Pope Callixtus I
Pope Callixtus I served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 to 222 or 223 AD, during the reigns of emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church, and is particularly remembered for his role in admitting converts from various sects and schisms into the Church and for establishing the practice of absolution for all sins, including adultery and murder. Callixtus I is also recognized as the patron saint of cemetery workers and is associated with the Catacombs of Callixtus, the first land property owned by the Church.
- Feast Day
- October 14
- Century
- 3rd century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Callixtus I was the bishop of Rome from C. 218 to his death C. 222 or 223.
- ›He admitted converts from sects or schisms into the Church and established the practice of absolution for all sins.
- ›His contemporaries Tertullian and Hippolytus of Rome were critical of his policies.
- ›He was ordained a deacon by Pope Zephyrinus and appointed superintendent of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way.
- ›The Catacombs of Callixtus, named after him, became the burial-ground for many popes and the first land property owned by the Church.
- ›He was killed for being Christian and is venerated as a saint and martyr.
Callistus I, Κάλλιστος
Cemetery Workers
About Pope Callixtus I
Pope Callixtus I, also known as Callistus I, served as the bishop of Rome from approximately 218 to his death around 222 or 223 CE. His pontificate occurred during the turbulent reigns of the Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He is recognized as a significant figure in the early development of the Church's disciplinary and administrative practices.
Life and Historical Context
According to accounts from his contemporaries and critics, such as Tertullian and Hippolytus of Rome, Callixtus I began his life as a slave. He was entrusted with alms for widows and orphans by his master, Carpophorus, but lost the funds and fled. His early life involved various hardships, including being sentenced to work in the mines of Sardinia for being denounced as a Christian. He was later released with other Christians at the request of Marcia, a favorite mistress of Emperor Commodus.
Callixtus was ordained a deacon by Pope Victor I and appointed superintendent of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way. This site, which became known as the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, was the first land property owned by the Church and served as the burial ground for many popes. The importance of Christian charity and burial practices was noted by Emperor Julian the Apostate.
Ministry and Controversies
Upon succeeding Zephyrinus as Bishop of Rome in 217, Callixtus I began admitting converts from various sects and schisms who had not undergone penance. He is credited with successfully combating heresies and establishing the practice of absolution for all sins, including grave offenses like adultery and murder. However, his policy of extending forgiveness, particularly for sexual transgressions and allowing believers to regularize relationships with their slaves, was considered shockingly lax by figures like Hippolytus of Rome. These doctrinal and policy differences led to Hippolytus being elected as a rival bishop, the first antipope.
Callixtus was also associated with the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere, serving as its patron. An apocryphal anecdote from the Augustan History suggests that Emperor Alexander Severus decreed that the worship of any god was preferable to a tavern, leading to the naming of a structure on a site he had built an oratory.
Death and Legacy
Callixtus I is venerated as a saint and martyr, having been killed for his Christian faith. It is possible he was martyred around 222 or 223, perhaps during a popular uprising or by being thrown down a well. According to tradition, his body was recovered by Asterius and buried at night. He was buried in the cemetery of Calepodius on the Aurelian Way, and his anniversary is observed on October 14. His relics were transferred to Santa Maria in Trastevere in the 9th century. Pope Callixtus I is remembered for his significant contributions to Church discipline and the establishment of important Christian sites.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pope Callixtus I serve as Bishop of Rome?
Pope Callixtus I served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 AD until his death around 222 or 223 AD. Some sources, like the Liberian catalogue, suggest his episcopate lasted five years from 217 to 222.
What were some of Pope Callixtus I's major contributions to the Church?
Callixtus I is credited with admitting converts from various sects and schisms into the Church and with establishing the practice of absolution for all sins, including adultery and murder. He also oversaw the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way, which became known as the Catacombs of Callixtus.
Why is Pope Callixtus I considered a martyr?
He is venerated as a saint and martyr because he was killed for being Christian. While the exact circumstances of his death are debated, tradition suggests it may have occurred during a popular uprising or by being thrown down a well.
Who were some of Pope Callixtus I's contemporaries or critics?
His contemporaries and critics included Tertullian and Hippolytus of Rome. Hippolytus, in particular, wrote critically of Callixtus's policies, even being elected as a rival bishop (antipope) due to doctrinal and policy differences.
What is the significance of the Catacombs of Callixtus?
The Catacombs of Callixtus, supervised by Callixtus I when he was a deacon, became the first land property owned by the Church and the burial ground for many popes. Emperor Julian the Apostate noted the popularity of Christians due to their charity and care for the burial of their dead.
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