Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Telesphorus  (feast day: January 5) was Pope from
about 126 to about 137. His pontificate began
during the reign of Hadrian, during which he
witnessed the persecution of Christians, and ended
during the reign of Antoninus Pius. The Vatican's
"Annuario Pontificio" says that he was Greek by
birth, and reigned from 127 or 128 to 137 or 138.
The tradition of Christmas midnight mass
(liturgy)|masses, the celebration of Easter on
Sundays, the keeping of a seven-week Lent before
Easter and the singing of the Gloria are usually
attributed to his pontificate, but many historians
doubt that such attributions are accurate.

The writer Irenaeus says that Telesphorus suffered
martyrdom; he is traditionally described as the
first pope after St. Peter to have suffered that
fate. According to one source, "He is the only 2nd
century pope whose martyrdom is reliably
attested." In the Roman Martyrology his feast is
given under January 5; the Greek Church celebrates
it on February 22. The Carmelites venerate
Telesphorus as patron saint of the order since he
is claimed have lived on Mount Carmel as a hermit.

== Source ==
Kelly, J.N.D. Oxford Dictionary of Popes. (1986).
Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

papal-stub

Pope|
Predecessor=Pope Sixtus I|Saint Sixtus I|
Successor=Pope Hyginus|Saint
Hyginus|Dates=126–136