Editing Pope Symmachus (section)

===Ariminum Synod II===
In 501, the Senator [[Rufius Postumius Festus]],{{sfn|Jones|Martindale|1980|pp=467–469}}  a supporter of Laurentius, accused Symmachus of various crimes. The initial charge was that Symmachus celebrated Easter on [[computus|the wrong date]].  The king Theodoric summoned him to [[Ariminum]] to respond to the charge. The pope arrived only to discover a number of other charges, including unchastity and the misuse of church property, would also be brought against him.<ref>{{harvnb|Davis|2000|p=98}}: The "Laurentian Fragment" states that, while walking along the seashore, he saw the woman with whom he was accused of committing sin</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Mansi|1a2=Labbe|1a3=Martin|1y=1762|1p=284|Hefele|1895|2p=60|ps=: Deacon Ennodius of Pavia, later the city's Bishop, who drew up an apology for Symmachus, admits the charge of adultery}} Symmachus panicked, fleeing from Ariminum in the middle of the night with only one companion. His flight proved to be a miscalculation, as it was regarded as an admission of guilt. Laurentius was brought back to Rome by his supporters, but a sizeable group of the clergy, including most of the most senior clerics, [[excommunication|withdrew from communion]] with him. A visiting bishop, Peter of [[Altinum]],<ref>Altinum, a town on the shore of the Lagoon of Venice, had been sacked and burned by Attila the Hun in A.D. 452.  The scattered survivors retreated to the islands in the lagoon.</ref> was appointed by Theodoric to celebrate Easter 502 and assume the administration of the See, pending the decision of a synod to be convened following Easter.{{sfn|Richards|1979|p=71}}

Presided over by the other Italian metropolitans, Peter II of Ravenna, [[Lawrence I (bishop of Milan)|Laurentius of Milan]], and Marcellianus of Aquileia, the synod opened in the Basilica of Santa Maria (Maggiore). It proved tumultuous. The session quickly deadlocked over the presence of a visiting bishop, Peter of Altina, who had been sent by Theoderic as Apostolic Visitor, at the request of Senators Festus and Probinus, the opponents of Symmachus.<ref>{{harvnb|Mansi|Labbe|Martin|1762|p=201}}, "Life of Symmachus"</ref> Symmachus argued that the presence of a visiting bishop implied the See of Rome was vacant, and the See could only be vacant if he were guilty—which meant the case had already been decided before the evidence could be heard. Although the majority of the assembled bishops agreed with this, the Apostolic Visitor could not be made to withdraw without Theodoric's permission; this was not forthcoming. In response to this deadlock, rioting by the citizens of Rome increased, causing a number of bishops to flee Rome and the rest to petition Theodoric to move the synod to Ravenna.