine Pogona- tus, John was straightway conducted to the Lateran palace as pope. He was consecrated about 23 July, 685, and reigned for a little more than a year. From the days of St. Gregory the Great, the .'\rchbi.sliop of Cagliari in Sardinia enjoyed certain metropolitan powers. Although the right of consecrating the