RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Sinker
Six Articles
1629; supplementary volume by P Delalande, 1666); Antirrheticus de canone Arausicano (2 parts, 1633-34); and the Historia pcmitentice publicce, item disquisitio de azymo (1651) . His collected works were edited by J. de la Baune under the title Opera varia nunc primum collecta (5 vols., Paris, 1696; enlarged ed., 5 vols., Venice, 1728).
(G. LAUBMANNf.) Bibliography: The funeral oration by H. Valesius and a short sketch of the life are included in vol. i. of the Opera. Consult further: A. de Backer and C. Sommervogel, Bihliothique de la compagnie de Jisus, vii. 1237-61; Lichtenberger, ESR, xi. 619-622.
SISEBUT, si'se-but: Successor of Gundemar (Gunthemar) as king of the Visigoths; d. in 620. He ascended the throne in 612, and was an excellent ruler in most respects, clement, just, and of a glowing religious devotion, distinguished also as an author and as a hero in war. He nevertheless won a dismal reputation as the first Spanish persecutor of the Jews.
Since the earlier periods of the Roman empire the Jews had been numerous in the Iberian peninsula, and were highly respected on account of their wealth. The Visigoths, tolerant as they were, maintained the public rights of the Jews during the entire Arian epoch. Recared the Catholic was the first to impose restrictions upon them, promulgating the prohibition against the circumcision of Christian slaves and the acquisition of them either by purchase or donation (Leges Visigothorum, XII., 2, no. 12, ed. K. Zeumer in MGH, Leg. nationum Germ., i. 305, Hanover, 1902). On these provisions Sisebut based his two notorious laws concerning the Jews, starting his anti-Semitic campaign at the beginning of his reign (Leges Visigothorum, XII., 2, 13-14, pp. 305- 309). As rightly interpreted by Dahn, his orders prescribe that Christian bondsmen of Jews should become Roman citizens and free by law, as should runaway Jewish servants who were willing to accept Christianity. Jews were not allowed to have as servants hired free men. Marriages between Jews and Christians were declared null and void. Isidore in his Historia Gothorum (issued in 624), while appreciating the pious intentions of his royal friend, objected to the mode of conversion employed. In fact, Sisebut's persecution went far beyond those restrictions. That there were many compulsory baptisms of Jews, there is no doubt, and so the third edict conjectured by Jost — presumably without justification — compelling them to choose between exile and baptism, is not necessary to explain the numerous departures of Jews from the country. Many sought refuge among the Franks.
With such a zealous ruler on the throne the Church was able to display far-reaching activity, especially as to synodal matters. But with all his religious enthusiasm Sisebut was no " parsons' king," sometimes rather sharply taking the episcopate to task. In 615 he inaugurated the war of extermination against the Byzantines which he carried to a successful end. As a victor he proved humane enough to set the captured Byzantines free and to dismiss them to their home country. (Franz Gorhes.)
Bibliography'. Sources are. The Chronica of Isidore of Seville, ed. Mommsen in MGH, Auct. ant., xi (1894), 479- 480, and his Historia Gothorum, in the same, pp. 291 sqq.;
the letters of Sisebut to Patricius Caesarius, ed. W. Gundlach in MGH, Epist., iii (1892), 662-675; his hexameters, ed. G. Goetz, Index scholarum Jenensium, Jena, 1887 -88; the " Chronicle " of Fredegar, ed. B. Krusch in MGH, Script, rer. Merov., ii (1888), 133; and the Leges Visigothorum antiquiorum, ed. K. Zeumer, pp. 305-309, Hanover, 1894. Consult: F. Dahn, Die Kbnige der Germanen, vols, v.-vi. passim, Leipsic, 1885; F. Gorres, in ZWT, xl. 284-296, xli. 105-111, xlii. 270-322, 442-450, xlv. 41-72. Also: J. M. Jost, Geschichte der Israeliten, v. 110-120, Berlin, 1825; J. Aschbach, Die Geschichte der Westgoten, pp. 236-241, Frankfort, 1827; A. Helfferich, Westgoten- Recht, pp. 68-71, Berlin, 1858; P. B. Gams, Kirchengeschichte Spaniens, ii. 2, pp. 78-80, 85-90, 101, 3 vols., Regensburg, 1862-79; K. Zeumer, in NA, xxvii (1902), 409-444; Gibbon, Decline and Fall, chap, xxxvii.; ADB, xxxiv. 418-121; DCB, iv. 703-704; and the literature on the Jews in Spain and Portugal under Israel, History or.
SISERA. See Deborah, 2.
SISINNIUS, si-sin'ni-us: The name of several persons of note in church history.
1. Pope, Jan. 18-Feb. 8 (7?), 708. He was a Syrian, and was ill when elected to the papal chair; and all recorded of him is that he made preparations for the restoration of the city wall.
2. The Novatian: Novatian bishop of Constantinople. He studied with Julian under the philosopher Maximus; became a reader in the Novatian community, and in 395 bishop. Socrates (Hist, eccl., V., x., xxi., VI., xxi., Eng. transl., NPNF, 2 ser., ii. 123, 129, 152, 156) notes his literary activity, especially in his work on penitence against Chrysostom, and one against the Messalians.
3. Sisinnius of Constantinople: Orthodox bishop of that city 426-427. He is mentioned by Socrates (Hist, eccl., VII., xxviii., Eng. transl., NPNF, 2 ser., ii. 168-169).
4. Patriarch of Constantinople, 995-999. He wrote on the marriage law, and also an encyclical for the eastern bishops on the procession of the Holy Spirit.
(A. Hauck.)
Bibliography: On 1: Mann, Popes, i. 124-126; Bower, Popes, ii. 14; Platina, Popes, i. 175. On 2-4: DCB, iv. 704-705.
SISTERHOODS. See Deaconess, III., 2; Monasticism; Women, Congregations of; and Women's Work in the Church.
SISTERS OF CHARITY. See Charity, Sisters op.
SISTERS OF MERCY. See Mercy, Sisters of.
SIX ARTICLES, ACT OF THE: An act of the
English parliament, dated June 28, 1539, marking a departure from Protestant principles. It imposed upon the English people the doctrines of transubstantiation under penalty of death by burning and confiscation of goods; depravation of the sacrament subjected to the same penalty; claims in behalf of communion in both kinds, and breaking of the vows of celibacy were felonies punishable with death; clerical marriages were dissolved; and special commissions were to be issued quarterly for the enforcement of the provisions of the act. The measure was in part political, aiming to prevent action against the king, Henry VIII., on the part of continental Roman Catholic powers. While the law was severe, executions were few under it. It was modified in 1544 and repealed in 1547. The
Six-Principles Baptists Skinner, John