Pope Evaristus (97- 105) was the fifth bishop of Rome. He was also known as Aristus. It is likely that he was the bishop of Rome when John the Apostle died, marking the end of the Apostolic age. He came from a family of Greek Jews living in Bethlehem. He was elected during the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan and succeeded Clement I.
The Pope divided the city into parishes as the number of Christians increased. He entrusted the senior priests with their duties. Evaristus celebrated the 100th anniversary of Christ’s birth in the third year of his reign in 100 AD. During the time the emperors continued to kill the Christians. He usually accorded the title of martyr. The saint was buried near Saint Peter’s tomb in the Vatican.