Paul the Theban Departure of Anba Silvester, Pope of Rome

Paul the Theban

Paul the Theban. lived during the reign of Decius and Vallerian in 255. He came from Thebes in Egypt. Because he knew that his brother-in-law was going to turn him over to Decius and Vallerian as a Christian, he fled away like David into the desert and up to the mountains.

He went to that deepest desert and found a cave in which he spent his whole life in peace and equanimity of passions till he departed to the Lord. This may be the saint whom St. Antony found and blessed for the quiet and solitary place in which he lived, for the long time he spent in such a place and for his departure and flight from the world. He lived in the desert for a 113 years.

Departure of Anba Silvester, Pope of Rome

On this day, the Church commemorates the departure of Abba Silvester, the Pope of Rome in the year 335 A.D.

For his virtues, his ascetic life and his knowledge, he was chosen Pope of Rome after his predecessor Abba Miltiades, in the year 335 A.D. It was the eleventh year of the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great and less than a year since the writing of the edict of Milan, which granted freedom to Christianity.

He baptized Emperor Constantine, for he was not yet baptized since he was occupied with wars and with the elimination of the places of idol worship and of building of churches.

This father was industrious in teaching his people, in rebutting the heretics and converting many to the faith in Christ and baptizing them.

He wrote many books about God and the mystery of Incarnation. During the seventh year of his papacy, the Ecumenical Council of Nicea was held and he was among those who excommunicated Arius and his supporters.

When he completed his good course, he departed in peace after being the Pope of Rome for eleven years.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.