Cambridge Ancient Hi.. - Index of

finance 741
and received the pallium, the scarf signifying metropolitan power, from
pope Symmachus (496–514), and superiority not only over the Gallic
churches but over Spain as well. The combination of asceticism and nepotism
apparent in his own rise appears also in his famous convent. The first
abbesses were his sister and his niece. He rebuilt it after the siege of 508
and transferred church property to endow his foundation, in defiance of
existing canons, though with authorization from Rome. He lived there, and
endowed it in his will. 37
iii. finance
The wealth of the church affected the economy of the whole empire. 38
The clergy in the cities enjoyed regular pay. In country areas the presbyters
and deacons might have to work at farming or other gainful craft. A
church’s income derived from two chief sources: the offerings of the
faithful, and endowments in the form of rents. There were also government
grants, but these seem to have been mainly charitable funds administered
by the church. 39 The biblical tenth or tithe was not imposed, but
was seen as a model of voluntary generosity. 40 Endowments began seriously
with Constantine I, but were soon huge, especially in Rome and
Constantinople. A constant stream of gifts, including the estates of
deceased clergy, swelled the property. In the sixth century, popes, Gallic
councils and the emperor Justinian all forbade the setting up of new
churches without sufficient endowment to pay the clergy. 41 The Register
of Gregory I shows that the pope gave much attention to the management
of his estates, ‘the Patrimony of Peter’, through agents in Sicily, Italy and
Gaul. His administrative efficiency enabled him to deal effectively with the
immense social and humanitarian problems which afflicted Rome as a
result of war and plague. Bishops were supposed not to alienate lands or
goods, but often did. Various forms of simony, such as a candidate for the
episcopate promising to give church lands to those who support him, were
rife and often banned, notably at Rome under Odoacer and Theoderic.
The emperor Leo in 470 decreed against it at Constantinople, and this rule
was variously repeated by Anastasius and Justinian. 42 Protection of the
church’s property was an important reason for the attempts to impose celibacy
on the clergy. Reluctantly approving the appointment of a married
bishop in Syracuse, pope Pelagius I (556–61) insisted on a complete listing
37 Caesarii Arelatensis Opera Omnia (CCSL 103–4: 2.292–343 for the ancient Vita Caesarii). For literature
see Collins (1981); Klingshirn (1990). See also Beck (1950).
38 The chapters by Jones in LRE and The Roman Economy are indispensable and rarely superseded,
though occasionally his interpretation is challenged, as by Greenslade (1965) 222.
39 Jones, LRE 898–9.
40 A special penance at the second council of Tours; recommended as a neglected practice at the
second council of Matisco in 585. 41 Jones, LRE 900. 42 Jones, LRE 896–8.
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