St. Pachomius Library

St. Callistus I, Pope of Rome

Also CALIXTUS, CALLIXTUS
II/III Centuries
Ordained a deacon by Pope Zephyrinus, St. Calixtus was a slave when he was young. When the bank that his owner gave him charge over failed, Calixtus fled. He was captured and sentenced to work on a treadmill. His creditors gained his release. He was later exiled to Sardinia. Some say the Jews denounced him as a Christian; others say he had been brawling in a synagogue. Spared by the generosity of Marcia, mistress to Emperor Commodus, Calixtus received a pension from Pope Victor I and was sent to Anzio. Elected to the papacy in 217, Calixtus faced opposition from Hippolytus, who became anti-pope. C. 220, Calixtus excommunicated Sabellius, who believed that Christ was a modal expression of God the Father and was not the co-eternal Son of the Father.
Karen Rae Keck

ASSOCIATED PEOPLE:
- St. Hippolytus of Rome: When Callistus was a deacon, St. Hippolytus attacked his administration of Church property.
- Pope St. Zephyrinus I: Callistus, as a deacon in charge of the church cemetary, was a close associate of Zephyrinus.
WORKS: The writings attributed to St. Callistus are forgeries, part of the False Decretals.
- First Epistle (To Bishop Benedict): Concerning the seasons for fasting, and accusations against teachers. --- NA
- Second Epistle (To the Bishops of Gaul): Against ecclesiastical conspiracies, bishops meddling in the affairs of other diocese, marriages between close relatives and other moral and family irregularities. Also declares that priests who have sinned may resume their duties after repenting: "Then shall I offer a bullock upon Thy altar." --- NA

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