The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome

d. 6 August 258 · Bishop of Rome · Martyr of the Valerian persecution · Rome

The Ante-Nicene Church

Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome — historical depiction 1
Xystus II (Sixtus II) of RomeArtaud de Montor (1772–1849) · Public domain · Commons
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Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome — historical depiction 1

Xystus II (Sixtus II) of RomeArtaud de Montor (1772–1849) · Public domain · Commons

Who Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome was

Bishop of Rome for under a year (257–258), remembered as “a good and peaceable priest” who restored friendly relations with Cyprian’s Africa after Stephen’s rebaptism quarrel. When Valerian’s second, harsher edict ordered the immediate execution of clergy, Sixtus was seized while teaching in the catacomb of Praetextatus and beheaded in his chair with four of his deacons — one of the most celebrated martyrdoms of the age. Four days later his archdeacon Lawrence followed him. His name entered the Roman canon of the Mass, spoken at every altar for centuries.

Also listed in the bishops of Rome and martyrs.

Common questions

When did Xystus II die?

Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome is dated d. 6 August 258 in the archive, which places Xystus II in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Xystus II?

Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Cyprian of Carthage, The chronographer of 354, Damasus of Rome and Prudentius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Xystus II from?

The archive associates Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome with Rome.

Who were Xystus II’s contemporaries?

The archive links Xystus II (Sixtus II) of Rome to 4 other figures, including Stephen I of Rome, Lawrence (Laurentius) of Rome, Emperor Valerian and Dionysius of Rome. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (4)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Cyprian, Epistle 80 (to Successus)

c. AD 253
Xystus was martyred in the cemetery on the eighth day of the Ides of August, and with him four deacons. …I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartily farewell.
Cyprian of Carthage · 80 · source text

Depositio martyrum: 'VIII Id. Aug. Xysti in Callisti'

c. AD 354
VIII Id. Aug.: Xysti in Callisti — Xystus, in the cemetery of Callistus.
The chronographer of 354 · Depositio martyrum · source text

Epigram of Damasus at the cemetery of Callixtus (the shepherd struck down while teaching)

c. AD 380
Damasus of Rome · Epigram on Xystus · source text

Crowns of Martyrdom 2 (Xystus, from the cross, foretells Lawrence's passion)

c. AD 405
Prudentius · Peristephanon 2 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Named alongside Xystus II in the sources

This figure is placed with Xystus II by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Xystus II naming them in return.

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Xystus II.

  1. 1Rome

See this place on the atlas →