Review article
Pope John IV from Zadar and the Mission of Abbot Martin in 641
Stanko Josip Škunca
Abstract
Although some have already dealt with Pope John IV (640–642) from Dalmatia, there is no extant systematic account of his life and work. The article has established that he was born in the city of Zadar, that already during the office of the two previous popes he had played a significant role in the Roman curia, that during his pontificate he was a brave opponent against the heresy of monothelitism which emperor Heracles the First attempted to impose. For Croatian history he is important because he sent abbot Martin to Istria and Dalmatia to buy the relics of the old martyrs for which he built the oratorio with the famous mosaic in Laterano. The author gives the particulars of the said mosaic and proves that abbot Martin took with him only parts of the martyr’s relics. The author voices the opinion that the said abbot Martin afterwards became Pope Martin I (649–653) who sent John of Ravenna to Dalmatia and Salona to restore the Church devastated by war.
Keywords
Pope John IV; monothelitism; abbot Martin; the martyrs of Istria and Dalmatia; the Laterano mosaic
Hrčak ID:
11884
URI
Publication date:
5.9.2006.
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