‹ The Popes
11th Roman Pontiff
St Anicetus
ANICETVS
11th Successor of St Peter · 155–166 · Syria · b. Emesa, Syria, Roman Empire
155
Elected
166
Reign ended
11 years
Length
2nd
Century
The Life
Hellenized Syrian; first Syrian pope. A peregrinus, free provincial subject of the Roman Empire who was not a Roman citizen. Tradition holds he was martyred; feast day 20 April. Decreed that priests are not allowed to have long hair. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 17 April.
Portrait: Mattana / Wikimedia Commons