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| Pontian (R) and Hippolytus (L) |
Pope Saint Pontian
Also known as
Pontianus
memorial
19 November
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Our Saint for today was the third Pope to reign, this during the Schism of Antipope Saint Hippolytus of Rome around the year 230. He was the 18th pope overall. Pontian was forgiving toward the Lapsi, those who renounced the faith in the face of persecution, continuing the practice of his predecessors. Hippolytus did not agree, and had himself set up as a rival Bishop of Rome (making Hippolytus the first antipope).
Pontian was exiled along with the antipope Saint Hippolytus by Emperor Maximinus Thrax. They were sent to Sardinia to work in the mines; from all accounts an extraordinarily unhealthy place.
Shortly afterward, in 235, both died there. Sometime before his death, Hippolytus and Pontian were reconciled. By the by, Hippolytus is the only Antipope recognized as a Saint in the church….Some say Pontian abdicated the Papacy just before he died so someone else could lead, either way he was so messed up from working the mines he died the same year, some accounts say the same day he would have abdicated making his abdication a moot point.
Pontian is buried in the catacombs of Callistus, his remains were returned to Rome by Pope Fabian.
19 November
Profile
Our Saint for today was the third Pope to reign, this during the Schism of Antipope Saint Hippolytus of Rome around the year 230. He was the 18th pope overall. Pontian was forgiving toward the Lapsi, those who renounced the faith in the face of persecution, continuing the practice of his predecessors. Hippolytus did not agree, and had himself set up as a rival Bishop of Rome (making Hippolytus the first antipope).
Pontian was exiled along with the antipope Saint Hippolytus by Emperor Maximinus Thrax. They were sent to Sardinia to work in the mines; from all accounts an extraordinarily unhealthy place.
Shortly afterward, in 235, both died there. Sometime before his death, Hippolytus and Pontian were reconciled. By the by, Hippolytus is the only Antipope recognized as a Saint in the church….Some say Pontian abdicated the Papacy just before he died so someone else could lead, either way he was so messed up from working the mines he died the same year, some accounts say the same day he would have abdicated making his abdication a moot point.
Pontian is buried in the catacombs of Callistus, his remains were returned to Rome by Pope Fabian.
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