Pope St. Simplicius
Scroll for quotes→
Pope Simplicius (died 2 or 10 March 483) was the bishop of Rome from 468 to his death. Simplicius defended the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon against the Eutychian heresy; a heresy originating with a presbyter from Constantinople named Eutyches, who vehemently opposed the teachings of Nestorius at the First Council of Ephesus. His condemnation of Nestorianism as heresy led him to an equally extreme, although opposite view, that asserted that human nature and divine nature were combined into the single, new, and unique nature of Christ. This view precipitated Eutyches being denounced as a heretic himself at the Council of Chalcedon. In 478, Simplicius held a synod in Rome, which pronounced anathemas against eastern heretical bishops Peter Fullo, John of Apamea, and Paul of Ephesus, each of whom promoted the Eutychian heresy. Pope Simplicius labored to help the people of Italy against the marauding raids of barbarian invaders. Pope Simplicius also saw the Heruliian mercenaries revolt, depose Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, and proclaim Odoacer king of Italy in 476.
Writings:
- Multiple Epistles
return to top ⇑
Quotes and Excerpts:
On Papal Authority & Heresy:
“Those genuine and clear [truths] which flow from the very pure fountains of the Scriptures cannot be disturbed by any arguments of misty subtlety. For this same norm of apostolic doctrine endures in the successors of him upon whom the Lord imposed the care of the whole sheepfold , whom [He promised] He would not fail even to the end of the world , against whom He promised that the gates of hell would never prevail, by whose judgment He testified that what was bound on earth could not be loosed in heaven.” –From the epistle “Cuperem quidem” to Basiliscus Augustus January 10, 476; Denzinger, H., & Rahner, K. (Eds.). (1954). The sources of Catholic dogma. (R. J. Deferrari, Trans.) (p. 64). St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co.)
return to top ⇑