Early Christian History of Porto
Porto was in ancient times Portus, the chief harbour of Rome. It owes its origin to the port built by Claudius on the right of the Tiber, opposite Ostia; Trajan enlarged the basin, and in a short time there grew around it a city which soon became independent of Ostia.
It was near Porto that Julius Nepos compelled Emperor Glycerius to abdicate (474). During the Gothic War the town served the Goths (537 and 549) and the Byzantines (546-52) as a base of operations against Rome. In the 9th and 10th centuries it was sacked on several occasions by the Saracens. In 849 Pope Leo IV fortified it and established there a colony of Corsicans for the defence of the coast and the neighbouring territory; but the city continued to decay.
Christianity was early established there. Several martyrs of Porto are known, including Herculanus, Hyacinthus, Martialis, Saturninus Epictetus, Maprilis and Felix. The place was also famous as the probable see of St. Hippolytus.
In 314 Gregorius was bishop. The great xenodochium, or hospice, of Pammachius was built about 370. Among the other bishops should be mentioned
- Donatus (date uncertain), who built the basilica of St. Eutropius
- Felix, a contemporary of Gregory the Great
- Joannes, legate to the Sixth General Council (680)
- Gregorius, who accompanied Pope Constantine to Constantinople (710)
- Gregorius II (743-61)
- Citonatus, present at the consecration of the antipope Constantine (767)
- Giovanni (797)
- Stephano (826)
- Radoaldus (853). He acted contrary to his instructions on the occasion of the difficulties with Photius at Constantinople (862), and who was deposed for having prevaricated in connexion with the divorce of Lothair II of Lorraine
- Formosus (864), who became pope (891)
- Walpert (876)
- Valentino (883)
- Silvestro (891-898)
- Crisogno (after 904)
- Costantino (958)
- Benedictus (963-964 and again 967-969), who consecrated the antipope Leo VIII
- Gregorio (985-994), who built the irrigation system of the territory of the diocese
- Benedetto (998-1029)
- Giovanni (1036–1050)
- Rolando (ca.1050/57)
- Giovanni (1057–1089), joined the obedience of antipope Clement III in 1084
- Giovanni (1087–1095)
- Mauritius (1097–1101), sent by Pope Paschal II to establish order in religious affairs in the Holy Land
- Callistus II (1119–24), who united to the See of Porto the other suburbicarian See of Silva Candida or Santa Rufina.
Read more about this topic: Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese Of Porto-Santa Rufina
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