Editing Pope Fabian

{{Short description|Head of the Catholic Church from 236 to 250}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Pope
| honorific-prefix = [[Pope Saint]]
| name = Fabian
| title = [[Bishop of Rome]]
| church = [[Catholic Church]]
| image = Saints Fabian and Sebastian - Giovanni di Paolo.png
| imagesize = 
| caption = ''Saint Fabian and [[Saint Sebastian|Sebastian]]'' by [[Giovanni di Paolo]] (c. 1450). Fabian wears an anachronistic [[papal tiara]].
| term_start = 10 January 236
| term_end = 20 January 250
| predecessor = [[Pope Anterus|Anterus]]
| successor = [[Pope Cornelius|Cornelius]]
| birth_name = Fabianus
| birth_place = [[Rome]], [[Roman Italy|Italy]], [[Roman Empire]]
| death_date = 20 January 250
| death_place = [[Rome]], [[Roman Italy|Italy]], [[Roman Empire]]
| parents = Fabius
| feast_day = 20 January (Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion)<br/> 5 August<ref name="Άγιος">{{cite web |language = el |url = http://www.saint.gr/2229/saint.aspx |title = Άγιος Φάβιος ο Ιερομάρτυρας επίσκοπος Ρώμης Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής }}</ref> (Orthodox Church)<br/>7<ref name="Amshir7">{{cite web |url=http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/6_7.html |title=Commemorations for Amshir 7: The Martyrdom of St. Fabianus (Fabrianus), Pope of Rome |website=Coptic Orthodox Church Network |publisher=St. Mark Coptic Church |access-date=7 January 2020 }}</ref> & 11<ref name="Amshir11">{{cite web |url=http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/6_11.html |title=Commemorations for Amshir 11: The Martyrdom of St. Fabianus (Fabrianus), Pope of Rome |website=Coptic Orthodox Church Network |publisher=St. Mark Coptic Church |access-date=7 January 2020 }}</ref> [[Meshir]] ([[Coptic Christianity]])
| venerated = [[Catholic Church]]<br/>[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<br/>[[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodoxy]]<br/>[[Anglican Communion]]
| attributes = {{unbulleted list|[[Dove]]|Papal vestments|[[Papal tiara]]}}
}}

'''Pope Fabian''' ({{langx|la|Fabianus}}) was the [[bishop of Rome]] from 10 January 236 until his death on 20 January 250,<ref name="ce">{{cite book |last = Meier |first =  Gabriel |year = 1909 |chapter = Pope St. Fabian |title = The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume = 5 |location = New York |publisher = Robert Appleton Company }}</ref> succeeding [[Pope Anterus|Anterus]]. A [[Doves as symbols|dove]] is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]]'s unexpected choice to become the next pope.<ref name=SHMI>{{cite book|first= Paolo O. |last = Pirlo|title=My First Book of Saints|year=1997|publisher=Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate – Quality Catholic Publications|isbn=978-971-91595-4-4|pages=24|chapter=St. Fabian}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Pope Cornelius|Cornelius]].

Most of his papacy was characterized by amicable relations with the imperial government, and the schism between the Roman congregations of [[Pope Pontian|Pontian]] and [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]] was ended. He divided Rome into [[diaconate]]s and appointed secretaries to collect the records of the martyrs. He sent out seven "apostles to the Gauls" as missionaries, but probably did not baptize Emperor [[Philip the Arab]] as is alleged. He died a martyr at the beginning of the [[Decian persecution]] and is venerated as a [[saint]] by the [[Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]].<ref name="ce"/><ref name=SHMI />

==Early life and accession==
According to the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', Fabian was a [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|noble Roman]] by birth, and his father's name was [[Fabia gens|Fabius]]. Nothing more is known about his background. The legend concerning the circumstances of his election is preserved by the fourth-century writer [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] (''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Church History]]'', VI. 29).<ref name="Attwater">{{cite book |last1 = Attwater |first1 = Donald |first2 = Catherine Rachel |last2 = John |title = The Penguin Dictionary of Saints |edition = 3rd |location = New York |publisher = Penguin Books |year = 1993 |isbn = 0-14-051312-4 }}</ref> One authority refers to him as "Flavian".<ref name="EB"/>

After the short reign of [[Pope Anterus]], Fabian had come to Rome from the countryside when the new [[Papal selection before 1059|papal election]] began. "Although present", says Eusebius, Fabian "was in the mind of none". While the names of several illustrious and noble churchmen were being considered over the course of thirteen days, a dove suddenly descended upon the head of Fabian. To the assembled electors, this strange sight recalled the gospel scene of the [[Sign of the Dove|descent of the Holy Spirit]] on [[Jesus]] at the time of his baptism by [[John the Baptist]]. The congregation took this as a sign that he was marked out for this dignity, and Fabian was at once proclaimed bishop by [[Acclamation (Papal elections)|acclamation]].<ref name="Attwater" />

==Papacy==
During Fabian's reign of 14 years, there was a lull in the persecution which had resulted in the exile of both [[Pope Anterus|Anterus]]' predecessor [[Pope Pontian|Pontian]] and the antipope (and later saint) [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]]. Fabian had enough influence at court to effect the return of the bodies of both of these martyrs from Sardinia, where they had died at hard labor in the mines. The report that he baptized the emperor [[Philip the Arab]] and his son, however, is probably a legend, although he did seem to enjoy some connections at court, since the bodies of Pontian and Hippolytus could not have been exhumed without the emperor's approval.<ref name ="EB">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Fabian, Saint |volume= 10 | page= 113}}</ref>

According to the sixth-century historian and hagiographer [[Gregory of Tours]]<ref>Gregory, ''Historia Francorum'' I §30, giving as his source the Martyrdom of [[Saturnin]].</ref> Fabian sent out the "apostles to the Gauls" to Christianise [[Gaul]] in A.D. 245. Fabian sent seven bishops from [[Rome]] to Gaul to preach the Gospel: [[Gatianus of Tours]] to [[Tours]], [[Trophimus of Arles]] to [[Arles]], [[Paul of Narbonne]] to [[Narbonne]], [[Saturnin]] to [[Toulouse]], [[Saint Denis of Paris|Denis]] to [[Paris]], [[Austromoine]] to [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Clermont|Clermont]], and [[Saint Martial|Martial]] to [[Limoges]]. He also condemned Privatus, the originator of a new [[heresy]] in [[Africa]].<ref name=SHMI />

The ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'' says that Fabian divided the Christian communities of Rome into seven districts, each supervised by a [[deacon]]. [[Eusebius]] (VI §43) adds that he appointed seven subdeacons to help collect the ''acta'' of the martyrs—the reports of the court proceedings on the occasion of their trials.<ref name="EB"/> There is also a tradition that he instituted the four minor clerical orders: porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. However most scholars believe these offices evolved gradually and were formally instituted at a later date.<ref name="EB"/>

His deeds are thus described in the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'': 
<blockquote>{{lang|la|Hic regiones dividit diaconibus et fecit vii subdiacones, qui vii notariis imminerent, Ut gestas martyrum integro fideliter colligerent, et multas fabricas per cymiteria fieri praecepit.}}<br />

He divided the ''[[14 regions of Augustan Rome|regiones]]'' into deaconships and made seven sub-deaconships which seven secretaries oversaw, so that they brought together the deeds of the martyrs faithfully made whole, and he brought forth many works in the cemeteries.</blockquote>

The ''[[Liberian Catalogue]]'' of the popes also reports that Fabian initiated considerable work on the [[catacombs]], where honored Christians were interred, and where he also caused the body of Pontian to be entombed at the [[catacomb of Callixtus]].<ref name="ce"/>

==Martyrdom and legacy==
With the ascension of [[Roman emperor|Emperor]] [[Decius]], the Roman government's tolerant policy toward Christianity temporarily ended. Decius ordered everyone in the Empire,  with the exception of Jews, to demonstrate loyalty to Rome by offering [[incense]] to the [[cult image]]s of deities that represented the Roman state. This was unacceptable to many Christians who took the commandment against [[idolatry]] seriously. Fabian was one of the earliest victims of Decius, dying as a [[martyr]] on 20 January 250, at the beginning of the [[Decian persecution]], though probably in prison, rather than by execution.<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Pope St. Fabian}}</ref>

Fabian was interred in the [[catacomb of Callixtus]] in Rome. The Greek inscription on his tomb has survived,<ref name="Attwater"/> and bears the words: "Fabian, Bishop, Martyr".<ref name=SHMI /> Fabian's remains were later reinterred at [[San Sebastiano fuori le mura]] by [[Pope Clement XI]] where the Albani Chapel is dedicated in his honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enrosadira.it/santi/f/fabiano.htm|title=San Fabiano, papa, e martire}}</ref>

Fabian's feast day is commemorated on 20 January in the [[Catholic Church]], the same as [[Saint Sebastian]].<ref>{{cite book |last = Gross |first = Ernie |title = This Day in Religion |year=1989 |location = New York |publisher = Neal-Schuman Publishers |isbn = 1-55570-045-4 }}</ref> Fabian's feast day in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] is 5 August,<ref name="Άγιος"/> and in [[Coptic Christianity]] it is 7<ref name="Amshir7">{{cite web |url=http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/6_7.html |title=Commemorations for Amshir 7: The Martyrdom of St. Fabianus (Fabrianus), Pope of Rome |website=Coptic Orthodox Church Network |publisher=St. Mark Coptic Church |access-date=7 January 2020 }}</ref> and 11 Meshir.<ref name="Amshir11">{{cite web |url=http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/6_11.html |title=Commemorations for Amshir 11: The Martyrdom of St. Fabianus (Fabrianus), Pope of Rome |website=Coptic Orthodox Church Network |publisher=St. Mark Coptic Church |access-date=7 January 2020 }}</ref> The church of [[Santi Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli]] (1936) in [[Rome]] is named in his honour, and also in that of Saint [[Venantius of Camerino]] who died in the same persecutions.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VPefDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Fabiano+e+Venanzio%22&pg=PT215|title=Rosa Tea|first=Sonia|last=Milan|date=2019|publisher=Bibliotheka Edizioni|isbn=9788869345753|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Fabian was highly esteemed by [[Cyprian]]. Cyprian's letter to Fabian's successor, [[Pope Cornelius|Cornelius]], calls him "incomparable" and says that the glory of his martyrdom answered the purity and holiness of his life (Cyprian, ''Epistle'' 30). [[Novatian]] refers to his ''nobilissima memoriae'', and he corresponded with [[Origen]].<ref name="EB"/>

Fabian is honored on the [[Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church)|liturgical calendar]] of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church in the United States of America]] on 20 January.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fabian, Bishop and Martyr, 250 |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary/fabian/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=The Episcopal Church |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Catholic Church|Ancient Rome}}
*[[Papacy in early Christianity]]
*[[List of canonised popes]]
*[[List of popes who died violently]]
*[[List of Christian martyrs]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fabianus}}
{{wikisource author}}
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05742d.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: ''Pope St. Fabian'']
*[http://www.stpetersbasilica.info/Exterior/Colonnades/Saints/St%20Fabian-78/StFabian.htm Colonnade Statue in St Peter's Square]

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|grt}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pope Anterus|Anterus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Rome]]|years=236–250}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pope Cornelius|Cornelius]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Popes}}
{{Catholic saints}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fabian}}
[[Category:200 births]]
[[Category:250 deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century archbishops]]
[[Category:3rd-century Christian martyrs]]
[[Category:3rd-century Romans]]
[[Category:Burials at San Sebastiano fuori le mura]]
[[Category:Papal saints]]
[[Category:Popes]]
[[Category:3rd-century popes]]
[[Category:Fabii]]
[[Category:Anglican saints]]