Gélase Ier

Holy Gélase 1st , 49e Pope (492 - 496). Its reign lasts hardly 4 years but its contribution to the relationship between Église and State and the concept even of Papauté is decisive. Celebrated on November 21st.

Biography

It is originating in Africa born in Kabylie and has very a strong personality which it put at the service Felix {{Rom|III}} of which he is the principal collaborator and he writes all the letters. The succession of the late pope does not pose any problem besides since Gélase 1st is elected on March 1st 492 - i.e. the very same day of the death of its predecessor. It amplifies the policy of total independence of the Church, started by Felix {{Rom|III}}, in particular with respect to the court of Byzance and the new emperor Anastase {{Ier}} more favorable to the Monophysisme. It forwards to Anastase a letter where it clearly formulates the principle which according to him must inspire the relations between papacy and the empire:

“Two capacities, majestic Emperor, reign on the world: crowned capacity of the bishops and capacity of the kings. The capacity of the bishops all the more carries it on that of the kings who the bishops will have to answer the court of God of all the men, they were kings. Your pious majesty will be able only to thus conclude from it that nobody, in any time, under any human pretext, will be able to never draw up himself against the absolutely single function of this man that the precept of the Christ itself placed at the head of all and that the Holy Church recognizes like its chief. ”

The message is one cannot more clearly. All the Moyen-âge will consider this document as the Charte which founds the Papauté. This distinction is not the only combat of the pope, who fights with eagerness against the Pélagianisme, which raises temporarily the head. It removes the last pagan Fête which still remains, that of the Lupercales and undoubtedly the Christian festival of the Chandeleur substitutes to him.

He dies the November 21st 496. He is regarded as Saint by the Catholic church, which celebrates it the birthday day of its death.

It is one of the three African popes of the Catholicisme.

At least three different saints are named Valentine, all three martyrs. Their festival was fixed on February 14th by decree of the pope Gelase Ier, in the neighborhoods of 498. It is on this date that they are mentioned in the first Martyrologe S.

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