(ABOUT 682.)
[His life by Anastasius, the librarian. Commemorated by the Greeks
on Feb. 21st.]
Agatho, a Sicilian by birth, was remarkable for his charity and
gentleness. Having been several years treasurer of the Church of Rome,
he succeeded Domnus in the Pontificate, in 679. He was represented by
three legates in the sixth general council, the third of Constantinople,
in 680, against the Monothelite heresy, which he confuted in a learned
letter to the Emperor Constantine Pogonatus, appealing to the constant
tradition of the Apostolic Church of Rome, "acknowledged," says he, "by
the whole Catholic Church to be the mother and mistress of all the
churches, and to derive her superior authority from S. Peter, the Prince
of the Apostles, to whom Christ committed his whole flock, with a
promise that his faith should never fail."
On the 25th day of February, the Council decided against Macarius,
author of the Monothelite heresy, and solemnly was the episcopal stole
(orarium) removed from his shoulders, and from those of Basil, Bishop of
Crete, who followed his opinion, and their thrones were cast out of the
council hall, in token that they were removed from their office, and
ejected from the communion of the Church. This Pope restored S. Wilfrid
to the see of York, from which he had been ejected by the Bishops and
King of Northumbria, with the consent of S. Theodore, Archbishop of
Canterbury.