Pope Victor I

Pope Victor I(died 199) was aRoman Africanprelate of theCatholic Churchwho served asBishop of Romein the late second century. The dates of his tenure are uncertain, but one source states he became pope in 189 and gives the year of his death as 199.He was born in theRoman Province of Africa—probably inLeptis Magna(orTripolitania). He was later considered a saint. Hisfeast dayis celebrated on 28 July as "St Victor I, Pope and Martyr".He was ofBerberorigin.

Pope Saint Victor I
Bishop of Rome
Stained glassimage of Pope-Saint Victor, with anachronisticpapal tiara(Semmering, Austria)
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	189
Papacy ended	199
Predecessor	Eleutherius
Successor	Zephyrinus
Personal details
Born	140–160 AD Africa Proconsulare,Roman Empire
Died	199 AD Rome,Roman Empire
Sainthood
Feast day	28 July or 11 January
Other popes named Victor

Biography

The primary sources vary over the dates assigned to Victor's episcopate, but indicate it included the last decade of the second century.Eusebiusputs his accession in the tenth year ofCommodus(i.e. AD 189), which is accepted by Lipsius as the correct date. Jerome's version of the Chronicle puts his accession in the reign ofPertinax,or the first year ofSeptimius Severus(i.e. 193), while the Armenian version puts it in the seventh year of Commodus (186). TheLiber Pontificalisdates his accession to the consulate of Commodus and Glabrio (i.e. 186), while theLiberian Catalogue,a surviving copy of the source theLiber Pontificalisdrew upon for its chronology, is damaged at this point.

Concerning the duration of his episcopate, Eusebius, in hisEcclesiastical History,does not state directly the duration of his episcopate, but the Armenian version of Eusebius' Chronicle gives it as 12 years. The Liberian Catalogue gives his episcopate a length of nine years two months and ten days, while theLiber Pontificalisstates it was ten years and the same number of months and days; the Felician Catalogue something over ten. Finally, Eusebius in hisHistory(5.28) states Zephyrinus succeeded him "about the ninth year of Severus", (201), while theLiber Pontificalisdates it to the consulate of Laternus and Rufinus (197). Lipsius, considering Victor in connection with his successors, concludes that he held office between nine and ten years, and therefore gives as his dates 189–198 or 199.

According to an anonymous writer quoted by Eusebius, Victor excommunicatedTheodotus of Byzantiumfor teaching that Christ was a mere man.However, he is best known for his role in theQuartodeciman controversy.Prior to his elevation, a difference in dating the celebration of theChristian Passover/EasterbetweenRomeand the bishops ofAsia Minorhad been tolerated by both the Roman and Eastern churches.

The churches in Asia Minor celebrated Easter on the14th of the Jewish month of Nisan,the day before JewishPassover,regardless of what day of the week it fell on, as the Crucifixion had occurred on the Friday before Passover, justifying this as the custom they had learned from the apostles; for this the Latins called themQuartodecimans.Synods were held on the subject in various parts—in Judea under Theophilus of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem, in Pontus under Palmas, in Gaul underIrenaeus,in Corinth under its bishop, Bachillus, at Osrhoene in Mesopotamia, and elsewhere—all of which disapproved of this practice and consequently issued by synodical letters declaring that "on the Lord's Day only the mystery of the resurrection of the Lord from the dead was accomplished, and that on that day only we keep the close of the paschal fast" (Eusebius H. E. v. 23).

Despite this disapproval, the general feeling was that this divergent tradition was not sufficient grounds forexcommunication.Victor alone was intolerant of this difference, and severed ties with these ancient churches, whose bishops includedPolycrates of Ephesus;in response he was rebuked by Irenaeus and others, according to Eusebius.

Quartodeciman controversy

Bilingual plaque in theCathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul,Tunis,commemorating Victor I.

During the reign of Victor I, bishop of Rome, a universal dispute arose amongst the Christians concerning the feast of the Passover. A synod was convened to discuss the issue, and those in attendance agreed that the paschal fast must end on a Sunday. In response to the ruling of the synod and the command issued by Victor I, the churches of the East, led by Polycrates, wrote a reply that is recorded by Eusebius the historian as such:

We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord's coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these arePhilip,one of the twelve apostles, whofell asleepinHierapolis;andhis two aged virgin daughters,and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests atEphesus;and, moreover,John,who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. AndPolycarpinSmyrna,who was a bishop and martyr; andThraseas,bishop and martyr fromEumeneia,who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyrSagariswho fell asleep inLaodicea,or the blessedPapirius,orMelito,the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies inSardis,awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead? All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also,Polycrates,the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said 'We ought to obey God rather than man...I could mention the bishops who were present, whom I summoned at your desire; whose names, should I write them, would constitute a great multitude. And they, beholding my littleness, gave their consent to the letter, knowing that I did not bear my gray hairs in vain, but had always governed my life by the Lord Jesus.

— Eusebius,Church History,Chapter 23-24

These events and Victor's response to Polycrates' letter are recorded by Socrates Scholasticus as such: "In Asia Minor most people kept the fourteenth day of the moon, disregarding the sabbath: yet they never separated from those who did otherwise, until Victor, bishop of Rome, influenced by too ardent a zeal, fulminated a sentence of excommunication against the Quartodecimans in Asia."This led to a sharp rebuke by many prominent bishops (including the most well known,Irenaeus).

See also

• List of Catholic saints
• List of popes

Literature

• Josef Rist. "VICTOR I.".Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL)(in German).
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Johann Peter Kirsch (1912)."Pope St. Victor I".In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Handl A. (2016). Viktor I. (189?-199?) von Rom und die Etablierung des “monarchischen” Episkopats in Rom.Sacris Erudiri: a Journal on the Inheritance of Early and Medieval Christianity,55, 7-56.

External links

• Media related toVictor Iat Wikimedia Commons
• "Pope St. Victor I".Catholic Encyclopedia.1913.
• San Vittore I Papa e martire - 28 luglio
• "Victor I."in theEcumenical Lexicon of Saints
• Collected works of Migne Patrologia Latina
• "Victor I."in theEcumenical Lexicon of Saints
• Complete works by Migne Patrologia Latina