Dacius of Milan
Encyclopedia
Dacius or Datius was Archbishop of Milan from c. 530 to 552. He is honoured as a saint
in the Catholic Church.
An active ecclesiastical politician, he was an ally of Pope Vigilius
in the latter's struggles against Justinian, involved in the Three-Chapter Controversy
. He is remembered as a defender of Catholic
orthodoxy
against the heresies of his day.
for Italy, Cassiodorus
, some free distribution of grain for the paupers.
Together with the famine began the Gothic War (535–554) between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantine Empire
. Dacius sided with the Byzantines and at the end of 537 (or early in 538) he went to Rome
along with some representatives of the people of Milan to ask the Byzantine general
Belisarius
to sent a force of 1,000 men, under Mundilas, to free the city from the Ostrogoths. Initially the operation was successfully, but soon the Goths, led by general Uraias, allied with the Burgundians
and sieged the town considering the support of Milan to the Byzantines as a betrayal. The town surrendered in March 539, and in ravenge Uraias razed Milan to the ground, exterminated 30,000 male citizens and sold the women as slaves. Dacius survived this catastrophe because he was in Rome: he never returned again to Milan.
The Three-Chapter Controversy
In 544-545 Dacius was in Constantinople
where he was present to the issue by the Emperor Justinian I
of an edict in which the three chapters (i.e. some writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia
, Theodoret
of Cyrus and Ibas of Edessa) were anathematized. Justinian was attempting to reconcile the Non-Chalcedonian
Christians, but most bishops saw in this anathema a possible denial of the Chalcedonian Creed
. While the resistance of the Eastern bishops collapsed in a short time, those from the Latin-speaking bishops, such as Dacius, stood firm.
Justinian required Pope Vigilius
, who opposed the edict, to came to Constantinople to sign the anathema. Vigilius had to left Rome in November 545, but he tried to interrupt the travel remaining for a long time in Sicily
, where he was reached by Dacius. However on January 25, 547 the Pope arrived in Constantinople, where he was forced to reside by the Emperor till he would not have approved the edict.
In 550 Dacius reached Virgilius in Constantinople, and he urged the Pope not to come to an agreement with the Emperor. In August 551 he and the pope had to take sanctuary in the Basilica of St. Peter in Constantinople were the Pope was beaten. Again on December 23 both Dacius and the Pope escaped and took refuge in the Church of St. Euphemia in Chalcedon
, from which Pope Virgilius issued an Encyclical letter describing the treatment he had received. Dacius died, probably at Chalcedon, on February 5, 552.
from Chalcedon to Milan
and buried in the Church of San Vittore al Corpo (Saint Victor Maurus
) where it is still venerated. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Dacius with the Milan's family of the Agliati.
In Chapter 4 (Book 3) of his Dialogues, Gregory the Great describes Dacius as an exorcist
:
To Dacius was wrongly attributed a legendary history of the first bishops of Milan up to Maternus, known as Datiana Historia Ecclesiae Mediolanensis. This text is today attributed to Landulf of Milan
, a historician of the 11th-century.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Catholic Church.
An active ecclesiastical politician, he was an ally of Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius reigned as pope from 537 to 555, is considered the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy.-Early life:He belonged to a aristocratic Roman family; his father Johannes is identified as a consul in the Liber pontificalis, having received that title from the emperor...
in the latter's struggles against Justinian, involved in the Three-Chapter Controversy
Three-Chapter Controversy
The Three-Chapter Controversy, a phase in the Chalcedonian controversy, was an attempt to reconcile the Non-Chalcedonian Christians of Syria and Egypt with Chalcedonian Eastern Orthodoxy, following the failure of the Henotikon...
. He is remembered as a defender of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
against the heresies of his day.
The Gothic War
Before to became a bishop, Dacius was a monk. He was elected bishop of Milan on about 530, and soon he had to face the worse period of the history of Milan, which started with the terrible famine of 535-6. During such famine Dacius obtained by the praetorian prefectPraetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
for Italy, Cassiodorus
Cassiodorus
Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator , commonly known as Cassiodorus, was a Roman statesman and writer, serving in the administration of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Senator was part of his surname, not his rank.- Life :Cassiodorus was born at Scylletium, near Catanzaro in...
, some free distribution of grain for the paupers.
Together with the famine began the Gothic War (535–554) between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Dacius sided with the Byzantines and at the end of 537 (or early in 538) he went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
along with some representatives of the people of Milan to ask the Byzantine general
Belisarius
Belisarius
Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
to sent a force of 1,000 men, under Mundilas, to free the city from the Ostrogoths. Initially the operation was successfully, but soon the Goths, led by general Uraias, allied with the Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
and sieged the town considering the support of Milan to the Byzantines as a betrayal. The town surrendered in March 539, and in ravenge Uraias razed Milan to the ground, exterminated 30,000 male citizens and sold the women as slaves. Dacius survived this catastrophe because he was in Rome: he never returned again to Milan.
The Three-Chapter ControversyThree-Chapter ControversyThe Three-Chapter Controversy, a phase in the Chalcedonian controversy, was an attempt to reconcile the Non-Chalcedonian Christians of Syria and Egypt with Chalcedonian Eastern Orthodoxy, following the failure of the Henotikon...
In 544-545 Dacius was in ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
where he was present to the issue by the Emperor Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
of an edict in which the three chapters (i.e. some writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia
Theodore of Mopsuestia
Theodore the Interpreter was bishop of Mopsuestia from 392 to 428 AD. He is also known as Theodore of Antioch, from the place of his birth and presbyterate...
, Theodoret
Theodoret
Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus was an influential author, theologian, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus, Syria . He played a pivotal role in many early Byzantine church controversies that led to various ecumenical acts and schisms...
of Cyrus and Ibas of Edessa) were anathematized. Justinian was attempting to reconcile the Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonian
Non-Chalcedonianism is the view of those churches that accepted the First Council of Ephesus of 431, but, for varying reasons, did not accept allegiance to the Council of Chalcedon following it in 451. The most substantial Non-Chalcedonian tradition is known as Oriental Orthodoxy...
Christians, but most bishops saw in this anathema a possible denial of the Chalcedonian Creed
Chalcedonian Creed
The Confession of Chalcedon , also known as the Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union or the Two-Nature Doctrine, was adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 in Asia Minor. That Council of Chalcedon is one of the first seven Ecumenical Councils accepted by Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and many...
. While the resistance of the Eastern bishops collapsed in a short time, those from the Latin-speaking bishops, such as Dacius, stood firm.
Justinian required Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius reigned as pope from 537 to 555, is considered the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy.-Early life:He belonged to a aristocratic Roman family; his father Johannes is identified as a consul in the Liber pontificalis, having received that title from the emperor...
, who opposed the edict, to came to Constantinople to sign the anathema. Vigilius had to left Rome in November 545, but he tried to interrupt the travel remaining for a long time in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, where he was reached by Dacius. However on January 25, 547 the Pope arrived in Constantinople, where he was forced to reside by the Emperor till he would not have approved the edict.
In 550 Dacius reached Virgilius in Constantinople, and he urged the Pope not to come to an agreement with the Emperor. In August 551 he and the pope had to take sanctuary in the Basilica of St. Peter in Constantinople were the Pope was beaten. Again on December 23 both Dacius and the Pope escaped and took refuge in the Church of St. Euphemia in Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
, from which Pope Virgilius issued an Encyclical letter describing the treatment he had received. Dacius died, probably at Chalcedon, on February 5, 552.
Legacy
Dacius' body was later translatedTranslation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
from Chalcedon to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and buried in the Church of San Vittore al Corpo (Saint Victor Maurus
Victor Maurus
Victor the Moor was a Christian martyr and is venerated as a saint. Victor, born into a Christian family, was a soldier in the Roman Praetorian Guard...
) where it is still venerated. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Dacius with the Milan's family of the Agliati.
In Chapter 4 (Book 3) of his Dialogues, Gregory the Great describes Dacius as an exorcist
Exorcist
In some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
:
In the time of the same Emperor, Datius, Bishop of Milan, about matters of religion, travelled to Constantinople. And coming to Corinth, he sought for a large house to receive him and his company, and could scarce find any: at length he saw afar off a fair great house, which he commanded to be provided for him: and when the inhabitants of that place told him that it was for many years haunted by the devil, and therefore stood empty: "so much the sooner," quoth the venerable man, "ought we to lodge in it, if the wicked spirit hath taken possession thereof, and will not suffer men to dwell in it." Whereupon he gave order to have it made ready: which being done, he went without all fear to combat with the old enemy. In the dead of the night, when the man of God was asleep, the devil began, with a huge noise and great outcry, to imitate the roaring of lions, the bleating of sheep, the braying of asses, the hissing of serpents, the grunting of hogs, and the screeching of rats. Datius, suddenly awaked with the noise of so many beasts, rose up, and in great anger spake aloud to the old serpent, and said: "Thou art served well, thou wretched creature: thou art he that diddest say: I will place my seat in the north, and I will be like to the highest: and now through thy pride, see how thou art become like unto hogs and rats; and thou that wouldest needs unworthily be like unto God, behold how thou dost now, according to thy deserts, imitate brute beasts." At these words the wicked serpent was, as I may well term it, ashamed, that he was so disgraciously and basely put down, for well may I say that he was ashamed, who never after troubled that house with any such terrible and monstrous shapes as before he did: for ever after that time, Christian men did inhabit the same; for so soon as one man that was a true and faithful Christian took possession thereof, the lying and faithless spirit straightways did forsake it. But I will now surcease from speaking of things done in former times, and come to such miracles as have happened in our own days.
To Dacius was wrongly attributed a legendary history of the first bishops of Milan up to Maternus, known as Datiana Historia Ecclesiae Mediolanensis. This text is today attributed to Landulf of Milan
Landulf of Milan
Landulf of Milan was a late eleventh-century historian of Milan. His work Historiae Mediolanensis contains a proportion of pure invention, as well as gross inaccuracies....
, a historician of the 11th-century.