E01367: The short Life of *Silverius (bishop of Rome, ob. 537, S00812) in the Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome, probably during the 6th c., mentions the destruction of the tombs of martyrs in the suburbs of Rome during the Gothic siege of 536. It also presents Silverius' death in exile at the island of Pontiae (today's Ponza) as that of a 'confessor', dates his burial there to 20 June 537 and attributes healing power to his tomb.

Liber Pontificalis 60

According to the Liber Pontificalis, Silverius became bishop of Rome as the nominee of the Ostrogothic king Theodahad who forced the clergy to accept his choice against their will. The account of his pontificate also deals with the death of Theodahad, the reconquest of Italy by Belisarius, and the siege of Rome by the Goths, during which 'even churches and bodies of the holy martyrs were destroyed by the Goths' (et ecclesias et corpora martyrum sanctorum exterminatae sunt a Gothis). It ends with the deposition of Silverius who was exiled with the consent of Belisarius to the island of Pontiae, where 'he grew weak, died, and became a confessor. He was buried in the same place on 20 June; and the sick come there in great numbers and are cured' (Qui deficiens mortuus est et confessor factus est. Qui et sepultus in eodem loco XII kal. Iul., ibique occurrunt multitudo male habentes et salvantur).


Text: Duchesne 1886, 290-293. Translation: Davis 2010, 52-55. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.