Hieromartyr Fabius, Pope of Rome

Life

A Roman by birth. At first Fabian was a village priest, but then, when at the election of the pope a white dove descended upon him, he was chosen as pope. Meek and guileless. With great diligence he gathered the bodies of the holy martyrs, buried them honorably, and raised churches over their graves. He likewise built chapels and side-chapels in the caves where the martyrs hid during the fierce persecutions. He baptized Emperor Philip and his son, the prince Philip, and with the help of the baptized senator Pontius, destroyed many idols and idol temples. But when the wicked Decius came to power, a terrible persecution of Christians began, in which Saint Fabian also suffered, beheaded by the sword in the year 250. This holy Fabian established the practice of consecrating the Holy Chrism on Great Thursday.