[St. Pachomius Library]

St. Felix III, Pope of Rome


V Century
Descendant of aristocrats and the son of a priest, St. Felix III was a widower with two children when he was elected to the papacy in 483. He was the first pope to announce his election to the emperor in Constantinople. The following year, he excommunicated Patriarch Acacius of Constantinople, who was a monothelite. A synod in 485 confirmed the pope's decision and action. Felix addressed the issue of readmitting to the church those whom Arians had forcibly rebaptized: lay people were allowed back after penance, and clergy were allowed back only on their deathbed. Felix died in 492.

Karen Rae Keck

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