Pope Anicetus

Memorial

• formerly 17 April
• cultus suppressed in 1969

Profile

Decreed that clergy should not have long hair. Confirmed the celebration of Easter according to the tradition of Saint Peter, and allowed Saint Polycarp of Smyrna and the Eastern Christians to celebrate Easter on the 14th day of Nisan, regardless of whether it fell on Sunday. Strongly opposed >Gnosticism.

Born

• in Syria

Papal Ascension

• 155

Died

• 166 of natural causes
• listed as a martyr for centuries, possibly under the assumption that all the early popes were martyred, but there is no evidence of it

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson