View source for Sixtus III of Rome

Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Sixtus III of Rome''', also '''Xystus''', was the [[Bishop]] of Rome from 432 to 440. During his episcopate Rome experienced a building boom that included the dedication of the [[church]]es of Santa Sabina and Santa Maria Maggiore. His [[feast day]] is [[March 28]].

==Life==
Sixtus was born in Rome. The date of his birth is unknown as is his early life. Sixtus was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Rome on [[July 31]], 432, succeeding Bishop [[Celestine of Rome|Celestine I]]. While before his election as Bishop of Rome, Sixtus had been a patron of Pelagius, who later was condemned as a [[heretic]]<ref name=Brown>Brown, Peter. "Pelagius and his Supporters." ''Journal of Theological Studies''. 1968.XIX.1(93–114).</ref>, Bp. Sixtus zealously fought to extinguish the Pelagian and [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] [[heresy|heresies]]. He expressed great joy at the reconciliation in 433 between St. [[Cyril of Alexandria]], and [[John I of Antioch]] following their estrangement during the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] in [[Ephesus]].  

Bp. Sixtus' dedication of the [[Basilica]] of Santa Maria Maggiore to Mary the Mother of God reflected his acceptance of the council at [[Ephesus]] in 431, at which the debate over Christ's human and divine natures turned on whether Mary could legitimately be called the "Mother of God" or only "Mother of Christ". The council gave her the title ''[[Theotokos]]'' (literally "God-bearer", or "Mother of God")

Bp. Sixtus also continued to assert the rights of the Bishop of Rome over eastern Illyria and the position of [[archbishop]] of [[Thessalonica]] that the Bishop of Rome held before emperor Constantine divided the Empire and placed eastern Illyria within the Eastern Empire that the Church of Constantinople claimed.

Bp. Sixtus reposed on [[August 18]], 440 and was succeeded by [[Leo the Great]].

==Reference==
<references/>

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Celestine of Rome|Celestine I]]|
title=[[List of Popes of Rome|Bishop of Rome]]|
years=432-440|
after=[[Leo the Great]]}}
{{end box}} 

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia:Pope_Sixtus_III]]
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/livesofsaints03bariiala/livesofsaints03bariiala_djvu.txt  The Lives of the Saints - UCLA Library Vol 3]
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/saintss.htm  Sixtus III (Xystus)]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Popes of Rome]]
[[Category:5th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category:Italian Saints]]
[[Category:5th-century saints]]