Pope Felix I

About Pope Felix I

Felix I became bishop of Rome after the death of Dionysius, at the beginning of 269. The Holy See dates his pontificate from January 5 of that year to December 30, 274.

Felix inherited correspondence from a church far from Rome. Bishops meeting at Antioch had deposed Paul of Samosata and appointed Domnus in his place. Their letter announcing the decision was addressed to Dionysius, but reached Rome after Felix had succeeded him.

Paul did not surrender the church building when the council removed him. Eusebius reports that the emperor Aurelian eventually awarded it to those recognized by the bishops of Italy and Rome. The dispute therefore involved both Christian communion and possession of a place of worship.

Letters circulated under his name in later centuries, but they cannot simply be treated as authentic records of his teaching.

Felix died in 274. The Roman burial list preserved in the Chronography of 354 places his commemoration on December 30 in the cemetery of Callistus. It includes him among bishops, rather than in the separate list of martyrs.

Later generations remembered a pope who had suffered martyrdom and had been buried beside the Via Aurelia. Critical study distinguishes those traditions from Felix I's burial at Callistus: other martyrs bearing his name were associated with the Via Aurelia.

Explore similar vocations

• Abadiu of Antinoe
• Abbo II of Metz
• Abbo of Auxerre
• Abdalong of Marseille

Prayers for Pope Felix I