St. Evaristus was the fifth Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from c. 97 to 107 AD. He led the Church during a time of Roman persecution, appointing priests and deacons to assist in governing the growing Christian community. He was eventually martyred under Emperor Trajan and is honored as a defender of the faith and a martyr for Christ.
St. Evaristus was born in the 1st century AD, possibly in Bethlehem, Judea, to a Greek-Jewish family. He grew up in an era when Christianity was still spreading and faced heavy opposition from the Roman Empire.
Around 97 AD, after the martyrdom of Pope St. Clement I, Evaristus was elected as his successor, becoming the fifth Pope of the Church. His papacy came during the reign of Emperor Trajan, a time when Christians were increasingly persecuted. Despite these challenges, he strengthened Church leadership, appointing seven deacons in Rome to assist bishops and ensure the faith continued to grow.
Evaristus was also responsible for establishing rules for the ordination of priests and bishops, solidifying Church structure. His leadership was marked by a commitment to spreading the Gospel while encouraging Christians to remain steadfast under persecution.
In 107 AD, he was arrested and martyred under Emperor Trajan's rule. Though details of his execution are unclear, he is believed to have died a violent death for his unwavering commitment to Christianity. His body was buried in Rome, and he is honored as both a Pope and a Martyr of the Church.