Coelins Symmachus, a pope and saint, born at Sinagiain Sardinia about 440, died in Rome, July 19, 514. He was appointed archdeacon of the Roman church by Pope Felix III., and was elected to succeed Anastasius II., Nov. 22, 498. A strong minority of Eutychians, headed by the patrician Festus and favored by the Greek emperor Anastasius I., elected at the same time the archpriest Laurentius, who had consented to sign the Henoticon of the emperor Zeno. The claims of the two parties were referred to the arbitrament of Theodoric, king of Italy, who decided in favor of Symmachus, Laurentius being appointed bishop of Nocera.

A council held in Rome in March, 499, having enacted decrees against all bribery and intrigue in papal elections, the opposition was renewed, and Laurentius secretly returned to Rome. Symmachus was accused of peculation and adultery, and Rome became the scene of rioting and bloodshed. A council of all the Italian bishops was convened' at Rome in 502, and Theodoric hastened thither to secure tranquillity. The pope was unanimously acquitted of the charges brought against him. In France the bishops declined to acknowledge the competency of a local synod to sit in judgment on their superior, and a third council met in Rome in 503, to which the emperor Anastasius (whom Symmachus had excommunicated) sent representatives, who accused the pope of Maniehaj-ism and of promoting sedition. Symmachus, through his legate Ennodius, declared that he had freely submitted to the judgment of the former bishops, proved that he had combated Manichaeism, and promised to restore the emperor to his communion as soon as the latter ceased to protect Eutychianism. With the council ended the schism in Rome, but Anastasius persecuted all who sustained Symmachus. The latter published a treatise in which he refuted the charges against his doctrine and morality.

His feast is held on July 19.