Pope Evaristus

Saint Evaristus
Papacy began c. 99
Papacy ended c. 107
Predecessor Clement I
Successor Alexander I
Personal details
Birth name Evaristus or Aristus
Born 1st century AD
Bethlehem, Judaea
Died c. 107
Rome, Roman Empire

Pope Saint Evaristus is accounted the fifth Pope, holding office from c. 99 to 107 AD[1] or from 99 to 108.[2] He was also known as Aristus.

Little is known about St Evaristus. According to the Liber Pontificalis, he came from a family of Hellenic Jewish origin. He was elected during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, the time of the second general persecution.

Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History IV, I, stated that Evaristus died in the 12th year of the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan, after holding the office of bishop of the Romans for eight years.

It was once supposed that all the early Popes were martyrs. There is no confirmation of this in the case of Pope Evaristus, who is listed without that title in the Roman Martyrology, with a feast day on 26 October.[3]

St Evaristus succeeded St Clement in the See of Rome during the reign of Trajan and governed the Church for about eight years, as the fourth successor of St. Peter. The Liber Pontificalis says that he was the son of a Hellenic Jew of Bethlehem, and, certainly incorrectly, that he divided Rome into several "titles" or Parishes, assigning a priest to each, and appointed seven deacons for the city. He is usually accorded the title of martyr, but his martyrdom is not proven. It is probable that St Evaristus was buried near St Peter's tomb in the Vatican. His feast day is celebrated on 26 October.[4]

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Clement I
Bishop of Rome
Pope

98–105
Succeeded by
Alexander I