Pope Stephen I
Pope Stephen I served as the Bishop of Rome from 254 to 257 CE. He is remembered for his stance on the readmission of those who had lapsed from the faith during persecution and for his view that converts baptized by schismatics did not require re-baptism. Though some accounts suggest he was martyred, the most ancient records do not identify him as such.
- Feast Day
- August 2
- Century
- 3rd century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Pope Stephen I was the Bishop of Rome from may 12, 254, until his death on August 2, 257.
- ›He was born in Rome and was the son of Jovius, from a noble Roman family converted to Christianity.
- ›Stephen served as archdeacon to Pope Lucius I, who appointed him his successor.
- ›He held that converts baptized by schismatics did not need re-baptism, a view that gained broad acceptance in the Latin Church.
- ›Stephen insisted on the restoration of bishops of León and Astorga who had been deposed for unfaithfulness.
- ›Some accounts state he was killed while celebrating Mass, though the Depositio episcoporum of 354 does not mention him as a martyr.
Στέφανος Α΄ (Greek), Stephanus I (Latin)
Hvar, Modigliana Cathedral
About Pope Stephen I
Pope Stephen I, also known as Stephanus I, served as the Bishop of Rome from May 12, 254, until his death on August 2, 257. Born in Rome to a noble Christian family, he previously served as archdeacon under Pope Lucius I, who appointed him as his successor.
Pontificate and Theological Stance
Stephen's pontificate occurred in the aftermath of the Decian persecution, a period marked by significant disagreement on how to treat Christians who had temporarily renounced their faith to survive. A major pastoral issue was the readmission of these individuals, known as the "lapsi" (the fallen), back into the Church. Stephen was urged by Bishop Faustinus of Lyon to address the actions of Marcian, the Novatianist bishop of Arles, who denied penance and communion to repentant lapsed individuals.
A key theological contribution of Stephen I was his assertion that converts who had been baptized by schismatics did not require re-baptism. This view contrasted with that of Cyprian and other bishops in Roman Africa, who considered rebaptism necessary for admission to the Eucharist. Stephen's position eventually gained widespread acceptance within the Latin Church. He is also noted for insisting on the restoration of bishops from León and Astorga, who had been deposed for unfaithfulness during the persecution but later repented.
Legacy and Veneration
The "Depositio episcoporum" of 354, an ancient list of popes, does not refer to Pope Stephen I as a martyr. This is in contrast to later traditions, such as those found in the "Golden Legend," which recount that he was beheaded on August 2, 257, by the emperor's men while celebrating Mass during a renewed persecution under Emperor Valerian. As late as the 18th century, a chair allegedly belonging to Stephen, still said to be stained with blood, was preserved.
Stephen I's feast day is observed on August 2. In modern liturgical calendars, his commemoration has been subsumed. When the new feast of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori was assigned to August 2 in 1839, Stephen I was mentioned only as a commemoration. The 1969 revision of the calendar removed his mention from the General Roman Calendar, although his feast may still be celebrated locally or by those using the pre-1969 calendar.
Pope Stephen I is recognized as the patron of Hvar and Modigliana Cathedral. He is venerated in the Catholic Church.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pope Stephen I the Bishop of Rome?
Pope Stephen I served as the Bishop of Rome from May 12, 254, until his death on August 2, 257.
What was Pope Stephen I's stance on baptism?
He held that converts who had been baptized by schismatics did not need to be re-baptized. This view eventually won broad acceptance in the Latin Church.
Was Pope Stephen I considered a martyr?
While some accounts, like the Golden Legend, suggest he was martyred by beheading during Emperor Valerian's persecution, the most ancient lists of popes, such as the Depositio episcoporum of 354, do not speak of him as a martyr, and he is not celebrated as such by the Catholic Church.
What is Pope Stephen I remembered for besides baptism?
He is also mentioned as having insisted on the restoration of bishops of León and Astorga, who had been deposed for unfaithfulness during the persecution but later repented.
What is Pope Stephen I's feast day?
Pope Stephen I's feast day in the Catholic Church is celebrated on August 2.
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