Some History about the Shine...
The San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains was built by the Ponzesi people as a way of preserving a piece of our Italian heritage in the United States, and showing our devotion to our patron saint, Saint Silverio. Every year people of Ponzese ancestry come from all over the United States, Canada, and Italy to enjoy the festivals that are held at the Shrine. The largest, of course, is the Festival of Saint Silverio, which attracts well over 1,000 people each year. It is the focal point of Ponzese culture, and continues to grow every year.
Saint Silverio, a pope and martyr from sixth century Europe, is the patron saint of the island of Ponza and of fishermen. He was born in 480 in what is now Frosinone, Italy. His father, Saint. Hormistas (Pope 514-523) was married before his ordination. He was ordained pope in June of 536 during a very turbulent time in Rome. Armies of the Emperor Justinian, under General Belisarius, were battling the barbarian Goths for control of Rome. St. Silverio's predecessor, Pope Agapetus, had excommunicated and deposed Anthimus, the Patriarch of Constantinople, for supporting the Monophysite heresy. Soon after his ordination, emissaries of the Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian and a supporter of the Monophysites, to reinstate her friend Anthimus, approached St. Silverio. He refused her request. When Belisarius army marched into Rome in December 536, Theodora seized the opportunity to eliminate St. Silverio, and replace him with a pope sympathetic to her cause. She conspired with Antonina, Belisarius' wife, to produce forged evidence that convinced Belisarius that St. Silverio had conspired to surrender Rome the armies of the Goths. In March 537, St. Silverio was quickly convicted, deposed, exiled to Lycia in Asia Minor, and placed in the custody of the Bishop of Patara. Vigilius, a friend of Theodora, was ordained pope. The Bishop of Patara didn't believe the charges, and brought St. Silverio's appeal to Justinian personally. After meeting with him, Justinian ordered that St. Silverio be taken back to Rome, and ordered Belisarius to investigate the possibility that the incriminating documents were forged. Theodora, however, was not to be denied her victory. She had St. Silverio's transport seized and diverted to Parmarola, an island in the Bay of Naples, where he would eventually die of starvation in November of 537.
While San Silverio died largely unlamented by his contemporaries, the citizens of the neighboring island of Ponza would not forget the virtuous man that would briefly touch their lives. Through the years the Ponzese have remembered and revered St. Silverio, and have carried their devotion with them wherever they settled in the world. Many of the Ponzese would come to New York in the early to mid-twentieth century and settled in the Morisania section of the Bronx. Centered at Our Lady of Pity Church on 151st Street and Morris Avenue, they would continue to celebrate the Festival of San Silverio just as they had for hundreds of years on their native island of Ponza. In 1954, the Ponzese donated a small shrine to the church.
As the Ponzese prospered in the United States, a group lead by Ercito Mazzella believed it was time to build a more inspiring monument dedicated to Saint Silverio. He facilitated the purchase of an 81-acre tract of land in Dover Plains, New York, and through the donations of many people, the San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains was born. In 1962, the first annual San Silverio Dinner and Dance was held to help support the construction of the Shrine. On November 18, 1963 the San Silverio Shrine was officially incorporated. With Ercito Mazzella as acting president, a provisional Board of Directors was picked to organize the membership and hold an election. In June 1964, the mass and festival of San Silverio was celebrated for the first time in Dover Plains.
On October 4, 1964, the first official general membership meeting was held. The corporation's by-laws were read and adopted, followed by nominations for the first board elections. The first election was held on November 1, 1964. The newly elected board was sworn on December 6, before their first official meeting under new president, Dr. Luigi Mazzella.
In 1965, the mass of St Silverio was celebrated for the first time at the newly completed chapel. The Shrine continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the growing society, and in the 1970's the picnic ground shelter and playground were added. The shelter can accommodate up to 1,500 people. The Stations of the Cross walkway was added in the early 1980's, followed by the pool and tennis courts. The Luigi Zecca Memorial Pavilion was completed in 1993, and in 2001, a baseball field, was completed. In 2011, the Shrine developed the Padre Pio Sanctuary & Walkway. Finally in 2012, new restrooms were constructed at the Shrine for the convenience of our Members. The Shrine has been blessed with so many volunteers who continue to beautify the gorgeous property!
The Shrine has over six hundred members in 10 states and 2 countries!
Who is San Silverio?
Not a great deal has been written about the life of St. Silverio, patron saint of the island of Ponza. But what has been written, describes him as a humble man who suffered from the political and social turmoil, wars, sieges, and bitter controversy of his era. Silverio was born around 480 AD. Within the church hierarchy at this time, those in power were determined to reach the top with no regard for the consequences.
Silverio was appointed Pope in June 536 AD. There was strong opposition from Vigilius, a deacon, who had a burning desire to become pope and his supporter, Theodora, an empress. Theodora strongly supported the idea of Vigilius becoming pope. It is believed that she offered him a substantial bribe if, as pope, he would reinstate Bishop Anthemis to Constantinople. She even went so far as to write a letter to General Belisarius asking him to make Vigilius the pope. She gave the letter to Vigilius for his journey from Constantinople to Rome. However, Vigilius's arrival was too late. By the time he arrived in Rome, Pope Silverio had already been appointed.
Theodora, disappointed that Vigilius would not become pope, vowed that no matter who was pope, she would get her wish granted. She wrote to Pope Silverio saying that the church in the Eastern Empire was in chaos and asked if he would come to restore order. She also asked that if he could not make it, that he act at once and restore Bishop Anthemis (her friend) to office.
Pope Silverio refused her proposal to go to Constantinople, and said that he could not reassign Anthemis to office because he had been declared a heretic by the church. It has been said that Pope Silverio remarked that by opposing Theodora's request he was actually signing his own death sentence. Infuriated that her wish had not been obeyed, Theodora vowed that she would have Pope Silverio deposed.
Shortly after, Theodora began her plot. Vicious rumors were being spread that Rome was in a chaotic state. Public accusations were made that Pope Silverio was betraying the citizens of Rome by delivering them into the hands of the Goths.
As a result, Pope Silverio was captured and carried away to Patara (Lycia) in Asia Minor. The very next day, Vigilius was named pope. Pope Silverio was summoned to return to Rome for questioning. Out of fear that the truth would prevail, Vigilius's supporters intercepted and captured Silverio once again. He was then sent into exile to the island of Ponza. His life ended there very shortly afterwards from the treatment he received.
Different tales have been told about the cause of death of Pope Silverio. The story remains that in November of 537 AD, he died of starvation. St. Silverio is honored as a martyr because he died from the evil of other's greed. June 20, the feast of St. Silverio, commemorates his ordination as Pope. It is celebrated not only by the Ponzese in Ponza, but by all of those who believe in the life and miracles of the man who has so many times been described as a "lamb among wolves".
Do you have any information about St. Silverio? If so, email us and we will post to our website!
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San Silverio Shrine of Dover Plains, New York
