Symmachian Forgeries

Symmachian Forgeries

The Symmachian Forgeries were devised by the supporters of Symmachus, bishop of Rome, in his contention with Laurentius over the bishopric of Rome in the early sixth century. This contention had its roots in the conflict over the Henoticon. One of the purposes of the forgeries was to manufacture evidence that would create the appearance that it was an established rule that no one could pass judgement on the 'pope'. Here are some snippets that provide some history and background of these forgeries.

The "Henoticon," so fruitful a source of dissension in the East, became also the watchword of rival parties in the West. Gelasius, succeeding Anastasius II, sought to re-unite the churches by the proposal, couched in the very spirit of the "Henoticon," that Acacius's name should be quietly left on the diptychs. On his death in 498 a contested election ensued, exasperated by differences of opinion on the "Henoticon" and the schisms in the East. Two rival pontiffs were consecrated on Dec. 22, A.D. 499—Laurentius an advocate of union, and Symmachus its uncompromising opponent. Theodoric decided in favour of Symmachus, who had received the largest number of votes. This choice was fatal to the restoration of peace in the East on the terms of the "Henoticon." Pope and emperor hurled at one another charges of heresy and messages of defiance. The turbulent orthodox party at Constantinople was supported in its obstinate resistance to the emperor by the Roman see. The rebellion of Vitalian, characterized by Gibbon as "the first of the religious wars," whose battle-cry was the council of Chalcedon, was countenanced by Symmachus's still more haughty successor, Hormisdas, who reaped the fruits of the humiliation of the aged Anastasius and became "the dictator of the religion of the world." The demand of Hormisdas for the public anathematization of the authors and maintainers of the "Henoticon" was indignantly rejected by Anastasius. The conflict only ended with the life of Anastasius, who died worn out by strife at the age of nearly 90 years, A. D. 518.
A Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies, by Henry Wace, p. 445

Apparently a Christian convert, Symmachus was an archdeacon in the Roman Church when elected to succeed Pope Anastasius II. Concurrently, a minority had elected, with the support of a strong Byzantine party, the archpriest Laurentius. Both candidates were consecrated on Nov. 22, 498, and their respective parties appealed to the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great, whose decision favoured Symmachus.…
¶ Although Laurentius submitted and became bishop of Nocera, Italy, his supporters continued to dissent, accusing Symmachus of arbitrary decisions about the date of Easter, of despoiling the Church, and of fornications. Theodoric convoked a Roman synod in 501; during its fourth session (the Palmary Synod) the bishops decreed that there was no precedent for other bishops' passing judgment on the pope, which was ultimately in the hands of God. Theodoric, whose right to judge the issue was never acknowledged by Symmachus, was not satisfied and allowed the antipope Laurentius to return to Rome. Four years of violence ensued, during which the Laurentians took possession of many churches, although Symmachus was never dispossessed of his see.
¶ … The dispute also caused considerable fraudulent literature, subsequently known as the Symmachan Forgeries, drawn on by later exponents of the doctrine quod prima sedes non judicatur a quoquam ("that no one can pass judgment on the pope").
Copyright © 1994-2000 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Symmachus, Saint

A complex of forged texts was produced in the early sixth century as a result of the schism between Pope Symmachus and Laurentius in Rome. These “Symmachian Forgeries” were based on putative papal documents (especially the “Constitutum Sylvestri”) that purported to demonstrate that the pope could be judged by no human authority.
A Short History of Canon Law from Apostolic Times to 1917, by Kenneth Pennington, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

… it is consequently to be regretted that there is so little authoritative information concerning Sylvester's pontificate. At an early date legend brings him into close relationship wtih the first Christian emperor, but in a way that is contrary to historical fact. These legends were introduced especially into the "Vita beati Sylvestri" (Duchesne, loc. cit., Introd., cix sq.) which appeared in the East and has been preserved in Greek, Syriac, and Latin in the "Constitutum Sylvestri"—an apocryphal account of an alleged Roman council which belongs to the Symmachian forgeries and appeared between 501 and 508, and also in the "Donatio Constantini". The accounts given in all these writings concerning the persecution of Sylvester, the healing and baptism of Constantine, the emperor's gift to the pope, the rights granted to the latter, and the council of 275 bishops at Rome, are entirely legendary.
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, Pope Sylvester I

During the dispute the adherents of Symmachus drew up four apocryphal writings called the "Symmachian Forgeries"; these were: "Gesta synodi Sinuessanae de Marcellino"; "Constitutum Silvestri", "Gesta Liberii"; "Gesta de purgatione Xysti et Polychronii accusatione". … The object of these forgeries was to produce alleged instances from earlier times to support the whole procedure of the adherents of Symmachus, and, in particular, the position that the Roman bishop could not be judged by any court composed of other bishops.
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, Pope Saint Symmachus

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