BIOGRAPHY OF POPE SAINT SYLVESTER I

Pope Saint Sylvester I

Also known as

• Silvester

Memorial

• 31 December (Latin calendar)
• 2 January (Eastern calendar)

Profile

Son of Rufinus. Pope in the reign of Emperor Constantine I. Built the Basilica of Saint John Lateran and other churches. Sent legates to the First Council of Nicaea, and was involved in the controversy over Arianism. The spurious Donation of Constantine was supposedly given to Saint Sylvester.

Born

• Roman

Papal Ascension

• 314

Died

• 31 December 335 at Rome, Italy
• relics transferred to the Church of Saint Sylvester in Capite in Rome in 761

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• animals
• for good harvests
• stone masons
• Order of Saint Sylvester
• Castroreale, Italy
• Feroleto Antico, Italy
• Poggio Catino, Italy