St. Sylvester I
314-335 AD
📖 Life Timeline
314 AD
Became Pope
335 AD
End of reign
✝ Biography
Pope Sylvester I (also Silvester, before 284 – 31 December 335) was the bishop of Rome from 31 January 314 until his death on 31 December 335. He filled the See of Rome at an important era in the history of the Western Church, though very little is known of his life.
During his pontificate, he notably convened the Council of Arles in 314, which condemned the separatist Donatist sect, and the First Council of Nicaea in 325, which aimed to resolve the Arian controversy.
Sylvester I's pontificate coincided with the construction of churches including Old St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemme), as well as the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. His feast is celebrated as Saint Sylvester's Day, on 31 December in Western Christianity, and on 2 January in Eastern Christianity.
Roman. Contemporary of Constantine. Presided over the First Council of Nicaea. Received the Donation of Constantine. Built St. Peter's Basilica and Lateran Basilica. Longest-reigning early pope.
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