Editing Pope Simplicius (section)

==Pontificate==
Simplicius defended the decisions of the [[Council of Chalcedon]] against the [[Eutychian heresy]]. When the Eutychians rose up in Antioch and installed Petrus Mongus, Simplicius made repeated complaints for action to [[Basiliscus]] and [[Leo I the Thracian|Leo I]], emperors of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]], for the restoration of the Catholic bishop; he did the same when Petrus Fullo usurped the seat of the [[patriarch of Alexandria]]. He rehabilitated Patriarch Timotheos Solofaciolus.<ref>Thiel, p. 174 §2. Loomis, pp. 97-99; 106 note 2.</ref> In 478, Simplicius held a synod in Rome, which pronounced anathemas against eastern heretical bishops Peter Fullo, John of Apamea, and Paul of Ephesus.<ref>{{cite book|author=Karl Joseph von Hefele|editor=W. R. Clark|title=A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=09NEAAAAYAAJ|volume=IV.|year=1895|publisher=T. & T. Clark|location=Edinburgh|pages=26–29}} In a letter which Thiel (pp. 189-192) dated to October 477, Pope Simplicius wrote to the Patriarch Acacius about what he thought should be done about the heretic bishops.</ref> Simplicius worked to maintain the authority of [[Rome]] in the West.<ref name="ce=simplicious"/> He named Zeno, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville) as Papal Vicar in Spain.<ref>Thiel, pp. 213-214.</ref>

In 482, Bishop Gregory of Modena was consecrated a bishop against his will by Archbishop Joannes I of Ravenna. This brought the archbishop a sharp rebuke from Pope Simplicius.<ref>Thiel, pp. 201-202. Kehr, Paul Fridolin (1906), ''Italia Pontificia'' [https://archive.org/details/italiapontificia05cath Vol. V: Aemilia, sive Provincia Ravennas] (Berlin: Weidmann), pp. (in Latin). p. 301 no. 1. Lanzoni, Francesco (1927). ''[https://archive.org/stream/MN5017ucmf_0#page/n281/mode/2up Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)]'' (Faenza: F. Lega), p. 793, no. 4. {{in lang|it}}</ref>

According to the Carolingian liturgist [[Amalarius of Metz]], Pope Simplicius was the first pope to carry out consecrations at any other time than in December before Christmas. He began to confer [[holy orders]] in February as well.<ref>Thiel, p. 175. Edmond Martḕne pointed out that this was the beginning of the custom of the Quattuor Temporum.</ref>

Simplicius is credited with the construction of a church named [[Santa Bibiana]], in memory of the virgin and martyr [[St Bibiana|St. Bibiana]]. He also dedicated the Church of [[Santo Stefano al Monte Celio|San Stefano Rotondo]] on the Celian Hill, the church of S. Andrea near S. Maria Maggiore, and a church dedicated to Saint Lawrence in the Campo Verano.<ref>Duchesne, p. 249-250. Loomis, p. 106.</ref> He labored to help the people of [[Italy]] against the marauding raids of barbarian invaders. He saw the [[Heruli]]ian mercenaries revolt, depose [[Romulus Augustulus]], the last emperor of the [[Western Roman Empire]], and proclaim [[Odoacer]] king of Italy in 476.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/lots/lots077.htm Butler, Alban.''Lives of the Saints'', Benziger Bros. 1894] {{page number needed|date=October 2018}}</ref> Odoacer made few changes in the administration in Rome, leaving the city firmly in the hands of its bishop, Simplicius.