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From The Lives of the Popes from the Time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII. Written Originally in Latin by B. Platina, Native of Cremona, and translated into English (from an anonymous translation, first printed in 1685 by Sir Paul Rycaut), Edited by William Benham, Volume I, London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden & Welsh, [1888, undated in text]; pp. 122-123.

The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina

Volume I.


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[122]

FELIX  IV.

A.D. 526-530.

FELIX the Fourth, a Sammite, the son of Castorius, lived in the time of the Emperor Justinian, whose General Belisarius was victorious over the Persians, and passing into Africa, by his singular courage and conduct subdued and almost quite rooted out the Vandals, whose King Gelimer he took prisoner, and brought him home with him in triumph. About this time Amalasuntha, having a long time lived very uneasily with her malcontented Goths, and having buried her wayward and unruly son, Athalaric, associates her kinsman Theodatus in the government. This Theodatus was so great a proficient in Greek and Latin learning, that he wrote an elegant history of his own times, and was thoroughly skilled in the Platonic philosophy. And though he were not naturally of an active martial temper, yet at the desire of Amalasuntha he undertook a war against the Burgundians and Alemanni, and managed it very successfully.

Felix, in the meanwhile being careful of the affairs of the Church, excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople for heresy, and built in the Via Sacra, near the Forum Romanum, the church of St Cosmus and Damianus, as appears from the verses yet remaining wrought in mosaic work. He also re-built the church of St Saturninus in the Via Salaria, which had been consumed by fire. Some write that in this age lived Cassiodorus, who while he was a senator wrote several things in politics, and when he became a monk 123 composed a comment upon the psalms. It is said also that Priscian of Cesarea, the famous grammarian, now wrote his book of grammar. Arator, likewise, a sub-deacon of Rome, translated the gospels into hexameter verse; and Justinian, Bishop of Valence, was had in great esteem for what he preached and wrote concerning the Christian faith. As for Felix himself, having ordained fifty-five presbyters, four deacons, twenty-nine bishops, he died, and was buried in St Peter’s Church, October the 12th. He was in the chair four years, two months, thirteen days; and by his death the see was vacant three days.

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Previous Pope:  55. John I. 56. Felix IV. Next Pope: 58. Boniface II.

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