Saint Fabian, pope and martyr

Election as Pope

Pope St. Fabian, whose papacy lasted from 236-250, was elected under extraordinary circumstances. Following the death of Pope Anterus, Fabian traveled to Rome from his farm. During the selection process of a new Pope, a dove descended upon Fabian's head. This event, reminiscent of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in the Gospels, swayed the assembled brethren, who with joyous consensus chose Fabian as the next Pope.

Pontificate and Works

During his reign of fourteen years, there was a notable decrease in the persecution of Christians. He is credited, according to the "Liber Pontificalis," with dividing Rome into seven districts, each overseen by a deacon. He further structured the Church by establishing seven subdeacons who, along with notaries, reported on the trials of martyrs.

He also reportedly instituted the four minor orders. In addition, considerable work was done in Rome's catacombs during his pontificate. He notably had the body of Pope St. Pontianus exhumed in Sardinia and relocated to the catacomb of St. Callistus in Rome.

Accounts, whose reliability is disputed, attribute Pope St. Fabian with extending Catholic missions overseas, specifically by consecrating seven bishops to Gaul, who included St. Denys of Paris.

Upholding Orthodoxy

The Pope condemned Privatus, Bishop of Lambaesa, for heresy. Revered Christian theologian Origen defended the orthodoxy of his teachings before Fabian, further underscoring the Pope's critical role in upholding correct Christian doctrine.

Martyrdom and Burial

Pope St. Fabian became a martyr at the start of the Decian persecution on January 20, 250. He was buried in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of St. Callistus where his Greek epitaph was later discovered in 1850.