A Pope of Greek origin born in Athens, Saint Anaclet governed the Church for more than nine years in the 1st century. A disciple of Saint Peter who ordained him a priest, he organized the ecclesiastical hierarchy before dying a martyr in Rome in the year 96. He is historically distinguished from Saint Clet by his origins and his priestly path.
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SAINT ANACLET, POPE AND MARTYR IN ROME
Government and Martyrdom
Saint Anaclet organized the early Church through ordinations and the care of martyrs before suffering martyrdom himself under a tyrant and being buried at the Vatican.
to bury there those who suffered martyrdom. He celebrated Ordinations twice, in which he created six bishops, five priests, and three deacons.
Among the multitude of Christian condemned, whom the fury of a tyrant sent to martyrdom every d ay, Pope Saint Anacle le pape saint Anaclet Pope contemporary to the end of the saint's life. t could not long escape the search of the executioners. In anticipation of the fate that awaited him, he had, the previous year, conferred episcopa l ordina Evariste Successor of Anacletus, ordained bishop by him. tion upon the priest Evariste. Finally, this blessed Pope, after having governed the Church for nine years, three months, and ten days, won the palm of martyrdom on July 13, in the year of Jesus Christ 96, and was bur ied at the V Saint Ignace Bishop of Antioch and witness to the life of Anacletus. atican. Saint Ignatius, in a lette r he wrote to Ma Marie Casabolite Recipient of a letter from Saint Ignatius. ry Casabolite, speaks with great praise of Saint Anaclet.
Distinction between Anacletus and Cletus
The text refutes the confusion between Anacletus, of Greek origin and ordained priest by Saint Peter, and Saint Cletus, of Roman origin and ordained bishop by the same apostle.
A great number of authors have believed they could affirm the identity of Saint Cl etus and Sain saint Anaclet Pope contemporary to the end of the saint's life. t Anacletus; however, the detailed particulars provided regarding the Greek origin of Saint Anacletus, his birth in Athens, and the name of his father, Antiochus, do not allow him to be confused with Saint Cletus, of Roman origin, born in the Vicus Patricii, in the Esquiline district, and having Aemilianus as his father. Another circumstance is no less decisive against the system of identifying the two Popes. It is known that Saint Cletus was ordained b ishop by the saint Pierre Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. very hand of Saint Peter. Now, the Liber Pontificalis expressly notes that Saint Anacletus had re chef des Apôtres Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. ceived from the head of the Apostles only priestly consecration.
Documentary Sources
References to major historical sources, notably the Liber Pontificalis and the works of Darras and Artand de Hunter.
*Liber Pontificalis; History of the Church, by D arras. Darras Church historian cited as a source. — Cf. History of the Roman Sovereign Pontiffs, by Artand de Hunter Artand de Hunter Historian of the popes cited as a source. .*
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Priestly ordination by Saint Peter
- Governed the Church for nine years, three months, and ten days
- Celebration of two Ordinations (creation of six bishops, five priests, and three deacons)
- Episcopal ordination of Evaristus
- Martyrdom under a tyrant in the year 96