Maximianus of Ravenna

Maximianus of Ravenna (* 498 in Pola, now Pula in Croatia; † 21 (or 22 ) February 556 in Ravenna, Italy) was Archbishop of Ravenna and gained recognition and fame as a great patron of ecclesiastical construction activities as well as a confidant of the emperor Justinian.

Life

The most important source of this is the author of Ravenna historian Andreas Agnellus (c. 805; † after 846 ) Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae with his work Rave Nati. Maximian was born in Pola, in the same Roman Colonia Pola on the Adriatic. There he was first deacon. Through a treasure trove he came to wealth he related his life time for extensive church buildings and decorations. A church in honor of the Mother of God, Santa Maria Formosa in Pola, was the first of its construction projects. Agnellus also reports that he donated a portion of the treasure Emperor Justinian, who then became aware of him.

Maximian traveled through Alexandria to Constantinople Opel where he Emperor Justinian I gained the favor. With its support, and through his influence Maximian received on 14 October 546 in Patras episcopal ordination of Pope Vigilius. He received the pallium and became archbishop of Ravenna.

Among his activities in Ravenna were the improvement of the training of clergy, out his contribution to the propagation of the property of the Church ( for example, through the acquisition of the Istrian forest ) and especially the development of church- building activities. He was involved in the construction of the church Apollinare in Classe and the Basilica of Santo Stefano in Ravenna. The church of San Vitale in Ravenna - a formative model for other churches, such as the Palatine Chapel in Aachen - was completed by Maximianus. He also had more churches renovate, extend or embellish magnificent. The ornamentation for their art historically significant Cathedra of the cathedral of Ravenna is considered the Bishop's Chair Maximian; this assignment was controversial, however, because it has also been considered, assign it to Bishop Maximus of Salo. This Maximianskathedra is now in the Museo Arcivescovile in Ravenna.

Furthermore, let Maximian - after Agnellus - numerous relics of saints spend to Ravenna, including the remains of the legendary first bishop of Ravenna, St. Apollinaris.

Maximian was also active as a historian and author of a chronicle. From this is with exception of a few quotations in Agnellus of Ravenna, who seems to have used this extensively, nothing remains.