POPE CLEMENT I

'Saint Clement I', the Archbishop of Rome from 88 to 99 AD. He is also called 'Clement of Rome' and 'Clemens Romanus', is the fourth pope, after Anacletus, according to Catholic tradition. However, other sources cite him as the second pope and successor to Peter. Saint Clement I is also considered one of the Apostolic Fathers.
A 9th-century tradition says he was martyred in the Crimean Chersonesos in 102; earlier authorities say he died a natural death; he is commemorated on November 23 in the Catholic Church and the Lutheran church.

Contents

Identity

Symbolism

Writings

References

External links

Identity

Sacred Tradition identifies him as the Clement mentioned in Philippians 4:3 ^[1]. He may have been a freedman of Titus Flavius Clemens, who was consul with his cousin, the Emperor Domitian. ''The Shepherd of Hermas'' (''Vision'' II. 4. 3) mentions a Clement whose office it is to communicate with other churches; this function has been adduced to support Clement's authorship of the letter to the church at Corinth, Greece, ascribed to him: full details are at the entry ''Epistles of Clement''.
''Liber Pontificalis'' documents the fact that Clement of Rome had personally known Saint Peter, and states that he wrote two letters (the second letter, ''2 Clement'' is no longer ascribed to Clement) and that he died in Greece in the third year of Trajan's reign, or 100. A 9th century tradition says he was martyred in Crimea in 102, tied to a ship's anchor and thrown overboard to drown, but earlier sources say he died a natural death. The Holy See's ''Annuario Pontificio'' (2003) cites a reign from 92 to 99. He is commemorated on November 23.

Symbolism

In art, Saint Clement can be recognized as a pope with an anchor and fish. Sometimes there is an addition of a millstone; keys; a fountain that sprung forth at his prayers; or with a book. He might be shown lying in a temple in the sea.
The Mariner's Cross is also referred to as ''St. Clement's Cross'' in reference to the way he was martyred.

Writings

Clement is perhaps best known by a letter to the Catholic Church in Corinth, often called ''1 Clement''. The history of 1 Clement clearly and continuously shows Pope Clement I as the author of this letter. The original autograph remains in the archives of the Holy See.
A second epistle, better described as a homily and written in the second century, has been traditionally ascribed to Clement. However recent, albeit in some cases questionable scholarship suggests someone else wrote this letter.^[2]
Clement is also the hero of an early Christian romance or novel that has survived in at least two different versions, known as the Clementine literature, where he is identified with Domitian's cousin T. Flavius Clemens.

References

1. "Writers of the 3rd and 4th cents., like Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome, equate him [St. Clement I], perhaps, correctly, with the Clement whom St. Paul mentions (Phil. 4:3) as a fellow worker." — The Oxford Dictionary of Popes, , , Kelly, Oxford University Press, 1985,
2. "A second letter attributed to him (''2 Clement'') is not authentic" — based on the opinion of one questionable source. Lives of The Popes, , , McBrien, Harper, 2000,

External links

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★ Two Epistles Concerning Virginity .

★ Opera Omnia