Saint of the Day – 20 April – St Pope Anicetus (died c 20 April 168)

Saint of the Day – 20 April – St Pope Anicetus (died c 20 April 168) was the Bishop of Rome from c 157 to his death in 168.  According to the Annuario Pontificio, the start of his papacy may have been 153.   Anicetus actively opposed Gnosticism and Marcionism.   He welcomed Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155) to Rome, to discuss the controversy over the date for the celebration of Easter.

Born in Emesa, Syria at the end of the first century, he came along at a time when most of the Apostles had already died.   Anicetus was of the generation of leaders who had never met any of the original leaders of the fledgling Church.

It is said that Anicetus came to Rome with St Justin Martyr (100-165), one of the first Christian apologists.   On the martyrdom of Pius I, Anicetus was elected to the bishopric of Rome.   He had quite a bit to face.

First, the Gnostic heretics, Valentinian and Marcion, were still in Rome, still trying to sell their concepts of the two Gods, the tyrant of the Old Testament and the kind, loving God of the New.   Valentinian, who, Tertullian says, planned to become the Bishop of Rome but never got the chance, was eventually excommunicated.   There is no documentation as to who finally did the excommunication but it seems that St Polycarp of Smyrna may have done that.   At any rate, he moved back to Asia Minor soon after Anicetus became bishop.   His followers continued to raise havoc in Rome.   Marcion was excommunicated by his own father, the bishop of Sinope.   Because the Roman civilians listened so long to the teachings of these heretics, they tended to fall away from the intense teachings of Peter and Paul.   Anicetus worked very hard at re-educating his see.   He did make a rule to help distinguish the orthodox presbyters from the long-haired Gnostics, they had to keep their hair short.   As the early historian, Hegesippus, wrote, the whole city developed a zeal of sanctity.

Polycarp, the elderly bishop of Smyrna, had sat at the knee of St John the Evangelist and had conversed with others.   Many in the East revered him and clung to his every word. In the middle of the second century, the Eastern Church celebrated Easter Biblically, that is, the 14th day of Nisan, as defined as Passover, no matter what day of the week it fell on.   The Western Church had already been directed to celebrate Easter on the Sunday.  At this time, it was already becoming a straining point between the two segments of the Church.   In 160, the old, revered Polycarp came to Rome to discuss this with Anicetus. Eventually, neither would budge and they had to agreed to disagree.   Anicetus was not going to put the Church at risk by antagonising Polycarp and thus let it alone.   But many years later, this became one of the dividing arguments that split the Church.

Soon after Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he must have noted the lack of worship of the standard Roman gods.   A brilliant man in his own right, Aurelius must have known the cause of this behaviour.   He quickly went to the source, Pope Anicetus and took him into custody.  As inflexible as ever in supporting the orthodoxy of the Church and making known the Good News of Jesus Christ, Anicetus did not alter his beliefs.   Most believed he was thereafter martyred for his faith but there are no historical grounds for this account.   17 or 20 April are two dates which have been cited as the date of his death and his memorial was originally on 17 April.   The Liber Pontificalis states he was buried in the cemetery of Callistus.

St Anicetus, pray for us.