Popes Through History

    From BelieveTheSign
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    Irenaeus commended the Church at Rome for their Apostolic succession, which is an unbroken line of Bishops in the Churches since the apostles. Irenaeus, who was only the third from the Apostles (through Polycarp to John), wrote:

    Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority,(3) that is, the faithful every-where, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those faithful men who exist everywhere.

    Another translation of the last statement of this is:

    "On account of the chief magistracy [of the empire], the faithful from all parts, representing every Church, are obliged to resort to Rome, and there to come together; so that [it is the distinction of this Church that], in it, the tradition of the apostles has been preserved by Christians gathered together out of all the Churches."

    Despite this apostolic succession, which Irenaeus reckoned was present in most churches, Irenaeus himself traveled to Rome to rebuke two Bishops during his lifetime (much like Paul did to Peter) and both submitted to his rebuke.

    Heresies arise within established Churches when they do not take correction. This history shows how the heart of the Church at Rome was lost to sin, while retaining its pious exterior. Apostolic succession is no replacement for repentance and conversion.


    67 A.D. to 200 A.D.

    Early Bishops of Rome (from Liber Pontificalus, and the writings of Irenaeus)
    Name Start End Significant activity
    Linus 67 79 Taught that women should cover their heads.
    Anacletus 79 88 Ordained a number of priests
    Clement I 88 98 Wrote a letter to the Corinthians
    Evaristus 98 105 None known
    Alexander I 105 115 None known
    Sixtus 117 126 Decreed that
    • Only ministers can touch the holy vessels,
    • Bishops returning from visiting Rome should not be accepted without a letter,
    • Priests should recite the Sanctus (a song) with the people.
    Telesphorus 126 137 Started to celebrate Easter on the Sunday after Passover
    Hyginus 138 140 Defined the grades of ecclesiastical hierarchy
    Pius 140 154 None known
    Anicetus 154 167 Moderately condemned the heresy of Montanism, Gnosticism and Marcionism. Met with Polycarp and accepted that the date of the celebration of Easter should be decided by churches individually.
    Soter 167 174 Decreed that marriage is only valid if blessed by a priest.
    Early Bishops of Rome (from Liber Pontificalus, a Roman Catholic document)
    Name Start End Significant activity
    Eleuterus 174 189 Decree that no kind of food should be despised by Christians. Mild response to Montanism
    Victor I 189 199 From Africa, he (1) started mass in latin, and (2) excommunicated himself from all other churches for not agreeing with him on the date of Easter. After a rebuke from Irenaeus, he resumed this fellowship.
    Zephyrinus 199 217 Decreed that excommunicated sinners could be absolved through pennance. Hippolytus (who claimed to be a disciple of Irenaeus) officially broke with the Church of Rome under Zphyrinus, and is often called the first antipope.
    Callixtus 217 222 Established the practice of the absolution of all repented sins. Was similar to Irenaeus in his doctrine of the Godhead, and was rebuked by Hippolytus and Tertullian, who were both early Trinitarians, for his doctrine and morals.
    Urban 1 222 230 None known
    Pontian 230 235 Died in exile with Hippolytus.
    Anterus 235 236 None known
    Fabian 236 250 Sent men to evangelize Gaul after the persecutions of Emperor Decius had reduced the Christian population (Gaul was the area where Irenaeus had ministered).
    Cornelius 250 253 Little known, Excommunicated Novation.
    Lucius 1 253 254 Known for relaxed view on restoration of backsliders
    Stephen 1 254 257 Declared that those baptised in splinter churches do not need rebaptism
    Sixtus II 257 258 Little known.
    Dionysius 259 268 Reorganized Roman Church, assisted church in Cappadocia, and demanded doctrine on Godhead from the church in Alexandria
    Felix I 269 274 Wrote a letter to Alexandrian church in support of the Trinity and Incarnation.
    Eutychian 275 283 Little known.
    Caius 283 296 Little known.
    Marcellinus 296 304 Recanted Christianity and sacrificed to idols at Emperor Diocletian's persecution, but later recanted and was martyred.
    Marcellus I 308 309 Required severe penance for those that backslid during Diocletian's persecution, and was ousted by Emperor Maxentius because of the resulting inter-christian feuds.
    Eusebius 309 309 Lasted as Bishop for one day. Was ousted by Empereor Maxentius for not stopping the inter-Christian riots by admitting the backslidden without pennance.
    Miltiades 310 314 Little known.


    Early Bishops of Rome (from Liber Pontificalus, a Roman Catholic document)
    Name Start End Significant activity
    Silvester I 314 335 Present at the Council of Nicea, gave gifts to Constantine I, condemned Arianism.
    Mark 336 336 Little known, died of natural causes.
    Julius I 337 352 Involved in Arian controversy, and deposition of Athanasius. Wrote "Can you be ignorant, that this is the custom, that we should be written to first, so that from here what is just may be defined" (Epistle of Julius to Antioch, c. xxii).
    Liberius 352 366 Admitted to membership the more moderate Arians
    Damasus I 366 383 Supporters killed opposing deacon. Accused of Murder and adultery. Established the Vulgate (latin translation of the Bible), and set the modern Catholic Canon.
    Siricius 384 399 Protested the death sentence of Priscillian, along with Martin of Tours, by Emperor Magnus Maximus as requested by Bishops from Hispania.
    Anastasius I 399 401 FIRST BISHOP TO USE THE TITLE OF POPE. Condemned writings of Origen
    Innocent I 402 417 Expanded Rome's authority as the universal settler of disputes
    Zosimus 417 418 Fought to establish Rome's authority. Decreed on the blessing of Easter candles.
    Boniface I 418 422 Defended the rights of the Pope
    Celestine I 422 432 Did not tolerate any deviation from his predecessor's decrees.
    Sixtus III 432 440 Dedicated the Basilica "Santa Maria Maggiore" to Mary, the Mother of God. (Official title from Council of Ephesus in 431)
    Leo I 440 461 Convinced Attila the Hun not to sack Rome. Increased and extended Papal Authority over various areas (i.e. Gaul), "What Leo believes we all believe, anathema to him who believes anything else. Peter has spoken through the mouth of Leo."
    Hilarius 461 468 Fought to establish Rome's authority, and contended with Emperor Anthemius to not allow other churches in Rome.
    Simplicius 468 483 Fought heresy and established the Pope's powers.
    Felix II 483 492 Fought against heretics and anyone exercising Rome's authority
    Gelasius I 492 496 Prolific writer on the Primacy of the Pope. Replaced the pagan festival of fertility and purification (February), with the celebration of the Virgin Mary. Fought with eastern Church over God having two divine natures (Rome's view) vs. one divine nature (Eastern view).
    Anastasius II 496 498 Endeavoured to reconcile with the eastern Church, and is vilified by subsequent Popes for doing this.
    Symmachus 498 514 Accused by Senator Festus of fornication, decreed to be above reproach by human court, but not cleared of charges.
    Hormisdas 514 523 Ended the schism with the eastern Churches, with Rome victorious
    John I 523 526 Put in prison by Theodoric the Great for not listening to him.
    Felix IV 526 530 The choice of Tehodoric the Great for Pope. Defined church teaching on grace and free-will.
    Boniface II 530 532 Little known
    John II 533 535 First pope to adopt another name. Dealt with the election process of Popes.
    Agapetus I 535 536 Secured a written declaration of faith from Eastern Emperor Justinian I.
    Silverius 536 537 Opposed the Monophysite heresy. Deposed on account of treason.
    Vigilius 537 555 Silverius put in his keeping, where he soon died. Fought hard against Monophysitism, and eventually fled Rome when it was attacked by the Goths.
    Pelagius I 556 561 Accepted Emperor Justinians "three chapters" reconciliation of monophysitism, which subsequent Popes tried to reverse. Was in Rome when sacked by Totila the Goth.
    John III 561 574 Little known
    Benedict I 575 579 Election confirmed by the Byzantium emperor. Little known
    Pelagius II 579 590 Promoted the celibacy of the clergy
    Gregory I 590 604 Converted the Anglo-Saxon kings (through arranged marriages) to counter the spread of Christianity from Ireland, which had developed independently from Rome.
    Sabinian 604 606 Little known, started the ringing of Bells at the Eucharist.


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