Pope Evaristus
Head of the Catholic Church from c. 99 to c. 107
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pope Evaristus (Greek: Ευάριστος) was the bishop of Rome from c. 99/100 to his death in 107/108.[1][2] He was also known as Aristus and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church,[3] and Oriental Orthodoxy. It is likely that John the Apostle died during his reign period, marking the end of the Apostolic Age.
_–_Sistine_Chapel_(1481).jpg)
Evaristus | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
15th century depiction by Sandro Botticelli, Sistine Chapel | |
| Church | Early Church |
| Papacy began | c. 100 |
| Papacy ended | c. 108 |
| Predecessor | Clement I |
| Successor | Alexander I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Died | c. 108 |
| Parents | Judah |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 26 October |
Biography
According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was a Greek by birth, fathered by a Greek Jew named Judah from the city of Bethlehem.[4] Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History, states that Evaristus took office in the 3rd year of Trajan's reign,[5] which correspond to AD 99/100,[6] and died in the 12th year of the same reign (AD 108/109) after holding the office for nine years.[7] He divided titles among the priests in the city of Rome, and ordained seven deacons to assist with the bishop's preaching.[4]
According to the Rev. John F. Sullivan, Evaristus decreed that “in accordance with Apostolic tradition marriage should be celebrated publicly and with the blessing of the priest”.[8] Liber Pontificalis further describes him as the one "crowned with martyrdom".[4] The same is indicated also by French historian Alexis-François Artaud de Montor.[9] However, in the Roman Martyrology he is listed without the martyr title, with a feast day on 26 October.[10]
Pope Evaristus is buried near the body of Saint Peter in the Vatican, in Saint Peter's tomb under Saint Peter's Basilica.[11]
