E01316: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Gelasius (bishop of Rome, ob. 496, S00789), recounts his burning of heretical books before the doors of the basilica of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) in Rome; his dedication of a basilica of *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017) in Tibur/Tivoli, and basilicas of *Eleutherius (martyr of Rome, S01661), *Nicander (saint of Rome, S00788), and *Andreas (probably Andrew the Apostle, S00288) on the via Labicana, outside Rome; his building of a basilica of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) on the via Laurentina; and his burial in the basilica of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) on 21 November [AD 496]. A later interpolation records the discovery of the sanctuary of the Archangel *Michael (S00181) on Monte Gargano (southern Italy).

Liber Pontificalis 51

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Gelasius, natione Afer, ex patre Valerio, sedit ann. IIII m. VIII d. VIII. Fuit autem temporibus Teodorici regis et Zenonis Aug.

'Gelasius, born in Africa, son of Valerius, held the see 4 years 8 months 18 days. He was bishop in the time of king
Theoderic and the emperor Zeno.'

.....


Qui etiam sepultus est apud beatum Petrum XI kal. decemb.

'He was buried at St Peter's on 21 November.'



Second edition

Gelasius, natione Afer, ex patre Valerio, sedit ann. IIII m. VIII d. XVIII. Fuit autem temporibus Teodorici regis et Zenonis Aug. . Huius temporibus inventi sunt Manichei in urbe Roma, quos exilio deportari praecepit, quorum codices ante fores basilicae sancte Mariae incendio concremavit.

'Gelasius, born in Africa, son of Valerius, held the see 4 years 8 months 18 days. He was bishop in the time of king
Theoderic and the emperor Zeno. In his time Manichaeans were discovered in Rome; these he ordered to be deported into exile, and their books he burnt with fire before the doors of the basilica of saint Mary.'

......

Hic dedicavit basilicam sanctae Eufimiae martyris in civitate Tiburtina et alias basilicas sanctorum Nicandri, Eleutheri et Andreae in via Lavicana in villa Pertusa. Fecit autem basilicam sanctae Mariae in via Laurentina, in fundum Crispinis .

'He dedicated the basilica of saint Euphemia the martyr in the city of Tibur [Tivoli]; and other basilicas: of saints Nicander, Eleutherius, and Andreas on the via Labicana at the villa Pertusa; and he built another basilica of saint Mary on the via Laurentina on the Crispinis estate <20 miles from the city>.'

......

Qui etiam sepultus est in basilica beati Petri apostoli XI kal. decemb.

'He was buried in the basilica of the blessed Peter on 21 November.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 95 and 255. Translation: Davis 2010, 41-42, lightly modified.

The passages in brackets, <>, are interpolations, recorded in only some manuscripts of the Liber Pontificalis; it is uncertain when they were added to the text.