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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. 166-167.

The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina

Volume I.


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[166]

JOHN  V.

A.D. 685-686.

JOHN the Fifth, a Syrian, born at Antioch, his father’s name Cyriacus, was created Pope about the time when the Emperor Constantine died, in the seventeenth year of his reign and left the empire to his son Justinian the Second. The Saracens now invaded Libya and Africa, and possessed themselves easily of all the places that lay towards the sea. But Justinian, having in some measure settled the affairs of his Empire and raised a competent army, advancing against these Saracens, struck such a terror into Abimelech, their chief, that without engaging, he sued for a peace, and was glad to restore all his conquests in Africa. And a peace, it is said by some, was granted them for ten years, but upon condition that they should pay a thousand pieces of gold, and a slave of their own nation on horseback every day to the Emperor. At this time John, a person of great piety and goodness, being by general suffrage chosen Pope in the Constantinian Church, was consecrated in the same manner with Leo the Second by the three bishops of Ostia, Porto, and Veletri, a precedent which so obtained, that it was afterwards constantly practised. His pontificate was rendered remarkable by two extraordinary persons, Felix, the uncle of Flavianus, and John, Bishop of Bergamo, men of such eminent learning and sanctity, that they received from princes themselves marks of the highest respect and veneration. Pope John, who both before 167 and during his pontificate was a sickly man, having written a book concerning the dignity of the pall, died in the first year after his coming to the chair, and was buried in St Peter’s, August the 2nd. By his death the see was vacant two months, nineteen days.

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Previous Pope:  83. Benedict II. 84. John V. Next Pope: 85. Conon I.

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