Pope Caius

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Bishop of Rome
ChurchEarly Christianity
Papacy began17 December 283
Papacy ended22 April 296
PredecessorEutychian
SuccessorMarcellinus
Personal details
Born
Caius or Gaius

Unknown
Roman Dalmatia
Died22 April 296
Rome, Roman Empire
Sainthood
Feast day22 April

Pope Caius (died 22 April 296),

bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 to his death in 296.[2] Little information on Caius is available except that given by the Liber Pontificalis, which relies on a legendary account of the martyrdom of Susanna of Rome for its information. According to legend, Caius baptized the men and women who had been converted by Tiburtius (who is venerated with Susanna) and Castulus.[3] His legend states that Caius took refuge in the catacombs of Rome and died a martyr.[4]

Pontificate

Remains of the basilica of Salona.

Christian tradition makes Caius a native of the

Santa Susanna, which, like many of the earliest Christian meeting places, was in a house (domus ecclesiae). The domus belonged, according to the sixth-century acta, to brothers named Caius and Gabinus, prominent Christians. Caius may be this pope, or Caius the Presbyter. Gabinus is the name given to the father of Susanna. Thus, sources state that Caius was the uncle of Susanna.[1]

As pope, Caius decreed that before someone could assume the position of

anti-Christian measures increased, although new churches were built and cemeteries were expanded. St Caius may not have been martyred: the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians began in 303 AD, after Caius’ alleged death, and Diocletian was not immediately hostile to Christianity upon becoming emperor.[5][4]

Legacy

Depiction of the alleged martyrdom of Pope Caius by Lorenzo Monaco. It was originally part of the altarpiece of the church of San Gaggio in Florence.

Caius is mentioned in the fourth-century Depositio Episcoporum (therefore not as a martyr): X kl maii Caii in Callisti.[2]

Caius' tomb, with the original epitaph, was discovered in the

Barberini family.[5]

Saint Caius's

Via Appia, the burial of Saint Caius, Pope, who, fleeing from the persecution of Diocletian, died as a confessor of the faith."[8]

Saint Caius is portrayed in art wearing the

Saint Nereus. He is venerated in Dalmatia and Venice. In Florence, the church of San Gaggio on the via Senese was dedicated to him; the term Gaggio is a corruption of the name Cajo. In 2003, plans were put into effect to turn it into residential council housing.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Our Popes". The Church of Santa Susanna. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b  Chapman, John (1908). "Caius and Soter, Saints and Popes". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. ^ "San Castulo, Mártir | ACI Prensa – Santos". aciprensa.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Brusher, Joseph (1959). "St. Caius". Popes Through the Ages. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007 – via Christ's Faithful People.
  5. ^ a b c San Caio at Santi e Beati (in Italian)
  6. ^ Saint of the Day, April 22: Caius Archived 28 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine SaintPatrickDC.org. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  7. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Caius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 960.
  8. ISBN 88-209-7210-7
    )
  9. ^ Firenze la città nuova – Gallery Archived 24 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caius (pope).
Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by
Bishop of Rome
Pope

283–296 		Succeeded by
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