Anicetus
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Pope Anicetus
Biography:
Christianisation
He lived during a time when the Church at Rome was gaining peace with the Emperor by agreeing to adopt the Roman pagan religions. This was at the protest of other churches throughout, and the hottest issue of the time was the changing of the Passover, begun by Pope Sixtus I (115-125), to the day of the pagan goddess Semiramis, called "Easter".Easter
Pope Anicetus now argued with the other bishops the importance of sacrificing the Passover day, in order to gain greater favour with the Emperor for Christianity.Irenaeus writes that Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, travelled to Rome to discuss the Passover controversy with Anicetus. Polycarp had been taught by the apostles, and was a disciple of the Apostle John. He tried to urge Anicetus not to align with the Easter day, but continue observing the Passover according to the Gospel, regardless of what the Emperor wants. Anicetus would not budge however, trying to persuade Polycarp for the need to change it. Polycarp said that the apostles continued observing Passover to the end, and that he did the same with the apostle John. Neither would change, and division grew.
The Church at Rome continued to grow stronger under the Emperor, and Eusebius writes that about 40 years later, Pope Victor I (189-199) wrote letters of threats to the other bishops who would not conform to the teachings of Rome regarding Easter. The Easter controversy continued, and by 325, the Roman Emperor Constantine settled the issue by officially decreeing that the Last Supper be observed on Easter, and forbid anyone from observing it on Passover.
Rulers & Events:
138-161: Roman Emperor, Antoninus Pius
161-180: Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius
161-169: Roman Emperor, Lucius Verus
165-167: The plague outbreak through Roman Empire
