Anno-mens-dies counting systems

Maassen indicated that from the time of pope Johannes I, they discontinued the practice of adding a month and day and thus only gave the year.

However, he cited the example of a Manuscript from Köln, the Codice Colon (Darmstadt 2326).

In folio 168 and 169 is a papal catalogue. It dates to the 6th century.

The header reads: nomina sanctorum episcoporum, qui sedem beati Petri sedere meruerunt. The first hand ended with the words: Dom Johannis sedet anni II mens III dies VI. Here is still a case where in the days of pope John I all three time indicators are used. 

Even in the case of Dom Agapetus sedet anni _____ mens XI dies XVIII. It is still the same hand. 

Another hand then wrote: Selverius -------Gregorius (I). Silverius reigned until 537. We have absolute proof here that the custom to add the year and date of reign to documents was used by the papacy. 

Year two for Pope John would be 471/72. 

When Justinian decided to announce that he is no longer to be seen as a soldier but rather as a theologian, the one thing he added to his coins that were not there before, is to simulate the papacy and adding the number of his year, Anno XII from 538. On 6th of March, 538, pope Vigilius wrote to Bishop Caesarius of Arles concerning the penance of the Austrasian King Theodobert on account of his marriage with his brother's widow. 

Later on the 29th of June, 538, he sent a decretal to Bishop Profuturus of Braga containing decisions on various questions of church discipline. 

Bishop Auxanius and his successor, Aurelian of Arles, wrote letters back and forth with the pope respecting the granting of the pallium (cloak) as a mark of the dignity and powers of a papal legate in Gaul. As a result the pope sent favorable letters to the two bishops. 

Justinian did not give up his dream as a selfappointed Secretary-

General of the (future) United Churches, so one finds him and Theodora involved in building flashy churches.

Justinian was involved with the building of the church at Ravenna. Theodora was involved with the building of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. 

Throughout all these religious projects of the imperial couple, they knew exactly what the chess-board of the church was all about.