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Pope Miltiades

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Pope Saint Miltiades (also called Melchiades, Melquíades, Milciades, or Miltiad) was pope from July 2, 310 or 311 to January 10 or 11, 314.

He appears to have been an African by birth, but of his personal history nothing is known. He was elected after a period of sede vacante following the simulatenous banishment of Pope Eusebius to Sicily and of his opponent Heraclius to Sardinia.

He became pope after the Roman emperor Galerius had previously passed an edict of toleration ending the persecution of Christians. During his pontificate, in 313, the Edict of Milan was passed by the tetrarchs Constantine and Licinius, declaring that they would be neutral with regard to religious worship and restoring church property. Constantine presented the pope with the Lateran Palace which became the papal residence and seat of Christian governance.

In 313, Miltiades presided over the Lateran Synod in Rome at which Caecilian was acquitted of the charges brought against him, and Donatus Magnus was condemned as a heretic (see Donatism). He was then summoned to the Council of Arles, the first representative meeting of the Western Roman Empire's Christian bishops, but died before it could be held.

The Liber Pontificalis compiled in the 5th century onwards, attributed the introduction of several later customs to Miltiades.

Miltiades was made a saint following his death, with his feast-day being held on December 10. Although his death seems to have been a natural one, he was nonetheless regarded in the past as a martyr because of his earlier suffering under the anti-Christian emperor Maximian.

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