Pope Saint Zephyrinus, born in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

, was bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

 of Rome from 199 to 217. His predecessor was bishop Victor I

Pope Victor I

Pope Saint Victor I was Pope from 189 to 199 .Pope Victor I was the first bishop of Rome born in the Roman Province of Africa: probably he was born in Leptis Magna . He was later canonized...

. Upon his death on December 20, 217, he was succeeded by his principal advisor, bishop Callixtus I.

Papacy

During the 17 year pontificate of Zephyrinus(202-219)the young Church endured severe persecution under the emperor Severus

Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...

 until his death in the year 211 To quote Butler (Ref. A. Butler: Lives of the Saints Vol VIII, 1866) St Zephyrinus was the support of his flock. He also endured the trials associated with new heresies

Christian heresy

Christian heresy refers to non-orthodox practices and beliefs that were deemed to be heretical by one or more of the Christian churches. In Western Christianity, the term "heresy" most commonly refers to those beliefs which were declared to be anathema by the Catholic Church prior to the schism of...

 and apostases

Apostasy in Christianity

Apostasy in Christianity refers to the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as "a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christian...

. The chief among these were Marcion

Marcionism

Marcionism was an Early Christian dualist belief system that originated in the teachings of Marcion of Sinope at Rome around the year 144; see also Christianity in the 2nd century....

, Praxeas

Praxeas

Praxeas was a Monarchian from Asia Minor who lived in the end of the 2nd century/beginning of the 3rd century. He believed in the unity of the Godhead and vehemently disagreed with any attempt at division of the personalities or personages of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Christian Church...

, Valentine and the Montanists. St. Optatus testifies that all of these were subdued by Zephyrinus, Bishop of Rome. (Ref. Optat. 1,1 De Schismate, n.9 et Albaspinæus, not.ib.) 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. (Ref. Berti in Sæc 3. Diss. 1.t. 2 p 158)

Conflicts

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. (Ref Opus cit Butler)
A certain Proclus (or Proculus)who had confessed the faith before the prosecutors and underwent torments in defence of it, subsequently was seduced into heresy by Asclepiodotus and Theodotus the banker, both disciples of Theodotus the tanner

Theodotus of Byzantium

Theodotus of Byzantium was an early Christian writer from Byzantium, one of several named Theodotus whose writings were condemned as heresy in the early church.Theodotus claimed that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit as a mortal man, and though later "adopted" by...

 whom Victor

Pope Victor I

Pope Saint Victor I was Pope from 189 to 199 .Pope Victor I was the first bishop of Rome born in the Roman Province of Africa: probably he was born in Leptis Magna . He was later canonized...

, Zephyrinus's predecessor in the Chair of Peter, had excommunicated for reviving the heresy of Ebion

Ebion

Ebion was the presumed eponymous founder of an early Christian group known as the Ebionites. The existent historical evidence indicates that the name "Ebionite" is derived from a Hebrew word, "ebion" meaning "poor" and thus not from someone's name...

 that affirmed that Christ was only a mere man, though a prophet. These two heretics persuaded Natalis to allow them to ordain him a bishop in their sect promising in return that they would provide him with a monthly stipend of 150 silver denarii (approximately 3 pounds sterling). But God having compassion on his confessor warned him byseveral visions to abandon these heretics. At last, he 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. (Ref Butler;Op. cit.)

Feast day

The feast of St Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr, formerly held on August 26, has been celebrated since 1970 on December 20, the date of his death. Some traditionalist Catholics continue to observe pre-1970 calendars.

Books

• Rendina, Claudio, The Popes' Histories and Secrets (2002)