Editing Pope Fabian (section)

==Early life and accession==
According to the ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', Fabian was a [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|noble Roman]] by birth, and his father's name was [[Fabia gens|Fabius]]. Nothing more is known about his background. The legend concerning the circumstances of his election is preserved by the fourth-century writer [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] (''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Church History]]'', VI. 29).<ref name="Attwater">{{cite book |last1 = Attwater |first1 = Donald |first2 = Catherine Rachel |last2 = John |title = The Penguin Dictionary of Saints |edition = 3rd |location = New York |publisher = Penguin Books |year = 1993 |isbn = 0-14-051312-4 }}</ref> One authority refers to him as "Flavian".<ref name="EB"/>

After the short reign of [[Pope Anterus]], Fabian had come to Rome from the countryside when the new [[Papal selection before 1059|papal election]] began. "Although present", says Eusebius, Fabian "was in the mind of none". While the names of several illustrious and noble churchmen were being considered over the course of thirteen days, a dove suddenly descended upon the head of Fabian. To the assembled electors, this strange sight recalled the gospel scene of the [[Sign of the Dove|descent of the Holy Spirit]] on [[Jesus]] at the time of his baptism by [[John the Baptist]]. The congregation took this as a sign that he was marked out for this dignity, and Fabian was at once proclaimed bishop by [[Acclamation (Papal elections)|acclamation]].<ref name="Attwater" />