Saint of the Day – 2 June – Saint Eugene I (Died 657) the 75th Bishop of Rome elected on 10 August 654 and died at Rome on 2 June 657 of natural causes, aged just 42. He was chosen to become Pope after the exile of Martin I by Emperor Constans II over the dispute regarding the Monothelitism Heresy.
Eugene was a Roman from the Aventine region along the Tiber, He was the son of Rufinianus and had become a cleric in the Church at an early age and spent his life in dedication to the Church.
His election to papacy came under unusual circumstances. His predecessor, Pope Martin I, was still alive and living in exile as a prisoner of Emperor Constans II. In fact, on 18 June 653, Constans troops forcibly carried Martin out of the City for refusing to submit to their demand o accept Monothelitism. This is a belief that Jesus had only one will and which is considered blasphemous by the Church.
At the time of his appointment, many Romans believed that Pope Eugene I was being placed on the Throne of St Peter as a pawn to do the Emperors’ will against the wishes of Pope Martin I. However, a letter sent by Martin shortly before his death indicated his approval of Eugene as his successor and Pope Eugene I’s actions,, once in power, demonstrated that he was no puppet of the Byzantine Emperor.
The challenges facing Pope Eugene I began as soon as he took power. Emperor Constans II immediately demanded that Eugene capitulate to the demands which Pope Martin had refused to do. These included acknowledging Peter as the Patriarch of Constantinople and allowing the tolerance of Monthelites. Despite threats to exile him like Martin and to roast him alive along with his Roman supporters, Pope Eugene I stood firm against the demands and refused to deny the Mysteries of the Faith
Emperor Constans II did not get the chance to make good on his threats against Pope Eugene I. The capture of the City of Rhodes in 654 and Constans’ defeat at the naval battle of Phoenix in 655 ,stopped his aggression towards the Church.
Pope Eugene I went onto lead the Church for another two years until his peaceful death at the young age of 42 of natural causes.
Pope Eugene I consecrated 21 Bishops to serve throughout the world during his time as the Pope. He was buried at St Peter’s Basilica. St Eugene I was succeeded by Pope Vitalian.
The Cathedral of Saint Eugene, where Pope St Eugene I is the Patron Saint, is in the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California.
AnaStpaul 