The Saints: St. Evaristus

Died C. 108

Feast – Oct. 29

In the Annuario Pontificio, the Vatican yearbook, Evaristus is listed as the fifth pope, serving from 96 or 99 to 108 and coming from Greece. Both Eusebius and Irenaeus confirmed him as the successor of Pope Clement. Another ancient source, “Liber Pontificalis,” says Evaristus was the son of a Bethlehem Jew from a Hellenic family, and credits him with dividing Rome into parishes and appointing seven deacons there, but historians discount such early organization. There also is no evidence of his martyrdom, but he may have been buried near St. Peter’s tomb.