Pope Zephyrinus
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Pope Saint Zephyrinus |
|
Papacy began |
199 |
Papacy ended |
20 December 217 |
Predecessor |
|
Successor |
|
Personal details |
|
Birth name |
Zepheniah |
Born |
|
Died |
20 December 217 |
Sainthood |
|
Feast day |
20 December |
Pope Zephyrinus (died 20 December
217) was Bishop of Rome or Pope from
199 to his death in 217.[1] He was born in
Rome. His predecessor was Pope Victor I. Upon his death on 20 December
217, he was succeeded by his principal advisor, Pope Callixtus I. He is known for combatting
heresies and defending the divinity of Christ.
Contents
·
1Papacy
·
3Notes
Papacy[edit]
During the 17-year
pontificate of Zephyrinus, the young Church endured persecution under the
Emperor Severus until
his death in the year 211. To quote Alban Butler, "this holy pastor was the
support and comfort of the distressed flock".[2] According to St. Optatus, Zephyrinus also combated
new heresies and apostasies,
chief of which were Marcion, Praxeas, Valentine and the Montanists.[3] Eusebius insists that Zephyrinus fought
vigorously against the blasphemies of the two Theodotuses, who in response
treated him with contempt, but later called him the greatest defender of the
divinity of Christ. Although he was not physically martyred for the faith, his
suffering – both mental and spiritual – during his pontificate have earned him
the title of martyr, a title that was repealed 132 years after his death.[4]
Conflicts[edit]
During the reign of the
Emperor Severus (193–211), relations with the young Christian Church
deteriorated, and in 202 or 203 the edict of persecution appeared which forbade
conversion to Christianity under the severest penalties.[1]
Zephyrinus's predecessor
Pope Victor I had excommunicated Theodotus the Tanner for
reviving a heresy that Christ only became God after his resurrection.
Theodotus' followers formed a separate heretical community at Rome ruled by
another Theodotus, the Money Changer, and Asclepiodotus. Natalius, who was tortured for his faith
during the persecution, was persuaded by Asclepiodotus to become a bishop in
their sect in exchange for a monthly stipend of 150 denarii. Natalius then
reportedly experienced several visions warning him to abandon these heretics.
According to an anonymous work entitled The Little Labyrinthand
quoted by Eusebius, Natalius was whipped a whole night
by an angel; the next day he donned sackcloth and ashes, and weeping bitterly
threw himself at the feet of Zephyrinus.[5][1]
Feast
day[edit]
A feast of St Zephyrinus,
Pope and Martyr, held on 26 August, was inserted in the General Roman
Calendar in the 13th century, but was removed in the 1969 revision,
since he was not a martyr and 26 August is not the anniversary of his death[6] which is 20
December, the day under which he is now mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.[7]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c One or more of the
preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Kirsch, Johann Peter
(1912). "Pope St. Zephyrinus" . In
Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. 15.
New York: Robert Appleton.
2. ^ A. Butler, Lives
of the Saints Vol VIII, 1866
3. ^ Optatus, De Schismate 1,1
4. ^ Berti, Sæc 3. Diss. 1.t.
2 p 158
5. ^ Eusebius, Historia
Ecclesiastica 5.28.9-12; translated by G.A. Williamson, Eusebius:
The History of the Church (Harmonsworth: Penguin, 1965), pp. 236f
6. ^ "Calendarium Romanum"
(Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 136
7. ^ "Martyrologium Romanum"
(Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
References[edit]
·
Rendina, Claudio, The Popes'
Histories and Secrets (2002)
External links[edit]
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LCCN: nb2007022930 ·
WorldCat Identities (via
VIAF): 68458321 |
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This page was last
edited on 12 February 2019, at 21:14 (UTC).
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