Pope Saint Fabian

Memorial

• 20 January
• 5 August (Eastern calendar)

Profile

Layman farmer. He came into Rome, Italy on a day when a new pope was to be elected. A dove flew into the crowd and settled on Fabian’s head; the gathered clergy and laity took this as a sign that Fabian had been anointed by the Holy Spirit, and he was chosen the 20th Pope by acclamation.

He sent Saint Dionysius of Paris and other missionaries to Gaul. Condemned the heresies of Privatus. Martyred in the persecutions of Decius.

Papal Ascension

• 236

Died

• c.250
• his relics are long gone, but the stone that covered his grave is still in the catacombs of Saint Callistus, Rome, Italy

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Representation

• dove

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Catholic Online
• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Golden Legend
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Pope Saint Fabian“. Saints.SQPN.com. 12 March 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>