St. Telesphorus

pope
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Quick Facts
Died:
c. 136, Rome [Italy]
Title / Office:
pope (125-136)

St. Telesphorus (died c. 136, Rome [Italy]; Western feast day January 5; Eastern feast day February 22) was the pope from about 125 to about 136. Telesphorus is said to have been Greek, possibly from Calabria. As successor to St. Sixtus I, he was the eighth pope and a witness to the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Hadrian. He is considered the first pope after St. Peter to have been verifiably martyred and is commemorated in Eastern and Western churches. He was succeeded by St. Hyginus.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.