Editing Pope Zephyrinus (section)

==Papacy==
During the 18-year pontificate of Zephyrinus, the young Church endured persecution under the Emperor [[Septimius Severus]] until his death in the year 211. To quote [[Alban Butler]], "this holy pastor was the support and comfort of the distressed flock".<ref name=Butler>A. Butler, ''Lives of the Saints'' Vol VIII, 1866</ref> According to [[Optatus|St. Optatus]], Zephyrinus also combated new [[Christian heresy|heresies]] and [[Apostasy in Christianity|apostasies]], chief of which were [[Marcionism|Marcion]], [[Praxeas]], [[Valentinianism|Valentine]] and the [[Montanists]].<ref>Optatus, ''De Schismate'' 1,1</ref> [[Eusebius]]  insists that Zephyrinus fought vigorously against the blasphemies of the two Theodotuses, who in response treated him with contempt, but later called him the greatest defender of the divinity of Christ. Although he was not physically martyred for the faith, his suffering – both mental and spiritual – during his pontificate have earned him the title of martyr, a title that was repealed 132 years after his death.<ref>Berti, ''Sæc 3. Diss''. 1.t. 2 p 158</ref> He was accused of being seduced by [[Monarchian]] views.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first=Margaret M.|editor1-last=Mitchell |editor2-first=Frances M.|editor2-last= Young|authorlink=Frances Young|title=Origins to Constantine|series = The Cambridge History of Christianity|first=Frances M.|last=Young|chapter=Monotheism and Christology|pages=458–61 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=2006|isbn=978-1-107-42361-9}}</ref>

===Conflicts===
During the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211), relations with the young Christian Church deteriorated, and in 202 or 203, the edict of persecution appeared, which forbade conversion to Christianity under the severest penalties.<ref name="ce"/>

Zephyrinus's predecessor, Pope Victor I, had excommunicated [[Theodotus of Byzantium|Theodotus the Tanner]] for reviving a heresy that Christ became God only after the Resurrection. Theodotus' followers formed a separate heretical community at Rome, ruled by another Theodotus, the Money Changer, and Asclepiodotus. [[Antipope Natalius|Natalius]], who was tortured for his faith during the persecution, was persuaded by Asclepiodotus to become a bishop in their sect in exchange for a monthly stipend of 150 denarii. Natalius then reportedly experienced several visions warning him to abandon these heretics. According to an anonymous work entitled ''The Little Labyrinth'' quoted by [[Eusebius]], Natalius was whipped a whole night by an angel, and the next day, he donned sackcloth and ashes and weeping bitterly threw himself at the feet of Zephyrinus.<ref>Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' 5.28.9–12; translated by G.A. Williamson, ''Eusebius: The History of the Church'' (Harmonsworth: Penguin, 1965), pp. 236f</ref><ref name="ce"/>

===Feast day===
A feast of St Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr, held on 26 August, was inserted in the [[General Roman Calendar]] in the 13th century, but was removed in the [[Mysterii Paschalis|1969 revision]], since he was not a martyr and 26 August is not the anniversary of his death<ref>"Calendarium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 136</ref> which is 20 December, the day under which he is now mentioned in the [[Roman Martyrology]].<ref>"Martyrologium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001 {{ISBN|88-209-7210-7}})</ref> His feast is currently celebrated on 20 December in both the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and within the Maronite Catholic Church, as well as in the Orthodox Church.