medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Boniface IV (d. 615) came from Marsican territory in today's Abruzzo. The son of a physician, he had been papal dispensator under pope St. Gregory I, whom he imitated by turning his own house into a monastery. He was elected pope in 608. In 609 he dedicated Rome's church of Santa Maria ad Martyres. In 609-610 Boniface was hospitable to the exiled bishop St. Mellitus of London. The last letter that we have from St. Columban (Columbanus the Younger) is addressed to Boniface. Written on behalf of the Lombard king Agilulf and his wife Theodolinda, it urges the pope to repair the divided state of the church in Italy. Boniface's response is not preserved.
Boniface VIII promoted this papal namesake's cult, elevating the saint's remains to a newly built altar in Old St. Peter's (over which the later pope then placed his own tomb).
Some views of the basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres in Rome:
Exterior:
http://tinyurl.com/2yvf83
http://tinyurl.com/335cfax
http://tinyurl.com/2ctht3
Interior:
http://tinyurl.com/hlg8nnh
http://tinyurl.com/z6z6qkv
http://tinyurl.com/zr54r48
http://tinyurl.com/j8zd2wy
Best,
John Dillon
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