Pope Stephen I
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Stephen I, pope (about March 12, 254 to August 2, 257). Of Roman birth but of Greek ancestry, he became bishop of Rome in 254, as archdeacon of Pope Lucius I who appointed him his successor.
At the time internal disputes racking the Church were as much a threat as the external persecutions. Following the "Decian persecution" of 250 - 251 churches split over how to deal with the lapsed, with the strictest approach that of Novatian, later declared a heretic, which led to further controversy over whether to accept baptism from splinter groups as legitimate sacrament. In the early part of his pontificate Stephen was urged by Faustinus, Bishop of Lyon, to take action against Marcian, Bishop of Arles, who denied communion to the penitent among those whose faith had lapsed during the persecutions, the position called "Novatianism".
Stephen also held that converts from splinter churches that might be heretical did not need rebaptism, while Cyprian and certain bishops of the Roman province of Asia held it necessary for admission to communion. Stephen's view eventually won broad acceptance. He is also mentioned as having insisted on the restoration of the bishops of [[LeLee and Astorga, who had been deposed for unfaithfulness during the persecution but afterwards had repented. He is commemorated on August 1.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia: (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14288a.htm) Pope St. Stephen I
| Preceded by: Saint Lucius I | Pope 254–257 | Succeeded by: Saint Sixtus II |