E01629: The short Life of *Theodorus (bishop of Rome, ob. 649, S00856) in the Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome soon after his death, records his transfer of the bodies of *Primus and Felicianus (martyrs of Rome, S00855) from the via Nomentana outside Rome to the intramural church of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), and his gifts there; the building of a church of *Valentinus (priest and martyr of Rome, S00433) on the via Flaminia to the north of Rome; and oratories dedicated to *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00400) at the Lateran, and *Euplus (martyr of Catania, S00207) outside the gate of St *Paul (the Apostle, S00008). It also refers to the church of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) 'at the Crib' [= S. Maria Maggiore], and to Theodorus' burial at St. *Peter's (the Apostle, S00036) on 14 May.

Liber Pontificalis 75


Theodorus, natione Grecus, ex patre Theodoro episcopo de civitate Hierusolima, sedit ann. VI mens. V dies XVIII.
Hic fuit amator pauperum, largus, benignus super omnes et multum misericors.

'Theodore, born Greek, son of Theodore a bishop from Jerusalem, held the see 6 years 5 months 18 days. He was a lover of the poor, generous, the kindliest of all men, and very compassionate.'

There follows an account of the unsuccessful plot of the cartularius Mauricius, who sinned 'against saint Peter'.

Et ingressus Romam, fugit Mauricius ad beatam Mariam ad Praesepe. Quem tollentes eum de ecclesia miserunt boiam in collo eius; similiter et omnibus, qui in consilio cum ipso fuerunt, inboiatis misit eos Ravenna per manus Marini scriboni et Thomati cartularii.

'Coming into Rome Mauricius fled into St Mary’s at the Crib (ad Praesepe). They took him from the church, put a halter round his neck, and did the same to all who were in the plot with him.'

....

Eodem tempore levata sunt corpora sanctorum martyrum Primi et Feliciani, qui erant in arenario sepulta via Numentana, et adducta sunt in urbe Roma; qui et recondita sunt in basilica beati Stephani protomartyris, ubi et dona obtulit: gabatas aureas III, tabula ex argento ante confessionem, arcos argenteos II. Fecit et ecclesiam beato Valentino via Flamminea iuxta pontem Molbium a solo, quam et ipse dedicavit et dona multa optulit. Fecit et oratorium beato Sebastiano intro episcopio Lateranense, ubi et dona largitus est; fecit et oratorium beato Euplo martyris foris porta beati Pauli apostoli, quem etiam ornavit.

'At that time the bodies of the martyrs saints Primus and Felicianus, which were buried in the arenarium on the via Nomentana, were lifted and brought into Rome; they were deposited in the basilica of the blessed Stephen the first martyr, and there he [Theodore] presented gifts: 3 gold bowls, a silver panel in front of the confessio, 2 silver arches. He also built from the ground up the church to the blessed Valentinus on the via Flaminia near the Milvian Bridge; he dedicated it and presented many gifts. He also built an oratory to the blessed Sebastianus inside the Lateran Episcopium, and there too he bestowed gifts. He built an oratory to the blessed Euplus the martyr outside St Paul’s Gate, and this he also decorated.'

.....

Qui etiam sepultus est ad beatum Petrum apostolum sub die prid. id. mai.

'He was buried at the blessed Peter the apostle on 14 May.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 331-333. Translation: Davis 2010, 65-66, lightly modified.