Pope Felix I

Felix I, pope (269-274), a Roman by birth, succeeded Dionysius in the papal chair in December 269. Regarding his pontificate there is little authentic information, but he is said to have given ecclesiastical sanction to the yearly celebration of the mass over the graves of the martyrs, a custom, however, which had previously been in existence; and the law regarding the consecration of churches is also ascribed to him. On account of, it is said, his having strongly supported the Christians during the persecutions under the emperor Aurelian, he was enrolled among the martyrs, his day being the 20th of May. He died in 274.

A fragment of a letter to Maximus, bishop of Alexandria, in support of the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation against the arguments of Paul of Samosata, was in all probability written by Felix, but three other letters acribed to him are certainly ungenuine.

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text from the 9th edition (1879) of an unnamed encyclopedia

preceded by Pope Dionysius (260-268)

succeeded by Pope Eutychian (275-283)