The first chapter in the life of the
Christian Church is marked by 276 years of persecution and stealthy survival.
There were 31 Popes from 33 AD to 309 AD. Their average tenure was 3.9 years
and all of them were martyrs.
The Christian Church was established
by Jesus Christ, the Messiah who was foretold by the Jewish prophets. Christianity
is the extension of the Jewish faith as established by Moses after the Exodus
in 1568 BC.
Christ chose his Apostle Peter to
lead the Church after His Ascension in 33 AD.
St. Peter 33-67 AD
St Linus 67-76
St Cletus 76-88
St Clement 88-97
St Evaristus 97-105
St. Alexander I 105-115
St. Sextus I 115-125
St. Telesphorus 125-136
St Hyeinus 136-140
St Pius I 140-155
St Anicetus I 155-166
St Soter 166-175
St Eleutherius 175-189
St Victor I 189-199
St Zephyriuus 199-217
St Callistus 217-222
St Urban I 222-239
St Pontian 230-235
St Anerus 235-236
St Fabian 236-250
St Cornelius 251-253
St Lucius I 251-254
St Stephen I 254-257
St Sextus II 257-258
St Dionyshus 259-268
St Felix I 269-274
St Eutychian 275-283
St Gaius 283-296
St Marcellinus 269-304
St Marcellus 308-309
St Eusebios 309-309
St. Peter’s successors, Linus, Cletus
Clement and Evaristus knew Peter, Paul and the Apostles and early Church
founders. The Apostle Paul of Tarsus (Turkey) was martyred in 64 AD or he would
likely have succeeded Peter in 67 AD. There were Christian communities in many
cities in the Mediterranean port cities and Bishops were selected to lead these
communities and they all knew each other.
Linus of Tuscany was ordained by Paul
and consecrated Bishop by Peter. Cletus of Rome, born in 25 AD was a
contemporary of the early Church leaders. Clement of Rome, born in 35 AD and
Evaristus of Bethlehem, born in 44 AD would have known the Apostles.
Pope Alexander I, born In 75 AD was
the first Pope who hadn’t known the early Church founders. From the beginning,
Popes were elected by the Bishops and early Church founders.
Roman Emperors who martyred the Popes
fared almost as badly as the Popes. There were 59 Emperors from 27 BC to 312
AD. The average tenure over this 339 year period was 5.7 years from Augustus to
Maxintius. Assassination and death in battle led the list of reasons for
turnover. Rome had always been ruled by
an Oligarchy of wealthy Roman families who orchestrated the game. Being elected
Emperor by the Roman Senate was a high risk deal. Each new Emperor was vulnerable
to death in battle or assassination by the paranoid Roman Senate.
Julius Caesar 44 BC – 27 BC
Augustus 27 BC -14 AD
Tiberius 14 AD-37 AD
Caligula 37- 41 AD
Claudius 41- 54 AD
Nero 54 – 68 AD
Galba 68-69 AD
Otho 69-69 AD
Vitellius 69-69 AD
Vespasian 69-79 AD
Titus 79-81 AD
Domitian 81-96 AD
Nerva 96-98 AD
Trajan 98-117 AD
Hadrian 117-138 AD
Antoninus 138-161
Lucius 161-169
Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD
Commodus 180-192 AD
Pertinax 193-193
Didius Julianus 193-193
Septimus 193-211
Geta 211-211
Caracalla 211-217
Macrinus 217-218
Diaduminian 217-218
Elagabalus 218-222
Severus Alexander 222-235
Maximus Thrax 235-238
Gordian I 238-238
Gordian II 238-238
Pupienus 238-238
Balbinus 238-238
Gordian III 238-244
Phillip 244-249
Phillip II 244-249
Decius 249-251
Herennius 249-251
Hostilian 251-251
Trebonianus Gallus 251-253
Volusianus 251-253
Asmilian 253-253
Valerian 253-260
Gallienus 253-268
Saloninus 253-268
Claudius Gothicus 268-270
Quintillis 270-270
Aurelian 270-275
Tacitus 275-276
Florianus 276-276
Probus 276-282
Carus 282-283
Carinus 283-285
Numerian 283-284
Diocletian 284-305
Maximian 286-305
Galerius 305-311
Constantius Chlorus 305-306
Valerius Severus 306-307
Maxintius 306-312
Constantine the Great 307-337
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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