Callixtus I
Callixtus I, also known as Callistus I, served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 to his death around 222 or 223 AD, during the reigns of Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church, particularly as the patron saint of cemetery workers. His pontificate saw the establishment of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus as a significant burial ground for popes and the controversial admission of converts from schisms into the Church.
Key Facts
- ›Bishop of Rome from C. 218 to C. 222 or 223, during the reigns of Emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus.
- ›As a young slave, he was put in charge of alms by his master Carpophorus and later sentenced to work in the mines of Sardinia.
- ›Ordained a deacon by Pope Victor I and appointed superintendent of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way.
- ›His pontificate saw the admission of converts from schisms and the establishment of absolution for all sins.
- ›Venerated as a saint and martyr, with his anniversary celebrated on October 14th.
- ›His relics were transferred to Santa Maria in Trastevere in the 9th century.
Callistus I, Κάλλιστος
Martyr, Patron Saint of Cemetery Workers
Absolution of Sins, Marriage Law
- Admitted Converts From Sects Or Schisms Into the Church Without Penance.
- Established the Practice of Absolution For All Sins, Including Adultery and Murder.
- Supervised the Christian Cemetery On the Appian Way, Which Became the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
- Allowed Believers To Regularize Liaisons With Their Slaves By Recognizing Them As Valid Marriages.
Tertullian, Hippolytus of Rome, Sextus Julius Africanus, Eusebius, Liberian Catalogue, Carpophorus, Hyacinthus, Marcia, Emperor Commodus, Pope Victor I, Pope Zephyrinus, Emperor Julian the Apostate, Giovanni Battista De Rossi, Augustan History, Alexander Severus, Pope Innocent Ii, Asterius, Prefect Alexander
About Callixtus I
Callixtus I, also known by his Greek name Κάλλιστος, served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 AD until his death around 222 or 223 AD. His pontificate occurred during the reigns of the Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He is recognized as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and is particularly honored as the patron saint of cemetery workers.
Life and Historical Context
According to accounts from his contemporaries Tertullian and Hippolytus of Rome, Callixtus I had a challenging early life. As a young slave from Rome, he was entrusted with managing funds for the care of widows and orphans by his master, Carpophorus. After losing these funds, he fled but was apprehended. His release was secured by creditors, but he was later rearrested for fighting in a synagogue while attempting to collect debts. Denounced as a Christian, he was sentenced to work in the mines of Sardinia. He was eventually released along with other Christians at the request of Hyacinthus, a eunuch presbyter representing Marcia, the favorite mistress of Emperor Commodus. His health was severely affected, leading him to recuperate in Antium with a pension from Pope Victor I.
In 199 AD, Callixtus was ordained a deacon by Pope Zephyrinus and appointed superintendent of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way. This site, now known as the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, became a significant burial ground for many popes and was the first land property owned by the Church. Emperor Julian the Apostate later acknowledged the popularity of Christians due to their charity and care for the burial of their dead.
Papacy and Controversies
Upon succeeding Zephyrinus as Bishop of Rome in 217 AD, Callixtus I began to admit into the Church converts from sects or schisms who had not undergone penance. He is credited with successfully combating heretics and establishing the practice of absolution for all sins, including adultery and murder. However, his policies were met with strong opposition from Hippolytus of Rome, who found them shockingly lax. Hippolytus denounced Callixtus for permitting believers to formalize relationships with their slaves by recognizing them as valid marriages. Due to these doctrinal differences and disputes, Hippolytus was elected as a rival bishop of Rome, becoming the first antipope.
Callixtus I was associated with the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, which was a titulus he patronized. An anecdote from the Augustan History suggests that Alexander Severus decreed that the worship of any god was preferable to a tavern, leading to the naming of a structure built on a site claimed by tavern keepers.
Death and Veneration
It is believed that Callixtus I was martyred around 222 or 223 AD, possibly during a popular uprising or by being thrown down a well. According to the apocryphal Acts of Saint Callixtus, his body was recovered by Asterius, a priest of Rome, and buried at night. Asterius was subsequently arrested and killed for this action. Callixtus was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way, and his anniversary is recorded on October 14th in the 4th-century Depositio martyrum and subsequent martyrologies. The Catholic Church observes his optional memorial on October 14th. His relics were transferred to Santa Maria in Trastevere in the 9th century.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Callixtus I serve as Pope?
Callixtus I served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 AD until his death around 222 or 223 AD. His episcopate is listed by Eusebius and the Liberian catalogue as lasting five years, from 217 to 222.
What is Callixtus I known for?
Callixtus I is known for admitting converts from sects or schisms into the Church without requiring them to do penance. He also established the practice of absolution for all sins, including grave offenses like adultery and murder, and for his role in the development of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus.
Is Callixtus I a saint?
Yes, Callixtus I is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church. His anniversary is observed on October 14th, and he is considered the patron saint of cemetery workers.
What controversies were associated with Callixtus I's pontificate?
His policies regarding the admission of converts and the absolution of sins, particularly his stance on allowing believers to regularize liaisons with their own slaves, were criticized by contemporaries like Hippolytus of Rome. These doctrinal differences led to Hippolytus being elected as a rival bishop, the first antipope.
Where is Callixtus I buried?
Callixtus I was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way. His relics were later transferred in the 9th century to the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Related Popes
Caius
Pope Caius, also known as Gaius, served as the bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 until his death on 22 April 296. Little is definitively known about his pontificate, with much information derived from the Liber Pontificalis and legendary accounts. Tradition suggests he was martyred during a period of increasing anti-Christian measures, though the exact circumstances and his martyrdom are debated.
Fabian
Pope Fabian served as bishop of Rome from 236 to 250, a period marked by improved relations with the imperial government and the resolution of a schism within the Roman Church. He organized the church's administration by dividing Rome into diaconates and appointing secretaries to record the acts of martyrs, and also dispatched missionaries to Gaul. Fabian died a martyr at the beginning of the Decian persecution.
Pontian
Pope Pontian, bishop of Rome from 230 to 235, was exiled to Sardinia during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Maximinus Thrax. He was the first pope to abdicate, doing so to ensure an orderly succession and end an eighteen-year schism. Pontian died in exile in October 235, reportedly beaten to death, and is venerated as a saint in both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.