Pope Caius (died 22 April 296),[1] also calledGaius, was thebishop of Rome from 17 December 283 to his death in 296.[2] Little information on Caius is available except that given by theLiber Pontificalis, which relies on a legendary account of the martyrdom ofSusanna of Rome for its information. According to legend, Caius baptized the men and women who had been converted byTiburtius (who is venerated with Susanna) andCastulus.[3] His legend states that Caius took refuge in thecatacombs of Rome and died amartyr.[4]
Christian tradition makes Caius a native of theDalmatian city ofSalona, the son of a man also named Caius or Gaius, and a member of anoble family related to theEmperorDiocletian.[5] About 280, an early Christian house of worship was established on the site ofSanta Susanna, which, like many of the earliest Christian meeting places, was in a house (domus ecclesiae). Thedomus belonged, according to the sixth-centuryacta, to brothers named Caius and Gabinus, prominent Christians. Caius may be this pope, orCaius the Presbyter. Gabinus is the name given to the father of Susanna. Thus, sources state that Caius was the uncle of Susanna.[1]
As pope, Caius decreed that before someone could assume the position ofbishop, he must first beporter,lector,exorcist,acolyte,subdeacon,deacon, andpriest. He also divided the districts of Rome among the deacons.[4][6] During his pontificate,anti-Christian measures increased, although new churches were built and cemeteries were expanded.[5][4]
Pope Caius would go into hiding due to increased persecution of the church, alongside Saints Polycarp,Sebastian,Tranquillinus,Tiburtius, Nicostratus andZoe, in the house ofCastulus, a Christian officer employed at the Imperial Palace.[7] Over the course of the next few years, the entire group would be discovered one by one by Roman authorities and martyred.[7] Caius would be found praying with Tiburtius shortly after the conversion and baptism of Tiburtius' children and the pair was brought to the localPraefectus, a man named Fabian, who ordered the construction of a great bonfire, and ordered the two to either throwfrankincense into it to appease the Roman gods, or to cast themselves into it.[7] Although Pope Caius' ultimate fate is unclear, often being associated with beheading, according to legend Tiburtius walked into the fire invoking the name of Christ and remained unhurt, so he was taken out of Rome by theVia Labicana andbeheaded.[7] However, Caius' martyrdom is disputed, as theDiocletianic Persecution of Christians began in 303 AD, after Caius’ alleged death, and Diocletian was not immediately hostile to Christianity upon becoming emperor.[5][4]
Depiction of the alleged martyrdom of Pope Caius byLorenzo Monaco. It was originally part of the altarpiece of the church of San Gaggio in Florence.
Caius is mentioned in the fourth-centuryDepositio Episcoporum (therefore not as a martyr):X kl maii Caii in Callisti.[2]
Caius' tomb, with the original epitaph, was discovered in thecatacomb of Callixtus and in it the ring with which he used to seal his letters (see Arringhi, Roma subterr., 1. iv. c. xlviii. p. 426).[8] In 1631, his alleged residence in Rome was turned into a church. However, it was demolished in 1880 to make room for theMinistry of War, on theVia XX Settembre, and his relics were transferred to the chapel of theBarberini family.[5]
Saint Caius'sfeast day is celebrated on 22 April, as is that ofPope Soter. They are celebrated jointly in theTridentine calendar and in the successive versions of theGeneral Roman Calendar until that of 1969, since when they are omitted. Both are mentioned under 22 April in theRoman Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints. The entry for Saint Caius is as follows: "At Rome, in thecemetery of Callistus on theVia Appia, the burial of Saint Caius, Pope, who, fleeing from the persecution ofDiocletian, died as a confessor of the faith."[9]
Saint Caius is portrayed in art wearing thepapal tiara withSaint Nereus. He is venerated inDalmatia andVenice. In Florence, the church ofSan Gaggio on the via Senese was dedicated to him; the termGaggio is a corruption of the nameCajo. In 2003, plans were put into effect to turn it into residential council housing.[10]
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