Saint Eleutherius-Pope

Catholic Saint

Feast Day : May 26

Also known as: Eleutheros

Eleutherius was from Nicopolis in Epirus (Greece). He became a deacon in Rome under Pope St. Anicetus (r. ca. 154–164), a position he held also under the pope’s successor, Pope St. Soter. Upon Soter’s death around the year 174, Eleutherius himself was elected pope. Eleutherius decreed that any food fit for humans was suitable for Christians, a response to the teachings of the Gnostics and the Montanists (Phrygians). The latter was a prophetic sect with origins in the east. It was especially influential in Lyons, which sent a letter to Eleutherius on the matter. At first Eleutherius was inclined to be tolerant of its teachings, but after some reflection, he came out strongly against them.

Nevertheless, Montanists continued to have followings in Rome and other Christian cities. There is a legend that Eleutherius sent a mission to the British Isles (then a part of the Roman Empire) in response to an invitation from an English king named Lucius. However, this is now known to be due to a misreading of Britio for Britanio. Britio (short for Birtha-Britium) was the name of the fortress at Edessa in Syria, under the Christian king Lucius Ælius Septimus Megas Abgar IX, and it was he who wrote to Eleutherius. The misinterpretation may have been a deliberate attempt to lay a foundation for the subjugation of Britain under the Roman Church. The persecutions of Christians during his pontificate were relatively light, and Eleutherius died a natural death on May 24 about the year 189. He was buried on Vatican Hill along with his predecessor popes.