PONTIFACTS: Ranking the Popes

We last left Pelagius arrested and imprisoned in a monastery, AND excommunicated, having denounced Pope Vigilius. But thanks to a strong bond with the Emperor Justinian, he still ended up as the next Pope. In his episode, we'll discuss his many diplomatic roles, more roman sacking, his dramatic efforts to clear his name from scandal, more diptychs, and how Fry says 'picture' weird.   Support Ponti...

The fifth Ecumenical Council of the church was about Monophysitism! Or Nestorianism! Wait, its both! And the Three Chapters are caught in the middle. Its also political intrigue and boycott bolstering and character assassination, doesn't that sound like a good time?   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/p...

Bry and Fry talk about their experiences at Sound Education, as well as their wonderful adventures in Boston and Salem and the wonderful people they spent time with!

Buckle in for a wild ride.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/pontifactswishlist

 Pope Silverius, son of Pope Hormisdas assumed the papacy in a very unconventional way - and it's not nepotism! In his episode, we discuss King Theodahad's scramble to stave off Emperor Justinian, plots to make the papacy Monophysite friendly, and another seige on Rome. Come for the schemes, stay for the ultimate scandal!   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypa...

In this episode, we talk about the controversial upheaval of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, the arrival of the Imperial John Wick, new precedents set in Constantinople, and some really negative feelings about mustache preservation.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https://tin...

ope John II AKA "Poor Devil" was the first pope to take a pontifical name! In this episode, we discuss the first crackdown on simony in the church, the budding relationship of the church and Emperor Justinian, and long long men (listen to the end!)   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazo...

Pope Boniface is the pope who was never supposed to be, and is only accepted on a technicality. In his episode, we discuss the outcomes of popes choosing their own successors, an extremely complicated but short lived antipapacy, and the sexiest of oranges.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactsp...

Pope Felix IV is our third, not fourth Pope Felix, but thanks to the previous antipope, the naming conventions remain all out of whack. In his episode, we'll discuss the new faces of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, ecclesiastical immunity, the reappearance of Semi-Pelagianism, and how much gold Fry owns.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspo...

Pontifacts is appearing at Sound Education Conference this year, giving a talk on the wildest papal elections in history! Sound Education is October 9-12 in Boston, Massachusetts. Find out more here: https://www.soundeducation.fm/ Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sound-education-2019-an-educational-audio-conference-tickets-58605170643

Pope John I, aka "Blue Hook", was an old man by the time he was elected to the papacy - which made King Theoderic's demands on him all the more unreasonable. In his episode, we will discuss the shifting dynamic between the Ostrogothic West and the newly re-orthodox Byzantine East, new expressions of papal primacy in Constantinople, and what happens when you accomplish exactly what a paranoid jealo...

 Pope Hormisdas is one of the greatest papal peacemakers in history, and for this, he will have a significant 1500 year legacy. In this episode, we discuss the cagey negotiations with Emperor Anastasius, the final end of the Acacian Schism, and the end of persecution in the Vandal Kingdom.   Make sure you listen to the end for Deacon Dad reading the Formula of Hormisdas!   Support Pontifacts: Patr...

Symmachus comes into the papacy after an extreme divide between the Pro-Byzantine and Pro-Ostrogothic factions. And divides usually lead to antipopes! In this episode, we'll discuss the Laurentian Schism, the lasting implications of the Palmary Synod, and what happens during 4 years of violence.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodc...

Poor maligned Pope Anastasius II is forever immortalized in one of the most famous literary works of all time - Dante's Inferno! Join us as we introduce Dante and the Divine Comedy, and explore the sixth ring of hell, reserved for blasphemers and heretics. This is where Anastasius lives now.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast...

Anastasius II approached the Acacian Schism with conciliation and a desire to make peace ... and he's going to hell for it.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/pontifactswishlist

Gelasius is our third and final African pope! And more than the other African popes, he raises questions about race.... sort of. In his episode, we discuss the ongoing and far from ended Acacian Schism, the Duo Sunt and its thousand year legacy -- and the Lupercalia!   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/...

Our first "medieval" pope entered the papacy between a steady western kingdom, a chaotic eastern empire, and a sorely persecuted Africa. In his episode, we discuss the official outbreak of the Acacian Schism, the ongoing battle of the Henotikon, and so many diptychs.    Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com...

Pope Simpl*cius, besides providing excellent inspiration for 00's pop bands, was pope through a series of major turning points for papal history. He would be forced to contend with the FALL OF ROME and the rise of Odoacer, the chaos in the Empire with Zeno and Basiliscus, as well as both the Enkyklikon and the Henotikon! Much nail biting ensues.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon...

The name says it all... or does it? Re-released to include the Hilarius sketch and song from Rob and Jaime at Totalus Rankium! (From episode 81. Anthemius: https://totalusrankium.podbean.com/e/81-anthemius/ )   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/pontifac...

The Council of Chalcedon in 451, is one of the church's most formative, important, and controversial ecumenical councils - and considering the massive bulk of Pope Leo I's episode, we've set aside an entire episode for Chalcedon. In this episode, we'll discuss the major factions of the Christological debate, the balance between the Tome of Leo and the Anathemas of Cyril, the Robber Synod, and the...

Pope Leo I is one of only two popes to officially earn "the Great" epithet, and is by far the most significant church leader in the early church. He had a prolific international career long before his papacy, and he would go on to be an absolute giant of history. In his episode, we discuss the various ways he consolidated papal primacy as a real thing and drove off the major heresies of the day, t...

The first papal name to get a second, also is the first to get a third! In his episode, we discuss potential Pelagian patronage, the ongoing conflict between Cyril of Alexandria and John of Antioch, and.... SOMETHING.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/pontifactspod Amazon Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com...

Pope Celestine invites you to join him on his world tour! This papacy left its fingerprints on Gaul, Italy, Africa, Illyria, Britain and...Ireland! In his episode, we discuss the inception of Nestorianism, the Council of Ephesus, and Augustinian love letters that say hi.   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.patreon.com/pontifactspod Paypal: paypal.me/pontifactspodcast Ko-fi: https://ko-fi....

Ol'Bonny came into the papacy right in the middle of the deep clerical divides caused by Pope Zosimus - which is how you get antipopes. Despite being a perfect (albeit unwilling) candidate, he will have fight to defend his election, and then scramble to fix the problems initiated by his predecessor. Side note: Bry was actively losing her voice throughout the entire recording of this episode, apolo...

Pope Zosimus started his papacy with a Vegas style shotgun friendship, and it set the tone for everything to follow. In his episode, we discuss pel-la-lagirism and bad citations, what happens when decisions are hasty and uninformed, and what happens when you don't check your sources. It sounds like a class, but Zosimus really could have benefitted...   Support Pontifacts: Patreon:   https://www.pa...