Saint Pius I

Pope and Martyr
(died c. 155)

Saint Pius I was a native of Aquileia in northern Italy and served as Bishop of Rome from around 140 to his death around 155. He was the son of a man named Rufinus and the brother of Hermas, the author of the Shepherd of Hermas, one of the most widely read texts of the early Christian world, which was for a time regarded by some communities as approaching scriptural authority. This family connection suggests a household of deep Christian piety and learning.

His pontificate occurred during a period of great intellectual ferment in the Church, when Gnostic teachers of various kinds were attracting followers in Rome and other cities, and when the relationship between Christianity and Judaism was being worked out in the context of daily pastoral life. Among those active in Rome during his pontificate was the great Gnostic teacher Marcion, who arrived from Pontus around 140 and was eventually excommunicated. The heretic Valentinus was also present in Rome during part of this period.

Against these errors, Pius worked to strengthen the orthodox faith through regular teaching and the careful organisation of the Roman community. He is credited by the Liber Pontificalis with establishing the date of Easter and with other liturgical ordinances. He is also said to have consecrated the station churches that served as centres of the scattered Christian community in Rome.

He is venerated as a martyr by ancient tradition, though the exact circumstances of his death are not known with certainty. Some ancient sources speak of a martyrdom; others speak simply of his death and burial. The Liberian Catalogue, one of the oldest lists of Roman bishops, includes him among the martyrs. He died around 155 and was buried on the Vatican Hill. His feast is observed on July 11th.