During Sylvester's pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the basilica and baptistery of the Lateran near the former imperial palace where the pope lived, the basilica of the Sessorian palace (Santa Croce), the Church of St. Peter in the Vatican, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs. No doubt the pope helped towards the construction of these churches. Sylvester's memory is especially connected with the titular Church of Equitius, which takes its name from a Roman presbyter who is said to have erected this church on his property. It was situated near the thermæ of Diocletian, and still exists. Parts of the present building may date from the fourth century. No doubt the pope contributed to the development of the liturgy of the Church at Rome. During his reign, moreover, the first martyrology of Roman martyrs was probably drawn up. Sylvester is connected also with the establishment of the Roman school of singing. on the Via Salaria he built a cemeterial church over the Catacomb of Priscilla, the ruins of which have lately been brought to light. In this church he was buried. His feast is given under 31 December in the "Depositio episcoporum", or list of the burial days of the Roman bishops, which was compiled barely a year after his death; the same date is given in the "Calendar" of Philocalus. This day, therefore, is doubtless the day of his burial. For his possible relations with Armenia, see GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR.
Sources
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Liber pontificalis, ed. DUCHESNE, I, 170-201; introduction, cix sq.; JAFFE, Regesta rom. pont., 2nd ed., I, 28-30; Vita beati Sylvestri in LAND, Anecdota syriaca, III, 46 sq. and in SURIUS, Vita sanct., VI, 1173 sq.; LANGEN, Gesch. der römischen Kirche, I, 395 sqq.; DÖLLINGER, Papstfabeln (2nd ed., 1890), 61 sqq.; MARUCCHI, La basilica papale del cimitero di Priscilla (Rome, 1908).
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Source: Kirsch, J.P. (1912). Pope St. Sylvester I (314-335). In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.