March 04: Saint Lucius I

Saint Lucius I was the bishop of Rome from 25 June 253 to his death on 5 March 254. He succeeded St. Cornelius. He was exiled to Civitavecchia, Italy, by the Roman emperor Gallus but later was allowed to return to Rome by Gallus’ successor, Valerian. According to Bishop St. Cyprian of Carthage, Lucius continued the liberal policy Cornelius had established toward apostates who renounced Christianity because of the persecution of the Roman emperor Decius. Thus Lucius opposed and condemned the Novatian Schism, a rigorist movement against penitent apostates, inspired by the antipope Novatian. Lucius is honored in Denmark as the patron saint of Copenhagen. Lucius’ martyrdom in the Valerian persecution is unproven.

 

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