Pope Symmachus

Symmachus, gr for ally (* in Sardinia, † 19 July 514 in Rome), was Bishop of Rome and is run by the Catholic Church as Pope.

He was first archdeacon under Pope Anastasius II. November 22, 498 Symmachus was elected with the support of the Ostrogoth Theodoric Bishop of Rome. The losing candidate in the election Laurentius, who had the support of Byzantium, officiated to 505 as antipope.

In 501 Symmachus was accused of various crimes. But he declared that are not under secular criminal justice. The basis for this assertion, the Symmachianischen fakes that were written by his followers to support his position were. The following year there was in Rome on the basis of these allegations to street battles between followers of Symmachus and those of the deposed Antipope Laurentius. After the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great 505 again Party seized for Pope Symmachus to its rival Lawrence retired to his estate near Rome. Symmachus had built a fountain in St. Peter's Square. He died on 19 July 514 in Rome.

Later Symmachus was canonized and set the feast day on his death, 19 July.