Today, December 19, is the memorial of Pope Saint Anastasius I.
Anastasius, whose father was Maximus, was born in Rome. His predecessor was Pope St. Siricius. He was Pope from 399 to 401. As Pope he condemned the works of the theologian Origen. In fact, contradicting Origen’s writings became one of the main points of his papacy, believing that Origen was an unfaithful Catholic.
Anastacius also encouraged Catholics in North Africa to fight the heresy known as Donatism, an indirect outcome of the emperor Diocletian’s persecutions.
It was Pope Anastasius who instructed priests to stand and bow their head as they read from the gospels. Saints Augustine of Hippo, Jerome, and Paulinus of Nola were his contemporaries and friends.
He died in Rome and was buried in the Catacomb of Pontian together with his son and immediate successor Pope St. Innocent I.