( 450 AD )

Saint Peter Chrysologus was a native of Imola, a town in eastern Emilia. He was born in 406. Being forewarned of approaching death, he retuned to his home town, and there he died in 450.

 His biography, first written by Agnellus  in the ninth century, gives but scanty information about him. He was baptized, educated, and ordained deacon by Cornelius, Bishop of Imola, of whom he speaks with veneration and gratitude. When archbishop John died in 433, St. Peter and was elevated to the Bishopric of Ravenna in his stead. There are indications that Ravenna held the rank of metropolitan before this time. His piety and zeal won for him universal admiration, and his oratory merited for him the name Chrysologus. He shared the confidence of Leo the Great and enjoyed the patronage of Emperor Valentinian III and his mother the Empress Galla Placidia. After his condemnation by the Synod of Constantinople (448), the Monophysite Eutyches endeavored to win the support of Peter, but without success. In the town of Classis, then the port of Ravenna, St. Peter built a baptistery, and a church in honor of St. Andrew.

A collection of his homilies, numbering 176, was made by Felix, Bishop of Ravenna (707-17). Some are interpolations, and several other homilies known to be written by the saint are included in other collections under different names. They are in a great measure explanatory of Biblical texts and are brief and concise. He has explained beautifully the mystery of the Incarnation, the heresies of Arius and Eutyches, the Apostles' Creed, and he dedicated a series of homilies to the Blessed Virgin and Saint John the Baptist.

 His works were first edited by Agapitus Vicentinus (Bologna, 1534), and later by D. Mita (Bologna, 1634), and S. Paula (Venice, 1775)-the later collection having been reprinted, edited nine new homilies and published from manuscripts in Italian libraries with different readings of several other sermons. Several homilies were translated into German by M. Held (Kempten, 1874).Saint Peter was declared a doctor of the church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729.

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تعتز الكنيسة الغربية بالأب خريسولوغوس (صاحب الكلمات الذهبية) Peter Chrysologus أسقف رافينا، الذي تنيح في 4 ديسمبر (حوالي 450م).

نشأ في بلدة Imola، شرق إميليا Emilia كان ذا ثقافة عالية فسامه أسقف المدينة كرينليوس شماسًا، وكان يحبه فجعله تلميذًا خاصًا به. ولما تنيح رئيس أساقفة رافينا حوالي سنة 433م ذهب الأسقف كرينليوس إلى روما ومعه وفد وفي ملازمتهم الشماس بطرس يحملون ترشيحًا معينًا، لكن أسقف روما سكستوس الثالث قال لهم إنه رأى في الليلة السابقه كأن القديسين بطرس وأبوليناروس أسقف رافينا الأول والشهيد يطلبان سيامة هذا الشماس أسقفًا. وقد تمت السيامة التي قابلها أهل رافينا بفتور شديد بل وباحتجاج.

نطق بعظة أمام الإمبراطورة غالا بلاسيديا والدة فالنتينان الثالث، أُعجبت بها وصار موضع تقدير الحكام، وكانت الإمبراطورة تسنده في الإنفاق على مشاريعه.

اهتم بالكرازة بين الوثنيين، كما كتب رسالة إلى أوطيخا سنة 449 الذي أنكر حقيقة ناسوت المسيح، حاسبًا أن اللاهوت قد ابتلع الناسوت، وأن السيد المسيح يحمل طبيعة واحدة هي الطبيعة اللاهوتية.

توجد مجموعة كبيرة من العظات تُنسب له، لكن أكثر أعماله مفقودة.

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