Pope and Martyr from late 2nd century

St. Zephyrinus

Facts

Feastday: August 26
Death: 202

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Zephyrinus, Pope + Pope from 199-217. According to the Liber Pontificalis , he was a Roman by birth. His reign, as succcssor to St. Victor I (r. 189-199), was dominated by the troubles caused by several heretical groups and the severe persecution of the Church launched by Emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193-211) around 202. The antipope Hippolytus criticized his vacillation in dealing with the Monarchian heretics. According to tradition, Zephyrinus was martyred. Feast day: August 26.