Who he was
Martin, son of Fabricius, was born at Todi and known for his learning and charity to the poor. He had served as papal envoy at Constantinople and, on his election in 649, was consecrated without waiting for the emperor's approval; the date of his election is given as 5 or 21 July.
What he is remembered for
Within months he held the Lateran Council of 649, which rejected the emperor's decrees on Christ's will and taught that Christ has two wills, divine and human. The Emperor Constans II had him arrested in 653, taken to Constantinople, imprisoned, publicly humiliated and condemned, and exiled to Cherson in the Crimea, where he died of hardship. He is honoured as a martyr in both East and West.
He is honoured by the Church as Saint. Read his page in the dictionary of saints.
Sources
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