Pope Pontian

Pope Pontian (Pontianus) (Pope from 230-235 d. 235 C.E.), was the eighteenth Pope, the official title is the Bishop of Rome of the Catholic Church.  
Pontian served as pope mostly during the reign of Roman Emperor Severus, generally considered a peaceful period for Christians, but died during the reign of Maximinus Thrax.  Maximinus Thrax did not tolerate Christians and pursued them violently.  He arrested Pontian and Hippolytus and sent them to the mines in Sardinia where they died soon after.  Pontian's body was returned to Rome a short time later and they were buried in the catacombs of Callistus on the Appian Way.  Catacombs were underground chambers where many Christians lived, died and were buried.Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul II, (San Francisco:Harper San Francisco, 1997), p. 45Catholic encyclopedia, (NY:Robert Appleton Company) 

Pontian is known for his condemnation of Origen a theologian of the time, and forbade his teachings.  Pontian is considered a martyr and a saint of the Catholic Church.  His feast day is celebrated on August 13 along with a fellow martyr Hippolytus.Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul II, (San Francisco:Harper San Francisco, 1997), pp. 45-46

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Category:Popes