Saint Liberius, Pope of Rome

Saint Liberius, who ascended to the papal throne on May 22, 352, was a zealous defender of Orthodoxy and Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, who opposed the Arians. Emperor Constantius, who supported the Arians, was unable to force him to condemn Saint Athanasius, for which Liberius was exiled to Beria in Thrace. When the emperor was in Rome, the people, who loved their archpastor, pleaded for his return. Liberius was summoned to the Third Sirmian Council, where he signed the definition, but later repented of this act, similar to Saint Apostle Peter. Returning to Rome in 358, he worked diligently for the benefit of Orthodoxy and departed to the Lord in 366.