Pope Anicetus
Pope|English name=Anicetus|image=
|birth_name=Anicetus|term_start=ca.
154|term_end=ca.
April 17,
167|predecessor=
Pius I|successor=
Soter|birth_date=???|birthplace=
Emesa,
Syria|dead=dead|death_date=ca.
April 17,
167|deathplace=
Rome,
Italy|}}
Pope Anicetus was Bishop of Rome from about
154 to about
167 (the Vatican's list cites
150 or
157 to
153 or
168). He was a
Syrian from
Emesa. According to
Irenaeus, it was during his pontificate that the aged
Polycarp, a disciple of
Saint John the Evangelist, visited the Roman Church. Polycarp and Anicetus discussed the celebration of Passover. Polycarp and his Church of Smyrna celebrated the crucifixion on the
fourteenth day of Nisan, which coincides with
Pesach. The day of the week was not important in the East. On the other hand, the Roman Church celebrated an Easter Passover on Sunday—the weekday of
Jesus'
resurrection. The two did not agree on a common date, but Anicetus conceded to Polycarp and the Smyrnan Church the ability to retain the date to which they were accustomed. The controversy was to accelerate and grow heated in the course of the following centuries.
The Christian historian
Hegesippus also visited
Rome during Anicetus' pontificate. This visit is often cited as sign for the early importance of the Roman See.
Anicetus was the first Roman Bishop to condemn
heresy by forbidding
Montanism. He also actively opposed the
Gnostics and
Marcionism. According to
Liber Pontificalis, Anicetus decreed that priests are not allowed to have long hair (perhaps because the Gnostics wore long hair.) Anicetus is reported to have suffered
martyrdom. April 16, 17 and 20 are all cited as the date of his death, but
April 17 is celebrated as his memorial or feast day. Details relating to the type of his martyrdom are unknown.
