Bishop
St. Fabian was born in Rome. After the death of Anterus, on January 10, 236, he was elected bishop of Rome in a miraculous way: a dove that settled on his head became a sign of the descent of the Holy Spirit. He divided Rome into seven parishes and conducted restoration works on Christian cemeteries. During this time, he received a letter from Origen, justifying himself before the pope.
The episcopal service of St. Fabian ended during the persecution of Emperor Decius, on January 20, 250, when he suffered a martyr's death. St. Cyprian of Carthage mentions his glorious end in his letter and rejoices that for his unblemished governance, he was granted a glorious end.
St. Fabian was buried in the cemetery of Callixtus, where a tombstone inscription in Greek has been preserved: ФABIANOC ЕПI МРТ.
