Hieromartyr3rd century

Hieromartyr Stephen Pope of Rome, and Companions

Died 2 August 257

Also known as Stephen I of Rome

A bishop of Rome who upheld the unity of the Church against the Novatian schism and was martyred with companions under Valerian.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome

Life

Stephen I was Bishop of Rome from 12 May 254 to 2 August 257. According to the sources, he was born in Rome into a noble Roman family that had long since converted to Christianity, with his father named Jovius; one account also describes him as of Roman and Greek ancestry. Before his election he served as archdeacon under his predecessor, Pope Lucius I, who designated him as his successor.

His pontificate was dominated by controversies over how to receive Christians who had lapsed during the Decian persecution (250–251) and converts coming from schismatic sects. He is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox tradition as a hieromartyr, a holy martyr-bishop, with his death traditionally placed under the persecution of the Emperor Valerian.

The Orthodox commemoration is titled 'Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome, and Companions.' The available sources do not name the companions individually; they appear to be associated with his death during the Valerian persecution of 257. He is a pre-schism Western saint, venerated as Orthodox.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood.
Hieromartyr Stephen entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

12 May 254Elected Bishop of RomeStephen, who had served as archdeacon under his predecessor Pope Lucius I, was designated as successor and became Bishop of Rome.
254–257The rebaptism and Novatianism controversiesStephen maintained that converts baptized by schismatics need not be re-baptized, clashing with Cyprian of Carthage, and contended against Novatianism, urging action against Marcian of Arles and the restoration of the repentant bishops of León and Astorga.
2 August 257Martyrdom under ValerianStephen died in Rome during Valerian's persecution, by tradition beheaded; he was succeeded by Sixtus II. He is venerated as a hieromartyr in the Orthodox tradition.

Contributions & Legacy

4 contributionsReadHide

The Rebaptism Controversy

The major theological dispute of Stephen's pontificate concerned the treatment of converts who had been baptized by schismatic sects. Stephen held that such converts did not need to be re-baptized — a conciliatory position that, according to the sources, eventually won broad acceptance in the Latin Church.

This put him in sharp conflict with Cyprian of Carthage and the African bishops, who maintained the opposite view and required the rebaptism of those baptized outside the Church. The dispute grew heated, and Cyprian is reported to have described Stephen as 'quarrelsome' in his letters.

Against Novatianism and the Discipline of the Lapsed

Stephen contended against the Novatianist position, which denied penance and communion to repentant Christians who had lapsed under persecution. Bishop Faustinus of Lyon urged him to act against Marcian, the Novatianist bishop of Arles, who refused penance and communion to repentant lapsed Christians.

Stephen also insisted on the restoration of the bishops of León and Astorga in Spain. These bishops had been deposed for unfaithfulness during the persecution but had afterwards repented, and Stephen upheld their reinstatement.

Martyrdom

The sources place Stephen's death during the renewed persecution of Christians under the Emperor Valerian, traditionally on 2 August 257. According to the Golden Legend, Valerian resumed the persecution in 257, and Stephen was beheaded while seated on his pontifical throne celebrating Mass; another account places his execution at the temple of Mars.

The sources note a historical uncertainty: the Depositio episcoporum of 354 does not speak of Pope Stephen I as a martyr, and the Roman Catholic Church does not celebrate him as one. He is nonetheless venerated as a hieromartyr in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. He was succeeded as Bishop of Rome by Sixtus II; the OCA synaxarion notes that Sixtus became bishop following the martyric death of Stephen.

Relics & Shrines

A relic said to contain Stephen's head is preserved in Speyer Cathedral in Germany. In the eighteenth century, what was said to be his chair — still allegedly stained with blood — was also preserved.

His feast day is observed on 2 August. The Roman Catholic Church removed him from the General Roman Calendar in the 1969 revision.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Successor: the pope who succeeded Stephen and was himself martyred under Valerian soon after, in 258.

Martyrs Pope Sixtus IIFelicissimus, Agapitus, and Romanus of Rome

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Disputant: the Bishop of Carthage who opposed Stephen over the rebaptism of those baptized by schismatics.

Hieromartyr CyprianBishop of Carthage

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints