CatholicSaints.Info

Memorial

• 20 April
• 17 April on some calendars

Profile

Son of John. Little is known of his life before his election as 11th Pope. Met with Saint Polycarp of Smyrna and allowed Eastern Christians to celebrate Easter on the 14th day of Nisan, regardless of whether it fell on Sunday. Anicetus took a firm stand against Gnosticism. Decreed that Church men should not have long hair; this was in keeping with 1st Corinthians 11:14 and helped mark the clergy as different from the laity.

Born

• in Syria

Papal Ascension

• 155

Died

• 166 of natural causes
• listed as a martyr for centuries, possibly under the assumption that all the early popes were martyred, but there is no evidence of it
• interred in Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

MLA Citation

• “Pope Saint Anicetus“. CatholicSaints.Info. 19 April 2024. Web. 27 April 2024. <>