Pope Fabian (Latin:Fabianus) was thebishop of Rome from 10 January 236 until his death on 20 January 250,[4] succeedingAnterus. Adove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as theHoly Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope.[5] He was succeeded byCornelius.
Most of his papacy was characterized by amicable relations with the imperial government, and the schism between the Roman congregations ofPontian andHippolytus was ended. He divided Rome intodiaconates and appointed secretaries to collect the records of the martyrs. He sent out seven "apostles to the Gauls" as missionaries, but probably did not baptize EmperorPhilip the Arab as is alleged. He died a martyr at the beginning of theDecian persecution and is venerated as asaint by theCatholic Church and theOrthodox Church.[4][5]
According to theLiber Pontificalis, Fabian was anoble Roman by birth, and his father's name wasFabius. Nothing more is known about his background. The legend concerning the circumstances of his election is preserved by the fourth-century writerEusebius of Caesarea (Church History, VI. 29).[6] One authority refers to him as "Flavian".[7]
After the short reign ofPope Anterus, Fabian had come to Rome from the countryside when the newpapal election began. "Although present", says Eusebius, Fabian "was in the mind of none". While the names of several illustrious and noble churchmen were being considered over the course of thirteen days, a dove suddenly descended upon the head of Fabian. To the assembled electors, this strange sight recalled the gospel scene of thedescent of the Holy Spirit onJesus at the time of his baptism byJohn the Baptist. The congregation took this as a sign that he was marked out for this dignity, and Fabian was at once proclaimed bishop byacclamation.[6]
During Fabian's reign of 14 years, there was a lull in the persecution which had resulted in the exile of bothAnterus' predecessorPontian and the antipope (and later saint)Hippolytus. Fabian had enough influence at court to effect the return of the bodies of both of these martyrs from Sardinia, where they had died at hard labor in the mines. The report that he baptized the emperorPhilip the Arab and his son, however, is probably a legend, although he did seem to enjoy some connections at court, since the bodies of Pontian and Hippolytus could not have been exhumed without the emperor's approval.[7]
TheLiber Pontificalis says that Fabian divided the Christian communities of Rome into seven districts, each supervised by adeacon.Eusebius (VI §43) adds that he appointed seven subdeacons to help collect theacta of the martyrs—the reports of the court proceedings on the occasion of their trials.[7] There is also a tradition that he instituted the four minor clerical orders: porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. However most scholars believe these offices evolved gradually and were formally instituted at a later date.[7]
Hic regiones dividit diaconibus et fecit vii subdiacones, qui vii notariis imminerent, Ut gestas martyrum integro fideliter colligerent, et multas fabricas per cymiteria fieri praecepit. He divided theregiones into deaconships and made seven sub-deaconships which seven secretaries oversaw, so that they brought together the deeds of the martyrs faithfully made whole, and he brought forth many works in the cemeteries.
TheLiberian Catalogue of the popes also reports that Fabian initiated considerable work on thecatacombs, where honored Christians were interred, and where he also caused the body of Pontian to be entombed at thecatacomb of Callixtus.[4]
With the ascension ofEmperorDecius, the Roman government's tolerant policy toward Christianity temporarily ended. Decius ordered everyone in the Empire, with the exception of Jews, to demonstrate loyalty to Rome by offeringincense to thecult images of deities that represented the Roman state. This was unacceptable to many Christians who took the commandment againstidolatry seriously. Fabian was one of the earliest victims of Decius, dying as amartyr on 20 January 250, at the beginning of theDecian persecution, though probably in prison, rather than by execution.[9]
Fabian was interred in thecatacomb of Callixtus in Rome. The Greek inscription on his tomb has survived,[6] and bears the words: "Fabian, Bishop, Martyr".[5] Fabian's remains were later reinterred atSan Sebastiano fuori le mura byPope Clement XI where the Albani Chapel is dedicated in his honour.[10]
Fabian was highly esteemed byCyprian. Cyprian's letter to Fabian's successor,Cornelius, calls him "incomparable" and says that the glory of his martyrdom answered the purity and holiness of his life (Cyprian,Epistle 30).Novatian refers to hisnobilissima memoriae, and he corresponded withOrigen.[7]
^abcMeier, Gabriel (1909). "Pope St. Fabian".The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^abcdPirlo, Paolo O. (1997). "St. Fabian".My First Book of Saints. Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate – Quality Catholic Publications. p. 24.ISBN978-971-91595-4-4.
^abcAttwater, Donald; John, Catherine Rachel (1993).The Penguin Dictionary of Saints (3rd ed.). New York: Penguin Books.ISBN0-14-051312-4.
