Pope Martin I

Pope Saint Martin I, born near Todi, Umbria in the place now named after him Pian S. Martino, was pope from 649 to 653, succeeding Theodore I in July 649. The only pope during the Byzantine Papacy whose election was not approved by an iussio from Constantinople, Martin I was abudcted by Constans II and died in the Crimean penninsula. He was the last apocrisiarius elected pope. He had previously acted as papal apocrisiarius or legate at Constantin... more

Pope Saint Martin I, born near Todi, Umbria in the place now named after him Pian S. Martino, was pope from 649 to 653, succeeding Theodore I in July 649. The only pope during the Byzantine Papacy whose election was not approved by an iussio from Constantinople, Martin I was abudcted by Constans II and died in the Crimean penninsula. He was the last apocrisiarius elected pope. He had previously acted as papal apocrisiarius or legate at Constantinople, and was held in high repute for learning and virtue. Almost his first official act was to summon the Lateran Council of 649 to deal with the Monothelites, whom the Church considered heretical. It met in the church of St. John Lateran, was attended by one hundred and five bishops (chiefly from Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, with a few from Africa and other quarters), held five sessions or secretarii from October 5 to October 31, 649, and in twenty canons condemned the Monothelites, its authors, and the writings by which it had been... less