Antipope Theodore
{{Short description|Presbyter and priest, antipope c. 687}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Antipope
| honorific_prefix = Antipope
| name = Theodore
| began = 21 September 687
| ended = 15 December 687
| predecessor = Roman claimant:
Pope Conon
Antipapal claimant:
Dioscorus
| other_post = Archpriest of the Roman Catholic Church
| occupation = Archpriest
| successor = Roman claimant:
Sergius I
Antipapal claimant:
Constantine II
| opposed = Rival claimant:
Paschal
}}
Theodore was a rival with Paschal for the papacy following the death of Pope Conon (21 September 687), and thus is considered an antipope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Biography
Prior to the disputed election, Theodore was an archpriest. According to the Liber Pontificalis partisans of Theodore and Paschal seized different parts of the Lateran, and as each were unwilling to give way to the other they were locked in combat for control of the entire basilica. Meanwhile, representatives of the garrison, the majority of the clergy and the citizens met in the imperial palace and eventually elected Sergius, a priest of the church of Santa Susanna as Conon's successor. Having thus decided on Sergius, they brought him to the Lateran and forced their way in. Theodore immediately conceded the office, and abased himself to Sergius.{{cite book | translator-first = Raymond | translator-last = Davis | title = The Book of Pontiffs (Liber Pontificalis) | url = https://archive.org/details/bookofpontiffsli0000unse | url-access = registration | edition = first | location = Liverpool | publisher = University Press | year = 1989 | page = [https://archive.org/details/bookofpontiffsli0000unse/page/83 83] | isbn = 9780853232162 }}
Paschal remained unconvinced, and while pretending to accept Sergius, sent messengers to the exarch of Ravenna John Platyn promising gold in exchange for military support. The exarch arrived, demanded the gold, and looted Old St. Peter's Basilica, but departed after Sergius I's consecration (15 December 687).{{cite book |last=Ekonomou |first=Andrew J. |title=Byzantine Rome and the Greek Popes: Eastern influences on Rome and the papacy from Gregory the Great to Zacharias, A.D. 590–752 |location=New York |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2007 |page=216 |isbn=978-0-7391-1977-8 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Antipopes|state=collapsed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Theodore, Antipope}}
Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:Year of death unknown
Category:7th-century antipopes
Category:7th-century archbishops