Donus
Pope Donus served as the bishop of Rome from 676 until his death in 678. His pontificate saw the expansion of the Roman clergy, restoration of churches, and a significant diplomatic achievement in ending the schism with Ravenna. Donus also engaged with the Eastern Roman Emperor Constantine IV regarding theological disputes.
Key Facts
- ›Son of a Roman named Maurice.
- ›Became pope on November 2, 676, already elderly.
- ›Restored and expanded religious sites in Rome.
- ›Achieved reconciliation with the Archbishop of Ravenna.
- ›Engaged in diplomatic correspondence with Emperor Constantine IV.
- ›Died on April 11, 678, and was buried the same day in Old St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Donus I
- Expanded the Roman Clergy With Twelve New Priests and Five Deacons.
- Consecrated Six Bishops For Various Sees.
- Paved the Atrium of Old St. Peter's Basilica With White Marble.
- Restored Churches, Including St. Euphemia and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
- Dispersed Nestorian Monks From A Syrian Monastery In Rome.
- Ended the Schism With Ravenna.
Adeodatus Ii, Vitalianus of Arezzo, Constantine Iv, Patriarch Theodore I of Constantinople, Emperor Constantine Iv, Monothelites, Archbishop Reparatus of Ravenna, Archbishop Maurus, Nestorian Monks, Agatho
About Donus
Pope Donus
Pope Donus, who died on April 11, 678, served as the bishop of Rome from 676 until his death. Few details about his life and pontificate survive beyond the accounts in the Liber Pontificalis. He was the son of a Roman named Maurice and was already elderly when he was elected pope on November 2, 676, succeeding Adeodatus II.
Pontificate and Accomplishments
During his brief papacy, Donus undertook several notable actions. He expanded the clergy of Rome by appointing twelve new priests and five deacons, and he consecrated six bishops for various sees. He commissioned the paving of the atrium of Old St. Peter's Basilica with large blocks of white marble and undertook restorations of other churches in Rome, including the church of St. Euphemia on the Appian Way and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Donus also addressed theological and ecclesiastical divisions. He discovered a colony of Nestorian monks in a Syrian monastery in Rome and transferred their monastery to Roman monks, dispersing the Nestorians in the hope they would adopt Chalcedonian Christianity. A significant diplomatic achievement was the reconciliation with Archbishop Reparatus of Ravenna, which ended a schism that had aimed at making Ravenna autocephalous.
His pontificate also involved interactions with the Eastern Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine IV sought to engage Donus in negotiations with the patriarch of Constantinople and the Monothelites, addressing him with honorific titles. Donus's own actions, such as ordering Pope Vitalianus's name to be restored to the diptychs of bishops in communion with Constantinople, caused him friction with the Monothelites and Patriarch Theodore I.
Death and Succession
Pope Donus died on April 11, 678, and was buried the same day in Old St. Peter's Basilica. He was succeeded by Pope Agatho.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pope Donus's papacy?
Pope Donus served as the bishop of Rome from November 2, 676, until his death on April 11, 678.
What were some of Pope Donus's notable actions?
Donus expanded the Roman clergy, consecrated bishops, paved the atrium of Old St. Peter's Basilica with marble, and restored several churches. He also resolved the schism with Ravenna and dealt with a colony of Nestorian monks in Rome.
What was Pope Donus's relationship with the Byzantine Empire?
Donus's relations with Constantinople tended towards conciliation. Emperor Constantine IV addressed him with high titles and sought his engagement in negotiations concerning the Monothelites, a theological faction.
Who succeeded Pope Donus?
Pope Donus was succeeded by Agatho, who became pope following Donus's death in 678.
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