Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs

Pontian was bishop of Rome from 230; Hippolytus was a learned Roman priest and writer who had opposed earlier popes, Callistus among them, and was set up by his followers as a rival bishop. In 235, under Emperor Maximinus Thrax, both were deported to the mines of Sardinia, a sentence few survived. Pontian resigned his office so that Rome could elect a successor, the first papal resignation whose date is recorded, 28 September 235. Tradition holds that Hippolytus was reconciled with the Church in exile. Both died there; their bodies were brought back to Rome by Pope Fabian, Pontian's to the cemetery of Callistus and Hippolytus's to the Via Tiburtina, and both were buried on 13 August.