Pope Anicetus ( Greek: Ανίκητος) was the bishop of Rome from c. 157 to his death in April 168.Campbell, Thomas (1907). "Pope St. Anicetus" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company. According to the '' Annuario Pontificio'', the start of his papacy may have been 153. Anicetus actively opposed

Gnosticism Gnosticism (from Ancient Greek language, Ancient Greek: , Romanization of Ancient Greek, romanized: ''gnōstikós'', Koine Greek: Help:IPA/Greek, �nostiˈkos 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced ...

and Marcionism. He welcomed Polycarp of Smyrna to

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

to discuss the Easter controversy.

Biography

According to the '' Liber Pontificalis'', Anicetus was a Syrian from the city of Emesa (modern-day Homs). According to

Irenaeus Irenaeus ( or ; ; ) was a Greeks, Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christianity, Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by oppos ...

, it was during his pontificate that the aged Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of John the Evangelist, visited Rome to discuss the celebration of

Easter Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...

with Anicetus. Polycarp and his Church of Smyrna celebrated the crucifixion on the fourteenth day of Nisan, which coincides with Pesach (or Passover) regardless of which day of the week upon this date fell, while the Roman Church celebrated Easter on Sunday—the weekday of

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

's resurrection. The two did not agree on a common date, but Anicetus conceded to Polycarp and the Church of Smyrna the ability to retain the date to which they were accustomed. The controversy was to grow heated in the following centuries.Irenaeus, cited in Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'', 5.24; translated by G.A. Williamson, ''Eusebius: History of the Church'' (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1965), pp. 232f The Christian historian Hegesippus also visited

during Anicetus's pontificate. This visit is often cited as a sign of the early importance of the Roman See. Anicetus actively opposed the Gnostics and Marcionism.Butler, Alban. "St. Anicetus, Pope and Martyr", ''The Lives of the Saints'', Vol. IV: April. 1866
/ref> The ''Liber Pontificalis'' records that Anicetus decreed that priests are not allowed to have long hair (perhaps because the Gnostics wore long hair). According to church tradition, Anicetus suffered martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Lucius Verus, but there are no historical grounds for this account.Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), p. 120 16, 17 and 20 April are all cited as the date of his death, but 20 April is currently celebrated as his feast day.Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ) Before 1970, the date chosen was 17 April. The ''Liber Pontificalis'' states he was buried in the cemetery of Callistus.

References

External links

* * Duff, Eamon. ''Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes'', Yale University Press, 2001, p. 13. * Maxwell-Stuart, P. G. ''Chronicle of the Popes: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Papacy from St. Peter to the Present'', Thames & Hudson, 2002, p. 19. . *
Collected works of Migne Patrologia Latina
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anicetus, Pope Syrian Christian saints 168 deaths 2nd-century Christian saints 2nd-century Romans Ancient Christians involved in controversies Christian anti-Gnosticism Asian popes Saints from Roman Italy Papal saints People from Homs Popes Syrian popes Saints from Roman Syria Year of birth unknown 2nd-century popes Date of Easter 2nd-century religious leaders

Biography

See also

References

External links