Pope Sixtus II

Pope Sixtus II or Pope Saint Sixtus II (a corruption of Greek Ξυστος, Xystus, "polished") was Pope from 30 August 257 to 6 August 258. He died as a martyr during the persecution by Emperor Valerian. According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was Greek by birth; however this is uncertain and disputed by modern western historians arguing that the authors of Liber Pontificalis confused him with that of the contemporary author Xystus who was Greek student of Pythagoreanism. He restored the relations with the African and Eastern Orthodox churches which had been broken off by his predecessor on the question of heretical baptism (see Novatianism). In the persecutions under Emperor Valerian I in 258, numerous bishops, priests, and deacons were put...