Catholic saint biography

St. Silverius

Commemoration:
June 20
Lived:
d. 537 — Italy

June 20 is Silverius’s local commemoration at Palmarola; the Roman Martyrology also remembers him on December 2.

Why dates and liturgical observances can differ

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Artwork depicting Silverius
Artwork depicting Silverius. Sailko · Source ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗ · Resized for the web; no cropping or retouching.

Biography

Silverius was pope during the Byzantine struggle for control of Rome in the sixth century. His short pontificate became entangled with disputes about the leadership and teaching of the Church of Constantinople. He was removed from office, exiled and eventually died on the island of Palmarola.

The accounts of the accusations and political decisions surrounding his removal are complicated, so a brief biography should not turn every disputed motive into a settled fact. Catholic tradition venerates him as a pope and martyr. June 20 is a local commemoration linked with his arrival on the island, while December 2 also appears in calendar sources. These dates illustrate why a daily reading need not coincide with the universal liturgical calendar.

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From reading to reflection

What will you carry with you?

After reading about St. Silverius, take a moment to consider:

  1. Which event or decision in this life stood out to you?
  2. What virtue would you like to understand or practice more deeply?
  3. What small action could you take today in response?

These are reflection prompts from Saint Discovery, not quotations from the saint.

Sources and further reading

Biography source comparison recorded on . This is an AI-assisted comparison, not independent human or ecclesiastical approval.

What the recorded review covers

Individual Catholic institutional source review; original concise factual summary. Checked against all existing canonical directory identities and aliases. Individual person, not a group or an observance; original English biography written from the linked Catholic sources.

A source list helps you check an account; it does not establish that every claim is certain. Follow the biography’s qualifications about historical evidence, traditions and feast calendars.

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