POPES
by Deb McCoy | Jan 20, 2021 | Popes
Pope Leo VI ruled briefly during a time referred to as the saeculum obsurum. This time began in 904AD, with the coronation of Pope Sergius and continued until 964, with the death of Pope John XII. This was a time when the work of the popes was influenced by the...
by Deb McCoy | Jan 12, 2021 | Popes
Stories abound regarding John’s origins. Some say he was the son of Pope Sergius IV and his mistress, Marozia, daughter of Theophylact, the virtual ruler of Rome for many years. Others say he was the son of John, born in Tossignano, in Bologna. He seems to have been a...
by Deb McCoy | Dec 20, 2020 | Popes
As was all too common at the time, Pope Lando had another very short-lived papacy. His reign was from about September 913 to about March 914. The Liber claims he sat on the throne of Peter 4 months, 22 days. Gregory of Catino claims 6 months, 26 days and Flodoard of...
by Deb McCoy | Dec 1, 2020 | Popes
Anastasius was born around 865, son of a Roman noble named Lucian. The theory that he was really the son of Pope Sergius and Marozia, the daughter of Theophylact, one of the leading men of Rome, is not likely. Sergius was born about five years before him and Marozia...
by Deb McCoy | Nov 17, 2020 | Popes
Sergius was a young Roman, the son of Benedictus. And he had a taste for adventure. Ordained a subdeacon by Pope Marinus I (882-884) and a deacon by Pope Stephen V (885-891) he was consecrated bishop of Caere in 893 by the much-maligned Pope Formosus. He appeared to...
by Deb McCoy | Nov 10, 2020 | Popes, Saints
Martin, son of Fabricius, was born sometime between 590 and 600, near Todi, Umbria. His biographer, Theodore, wrote of Martin that he was of noble birth, of commanding intelligence and of great charity to the poor. Obviously high in the Church hierarchy, Martin, a...
