BOOK II. THE PAPACY
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY IN OUTLINE OF THE PAPACY
THE BISHOPS OF ROME [42-590 A.D.]
The early history of the Papacy is involved in much obscurity. For the early centuries we shall attempt little more than to repeat the names of the successive bishops, as accepted by the traditions of the church of Rome. According to these traditions, the Apostle Peter founded the Church in the year 42 (modern criticism does not accept this date, which is almost surely too early by about a score of years); he was martyred in 67, and succeeded by Linus, who was followed in 79 by Cletus or Anacletus. 91, Clement I or Clemens Romanus. Some writers make him the third bishop in 68 A.D. 100, Evarestus.
109 Alexander I. The political life of Rome extinguished by the empire, begins to revive in the organisation of the Christian church. 119, Sixtus I. 129, Telesphorus. 139, Hyginus. 143, Pius I. 157, Anicetus. 168, Soter. 177, Eleutherius. 193, Victor I. The bishop of Rome is beginning to assume supremacy over other bishops. This is resented in some quarters.
202 Zephyrinus. 219, Calixtus I. 223, Urban I. 230, Pontianus. 235, Anterius. 236, Fabianus. 251, Cornelius. 252, Lucius I. 253, Stephen I. 257, Sixtus II. 259, Dionysius. 269, Felix I. 275, Eutychianus. 283, Caius. 296, Marcellinus.
308 Marcellus I. 310, Eusebius. 311, Melchiades. 314, Silvester I. 325, The authority of the metropolitan is distinctly recognised. The idea has been developing since the primacy of Fabianus and Cornelius. 330, Removal of the capital from Rome to Constantinople. This increases greatly the power of the Roman bishop, who henceforth announces his supremacy in more decided tones. 336, Marcus I. 337, Julius I. He is the recognised protector of the orthodox faith against Arianism and other heresies. The church begins to organise landed properties by bequests from emperors and nobles.