Célestin Ier

Biography

He is probably of origin campanienne but we are unaware of the date of his birth. He points out himself as deacon with Rome and saw a certain time with Milan near Ambroise of Milan. He is elected the September 10th 422 to succeed Boniface {{Ier}}.

Energetic pope it specifies the rules to be followed for the episcopal elections in order to avoid the quarrels which had envenimé the beginnings of the reign of its predecessor. Follower of a great firmness it wishes to reinforce the discipline of the various episcopates, his first letters with the bishop S of Gaulle and of Italy are very explicit on this subject. In connection with the election of the bishop Honorat with Arles, the pope Célestin 1st thus writes in 428 with all the bishops of the south-east of Gaulle to ask them that in the future:

a priest is not elected, coming from another Church, that if no clerk of the Church to be provided would be considered to be worthy, which we believe, to be able to occur. It is necessary to reject the fact of preferring those of the foreign Churches, not to call upon foreigners for fear one again does not appear to have established a kind college from where the bishops would be drawn.

Célestin also intervenes in the many dogmatic quarrels of this time and condemns the Nestorianisme which distinguishes in the Christ two distinct people. The pope then plays a part of referee between the patriarch of Constantinople, at the origin of these doctrines, and the patriarch of Alexandria, Cyrille, which has just alerted it. In 430, with the Synod of Rome, Célestin excommunicates Nestorius then sends three legates to the Concile of Éphèse (431) to represent Rome. If the nestorianism is once again condemned the representatives of the pope also seek to restore the harmony between Constantinople and Alexandria.

It also acts with strength against the Pélagianisme supporting in this combat holy Augustin in North Africa and sending Germain of Auxerre and Loup of Troyes in Great Britain and Saint Patrick in Ireland (432).

Under its pontificate the church Holy-Sabine on the Aventin is built. Célestin 1st dies the July 27th 432. Sixte {{III}} succeeds the July 31st to him.

He is regarded as Saint by the Catholic church. He is celebrated the April 6th.

Sources and bibliography

There are of him Lettres in the Collection of the Letters of the popes of Coustant.

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