Page "Pope Zephyrinus" Paragraph 1

During the 17-year pontificate of Zephyrinus, the young Church endured severe persecution under the Emperor Severus until his death in the year 211.

To quote Butler ( Ref.

A. Butler: Lives of the Saints Vol VIII, 1866 ), St Zephyrinus was the support of his flock.

He also endured the trials associated with new heresies and apostases.

The chief among these were Marcion, Praxeas, Valentine and the Montanists.

St. Optatus testifies that all of these were subdued by Zephyrinus, Bishop of Rome.

( Ref.

Optat.

1, 1 De Schismate, n. 9 et Albaspinæus, not. ib.

) Eusebius insists that Zephyrinus fought vigorously against the blasphemies of the two Theodotuses, who in response treated him with contempt, but later called him the greatest defender of the divinity of Christ.

Although he was not physically martyred for the faith, his suffering – both mental and spiritual – during his pontificate have earned him the title of martyr.

( Ref.

Berti in Sæc 3.

Diss.

1. t.

2 p 158 )