Gratsianskiy Mikhail

Pope Siricius (384–399) and roman ecclesiology during the period after the end of Arian controversy

Abstract

This article studies the literary heritage of Pope Siricius (384–399) with the aim of studying his views on the role and place of the Roman Church as to other churches. The article examines extant letters of the pope and analyses all the places in them which pertain to Siricius’ ecclesiological views. These are primarily expressed in his idea about the role of Apostle Peter as the founder of the “apostolic see” of Rome, the place of the Roman see as a guarantor of the Nicene canons and their translator for the churches of the Western Roman Empire, as well as the pope’s vision of the limits of power of the Roman bishop. Based on the analysis of Siricius’ letters, the article comes to the conclusion that the idea of the imperious position of the Roman see in regard to the Churches outside the Roman ecclesiastical area was alien for this pope. In relations with churches outside the suburbicarian provinces, the pope strictly adhered to the conciliar principle, addressing them by conciliar letters, in which auctoritas sedis apostolicae was expressed. In relation to the bishops of his area, he acted as primate and communicated with them on the basis of the principles stipulated by the 34th canon of the Holy Apostles. Siricius regarded the Roman see as having special authority, but this authority was expressed in the broadcast to other Churches of the canons adopted both in Rome and in the East. Siricius did not regard Rome as “the center of communion”. The Roman see, although it was considered to be founded by the apostle Peter, did not have special prerogatives of power. Siricius did not call St Peter fi rst bishop of Rome, he rather considered himself successor of his own predecessor Damasus (366–384) and only in the figurative sense “heir to the administration” (administrationis haeres) of St Peter. The connection of the Roman see with St Peter resulted in moral obligations of the Roman pontiff, rather than his prerogatives of power.

Keywords

Pope Siricius, Pope Damasus, Roman ecclesiology, Roman primacy, Roman Petrinology, Nicaean Canons, decretals, letter to Himerius of Tarragona

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Information about the author

Gratsianskiy Mikhail

Academic Degree: Candidate of Sciences* in History;
Academic Degree: PhD in Philosophy;
Place of work: St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities; 4a Likhov per., Moscow, 127051, Russian Federation;
Post: Leading Researcher;
ORCID: 0000-0002-6981-3216;
Email: gratsianskiy@mail.ru.

*According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011, the degree of Candidate of Sciences (Cand.Sc.) belongs to ISCED level 8 — "doctoral or equivalent", together with PhD, DPhil, D.Lit, D.Sc, LL.D, Doctorate or similar.