Chapel of Saint Sixtus, aside the basilica of St. Lorenzo, built by Lawrence
Most of the information we have about this bishop are due to the writings of Ennodius, bishop of Pavia (died 521), who was a relative and secretary of his. Lawrence was elected bishop of Milan in about 490 (or 489) by both the Latins and the Heruli, who invaded Italy led by Odoacer.[1]
In the frame of the war between Odoacer and Theodoric, leader of the Ostrogoths, Lawrence supported the latter, hoping that Theodoric could better preserve the Latin population, militarily overpowered by the invasions of the East Germanic tribes.[1] However Lawrence did not directly intervene in the fight. Later he went to Ravenna to plead Theodoric to forgive the Latins who had sided with Odoacer.
In a year between 491 and 493, an East Germanic tribe, probably the Rugii, raided Milan and devastated the town: Lawrence was made prisoner. After this raid, Lawrence led the reconstruction of the town, and he renovated the Basilica of Saint Calimerius, the Basilica Sanctorum (not surely identified), a baptistery (possibly San Giovanni alle Fonti) and the Church of Saint Nazarius and Celsus where he ordered to paint the figures of twelve bishops of Milan. He also built a house, probably as residence for the bishops, and added the chapel of Saint Sixtus to the basilica of St. Lorenzo Maggiore.[2] He further restored the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio where he built the Ciborium[3], the columns of which are still visible to this day.
Lawrence took a stand in favor of the legitimacy of the election of Pope Symmachus against the claims of the Antipope Laurentius, the latter supported by the MiaphysiteByzantine Emperor, near Monophysite positions.[4] Lawrence gave financial support to Symmachus, and in 502 he, along with Peter bishop of Ravenna, presided over a synod in Rome which confirmed Symmachus' right to the papacy. He also participated to the consecration of the Basilica Apostolorum in Novara.[2]
Lawrence died after 22 years of episcopate, so in c. 511 AD, on the 25 July. His remains were interred on the 27 July in the chapel of Saint Hyppolytus aside the city’s basilica of St. Lorenzo Maggiore.[2] His feast day is celebrated on July 25 in such basilica and together all the saint bishops of Milan on 25 September. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Lawrence with the family of the Litta.
Notes
1 2 Cazzani, Eugenio (1996). Vescovi e arcivescovi di Milano. Milano: Massimo. pp.32–34. ISBN88-7030-891-X.(in Italian)
1 2 3 Pasini, Cesare (1989). "Lorenzo I di Milano, santo (+511 c.)". Dizionario della Chiesa Ambrosiana. Vol.3. Milano: NED. p.1768–1771. ISBN88-7023-102-X.(in Italian)
↑ Felice, Mariantonia (1996). Ad sacrum lignum: la porta maggiore della basilica di Sant'Ambrogio a Milano. Bellinzona: Casagrande. p.9. ISBN978-88-7713-258-1.(in Italian)
↑ Ruggeri, Fausto (1991). I Vescovi di Milano. Milano: NED. p.17. ISBN88-7023-154-2.(in Italian)
The 490s decade ran from January 1, 490, to December 31, 499.
Pope Symmachus was the bishop of Rome from 22 November 498 to his death. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was elected pope by a majority of the Roman clergy.
Eustorgius II was Archbishop of Milan from c. 511 to 518. He is honoured as a saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is June 6.
Marolus was Archbishop of Milan from 408 to 423. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is April 23.
Benedict was Archbishop of Milan from c. 685–732. He is honoured as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Maternus was Archbishop of Milan from c. 316 to c. 328. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on July 18.
Castritian was Bishop of Milan in mid 3rd-century. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on December 1.
Monas was Bishop of Milan from the end 3rd-century to early 4th-century. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on October 12.
Eusebius was Archbishop of Milan from 449 to 462. He is honoured as a saint and his feast day is 12 August.
Martinianus was Archbishop of Milan from 423 to 435. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. His feast day is 2 January.
Gerontius was Archbishop of Milan from 462 to 465. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is 5 May.
Benignus was Archbishop of Milan from 465 to 472. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is September 20.
Dionysius was bishop of Milan from 349 to 355. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and his feast day is 25 May.
Mirocles was Bishop of Milan from before 313 to c. 316. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on December 3.
Caius was Bishop of Milan in early 3rd-century. He is considered by the Orthodox tradition the first Bishop of Milan in the 1st century. He is honoured as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church and his feast day is on 27 September.
Anathalon was the first recorded Bishop of Milan and lived at the end 2nd-century or early 3rd-century. A later tradition made him the also the first bishop of Brescia. He is honoured as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, which celebrate his feast day on 24 September. In Milan, however, this is commemorated on 25 September.
Theodorus I was Archbishop of Milan from 475 to 490. He is honoured as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Catholic Church, and his feast day is 27 July.
Magnus was Archbishop of Milan from 518 to c. 530. He is honoured as a saint in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church.
Filippo Maria Visconti (1721–1801) was the Archbishop of Milan from 1784 to 1801.
Mansuetus was Archbishop of Milan from 676 to 685. He is honoured as a saint in the Catholic Church.
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