Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome

Life

Clement was born in Rome of imperial lineage, a contemporary of the holy apostles. His mother and two brothers, sailing by sea, were swept away by a storm in different directions; his father went to search for his wife and sons and was himself lost. Then Clement, being twenty-four years old, set out to the east to search for his parents and brothers. In Alexandria he met the Apostle Barnabas, and then joined the Apostle Peter, whom his two brothers, Faustinus and Faustinian, already followed. By God's providence the Apostle Peter came upon Clement's mother as an old beggar woman, and then upon his father. And thus the whole family was reunited, and all as Christians returned to Rome. Clement did not separate from the great apostle, who appointed him bishop before his own death. After the martyrdom of Peter, the bishop in Rome was Linus, then Cletus – both for a short time – and then Clement. With flaming zeal Clement governed the Church of God and converted to the Christian Faith day by day a great number of unbelievers. He also appointed seven scribes to write the lives of Christian martyrs who at that time suffered for their Lord. Emperor Trajan exiled him to Cherson, where Clement found about two thousand banished Christians. All were engaged in the difficult labor of quarrying stone in a waterless place. The Christians received Clement with great joy, and he was for them a living fountain of comfort. By his prayer he brought forth water from the earth, and converted to Christianity such a number of unbelieving inhabitants that in one year seventy-five churches were built in that place. Lest he spread the Christian Faith further, Clement was condemned to death and drowned in the sea with a stone around his neck in the year 101. His wonder-working relics were retrieved from the sea only in the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

From the Hymn of Praise

Noble Clement of noble lineageBecame a zealous servant of the living Lord.All the vanity of splendid Rome he despised,He rose in spirit above all illusions.