Hieromartyr
Hieromartyr Anicetus, Pope of Rome
епископ Римский ок. 155–168
Also known as: Аникет Римский
Hieromartyr Anicetus, Pope of Rome — the tenth Bishop of Rome, a Syrian by birth from Emesa, who led the Roman Church c. 155–168; he received Hieromartyr Polycarp of Smyrna in Rome to discuss the date of Pascha, and opposed the heresies of Valentinus and Marcion; traditionally venerated as a hieromartyr, though modern church scholarship considers the question of his violent death open.
Hieromartyr Anicetus, Pope of Rome, came from the Syrian city of Emesa (modern Homs) and was the son of a deacon named John. He led the see of Rome from approximately 155 to 168.
During his pontificate the Roman Church maintained close ties with Eastern Christian communities; Justin Martyr the Philosopher taught in Rome at this time. Pope Anicetus actively opposed the spreading heresies of Valentinus's Gnosticism and the teaching of Marcion.
One of the best-known events of his pontificate was the visit to Rome, around 154–155, of the aged Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian. Polycarp and Anicetus discussed matters of church life, including the difference in the dating of Pascha (Easter) between Rome and the churches of Asia Minor; despite the difference in practice, they parted in eucharistic communion and peace.
Greek sources place his death under the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and call him a hieromartyr; none of Pope Anicetus's writings have survived. Modern church-historical scholarship considers the question of a violent death (as opposed to a natural death in office) unresolved, but a centuries-old tradition — both Western and Eastern — venerates him among the hieromartyrs.
His feast is kept on April 17.
IMPORTANT CORRECTION: this entry previously contained image material conflating TWO different saints both called "Anicetus"/"Аникита": besides the images of Pope Anicetus of Rome (retained here), the entry held an image of an entirely different saint — Martyr Aniketas of Nicomedia, martyred together with Martyr Photius (image inscribed "HOLY MARTYR PHOTIUS" and "HOLY MARTYR ANIKETAS") — which has been moved to a separate entry, martyr_anicetas_2, dedicated specifically to that Nicomedian martyr. Category corrected: "venerable" → "hieromartyr" (Pope Anicetus was not a monastic ascetic).