Roman Catholic Pope and Saint. Probably a Roman by birth, he succeeded St. Urban I. The majority of his reign as pope was spent in synod condemning the heresy instigated by Origen. Time passed peacefully for the Church under the Emperor Severus. This would change when Maximinus became emperor and began to persecute Christians. Pontian was arrested and exiled to the mines in Sardinia. To allow a smooth papal transition, Pontian was the first pope to abdicate. He died in captivity probably beaten to death. Pope Fabian had his body returned to Rome and buried in the papal crypt. The slab covering his tomb was discovered in 1909. His feast day is November 19th.
Roman Catholic Pope and Saint. Probably a Roman by birth, he succeeded St. Urban I. The majority of his reign as pope was spent in synod condemning the heresy instigated by Origen. Time passed peacefully for the Church under the Emperor Severus. This would change when Maximinus became emperor and began to persecute Christians. Pontian was arrested and exiled to the mines in Sardinia. To allow a smooth papal transition, Pontian was the first pope to abdicate. He died in captivity probably beaten to death. Pope Fabian had his body returned to Rome and buried in the papal crypt. The slab covering his tomb was discovered in 1909. His feast day is November 19th.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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