St Fabian

Who he was

Fabian had come into Rome from his farm when the Church met to choose a successor to St Anterus. According to Eusebius, a dove came down and settled on his head, and he was chosen at once. He led the Church for fourteen years in a lull between persecutions.

What he is remembered for

He organised the Roman Church into seven districts under deacons, had work done in the catacombs, and brought St Pontian's body home from Sardinia. He died a martyr on 20 January 250, at the start of the persecution of Decius, and his Greek epitaph survives in the papal crypt of 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. Fabian
• The Holy See: list of the Supreme Pontiffs