Anastasius I | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 27 November 399 |
| Papacy ended | 19 December 401 |
| Predecessor | Siricius |
| Successor | Innocent I |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 19 December 401 Rome, Western Roman Empire |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 19 December |
| Other popes named Anastasius | |
Pope Anastasius I was the bishop of Rome from 27 November 399 to his death on 19 December 401.[1]
Anastasius was born in Rome, and was the son of Maximus. He succeeded Siricius as pope and condemned the writings of the Alexandrian theologian Origen shortly after their translation into Latin. He fought against these writings throughout his papacy, and in 400 he called a council to discuss them. The council agreed that Origen was not faithful to the Church.[2]
If Origen has put forth any other writings, you are to know that they and their author are alike condemned by me. The Lord have you in safe keeping, my lord and brother deservedly held in honour.
— letter to Simplicianus, [3]
During his reign, he also encouraged Christians in North Africa to fight Donatism.[2] He instructed priests to stand and bow their head as they read from the gospels.[1] Among his friends were Augustine, Jerome, and Paulinus. Jerome speaks of him as a man of great holiness who was rich in his poverty.[4] He died in Rome[5] and was eventually buried in the Catacomb of Pontian together with his immediate successor, Innocent I. Jerome also referred to Anastasius as Innocent's father, although scholars have argued this was displaying a hierarchical relationship rather than a biological one.[6]
- ^ a b "Saint of the Day, December 19". SaintPatrickDC.org. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Pope Anastasius I". The Ecole Glossary. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010.
- ^ "Letter XCV. From Pope Anastasius to Simplicianus". The Principal Works of St. Jerome.
- ^ Campbell, Thomas (1907). "Pope St. Anastasius I". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Saint Anastasius I". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Dunn, Geoffrey (2007). "Anastasius I and Innocent I: Reconsidering the Evidence of Jerome". Vigiliae Christianae. 61 (1): 30–41. doi:10.1163/004260307x164476. ISSN 0042-6032.