St Zephyrinus

Who he was

Zephyrinus succeeded St Victor around 198 and led the Church for nearly twenty years. A plain man of practical gifts rather than learning, he relied on his deacon Callistus, whom he put in charge of the Church's burial ground on the Via Appia, the Catacomb of St Callistus.

What he is remembered for

His time was troubled by disputes over the doctrine of the Trinity, which he met by holding to the Church's tradition; he received back the confessor Natalis, who had fallen in with heretics. He was buried in a chamber over the Catacomb of St Callistus.

He is honoured by the Church as Saint. Read his page in the dictionary of saints.

Sources

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1907-14): Pope St. Zephyrinus
• The Holy See: list of the Supreme Pontiffs