434 Sessa
another political system to exploit, such as when Vigilius promoted his nephew
Rusticus to the deaconate. However, there were no Roman papal dynasties in
Late Antiquity, and there is no evidence that senatorial families were indepen-
dently orchestrating ordinations from behind the scenes. Indeed the notion
of a ‘senatorial takeover’ of the Roman church grossly exaggerates the degree
to which senators, let alone the Senate as a political body, came to influence
church affairs. Even during moments of grave ecclesiastical conflict, such as
one of Rome’s many contested episcopal elections, the loyalties of Roman sen-
ators were divided, and they were never unified behind rapprochement with
the East during the Acacian schism (see below).48 Pietri’s emphasis on increas-
ing cultural contact between aristocratic and clerical circles, therefore, may
be closer to the mark.49 For example, Boethius sent several works on theology
to the Roman deacon John, who was the author of a letter to the vir illustris
Senarius that explained the baptismal ritual.
However, this osmose culturelle seems to have been largely unidirectional,
since relatively few Ostrogothic-era Roman bishops are remembered for intel-
lectual pursuits. Gelasius, who was not from an Italian aristocratic family, is
the only bishop whom the Liber Pontificalis claims authored treatises against
heretics and a book of hymns.50 He also had a reputation among monks in
Rome for an ascetic lifestyle. Agapitus (535–36), son of a titular priest and from
a noble background, is said to been especially learned in church law and to
have founded a library near the titulus Pammachi, where he had served before
becoming bishop.51 He was also involved with Cassiodorus in an endeavour to
found a Christian school in Rome.52 Finally, Pelagius I while still a deacon serv-
ing under Vigilius helped translate several books of the Greek monastic corpus
known as the Apopthegmata Patrum into Latin. Yet beyond a few translation
projects and the construction/decoration of churches, we know little about
the cultural pursuits of Rome’s bishops during the Ostrogothic period.
Episcopal Elections in Rome
Choosing a new bishop was among the most potentially divisive tasks in
any see, but Rome’s elections were especially fractious, particularly dur-
ing the Ostrogothic era. During this time there were three double elections
48 Sardella, Società, chiesa, e stata, pp. 52–8.
49 Pietri, “Aristocratie et société cléricale”.
50 Liber Pontificalis, ed. Duchesne, p. 255.
51 Liberatus, Breviarum 21. Guiliano and Pavolini, “La biblioteca di Agapito”.
52 Cassiodorus, Inst. I, praef. 1.