Famous Ancient Roman Spiritual & Religious Leaders

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Jesus Christ

(Founder of Christianity Who is Believed to be the Incarnation of God )

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Birthdate: 0004 AD

Birthplace: Judea, Roman Empire

Died: 0033 AD

First-century Jewish preacher Jesus, known as the Son of God, led to the formation of Christianity, the world’s largest religion. He was born to Joseph and the Virgin Mary. His miracles irked the Roman government, who then tried him and crucified him. Jesus later rose from the dead.

Saint Christopher

(Patron Saint of Travellers)

Birthplace: Canaan

Died: 0251 AD

Saint Christopher is often regarded by the Christians as the patron saint of travelers. He is venerated as a martyr killed during the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius. Over the years, the legend associated with Saint Christopher has been mentioned in several works of art, including literature, music, paintings, and films.

Nicodemus

(Religious Leader)

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin who finds mention in the Gospel of John. According to the gospel, Nicodemus provides the embalming spices required to prepare the body of Jesus for burial after the Crucifixion of Jesus. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and in the various Eastern Churches.

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St Paul

(Christian Apostle Who Was Regarded as One of the Most Important Figures of the Apostolic Age)

Birthdate: 0005 AD

Birthplace: Tarsus, Turkey

Died: 0065 AD

Paul the Apostle, or Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle who disseminated Christ’s teachings and established Christian communities in Asia and Europe. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, about 14 are said to be authored by Paul, though only seven are said to be genuinely written by him.

Caiaphas

(High priest)

Birthdate: 0014 BC

Birthplace: Israel

Died: 0036 AD

Caiaphas was a Jewish high priest who organized a plot to kill Jesus of Nazareth, according to the gospels. He is best remembered for presiding over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus Christ. Over the years, Caiaphas has been depicted in several films like The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Passion of the Christ, King of Kings, and Son of God.

Simon Magus

(Founder of Simonianism)

Died: 0065 AD

Simon Magus was a religious figure best remembered for his confrontation with Peter as mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The act of simony is named after Simon Magus. He is often credited with founding Gnosticism and Simonianism.

Eutyches

(Orthodox Abbot Who Opposed Nestorianism and Established Eutychianism)

Birthdate: 0380 AD

Birthplace: Unknown

Died: 0456 AD

Orthodox abbot Eutyches served as an archimandrite of a monastery outside Constantinople and first gained notice when he opposed Nestorianism at the First Council of Ephesus. However, while denouncing Nestorianism as heresy, he himself established Eutychianism, an extreme heresy that stressed on the exclusive existence of the divinity in Christ.

Asher ben Jehiel

(Rabbi and Talmudist Who Summarized the Talmudic Law)

Birthdate: 1250 AD

Birthplace: Rhine District, Germany

Died: October 24, 1327

Asher ben Jehiel was a rabbi and Talmudist. Commonly referred to as Rabbenu Asher, he is best remembered for his summarization of Talmudic law. Asher ben Jehiel's abstract of Talmudic law has been re-printed on numerous occasions since its publication.

Flavian of Constantinople

(Archbishop of Constantinople)

Birthplace: Constantinople

Died: August 11, 0449

Flavian of Constantinople served as the Archbishop of Constantinople between 446 and 449. Prior to his service as the Archbishop, Flavian was a presbyter at the Church of Constantinople. Flavian of Constantinople is revered as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Gregory (VI)

(Antipope)

Birthdate: 0000

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Rome

Died: 1012 AD

Following the death of Pope Sergius IV, Gregory VI was fielded as the next papal candidate by the Crescentii family. However, Gregory fled to Germany after the Tusculani chose Benedict VII as their candidate. Gregory was eventually persuaded by Emperor St. Henry II to withdraw his claim from the papacy.

John II, Bishop of Jerusalem

(Bishop of Jerusalem)

Birthdate: 0356 AD

Birthplace: Byzantine

Died: January 10, 0417

John II served as the Bishop of Jerusalem from 387 to 417 AD. Modern scholars believe that John II, Bishop of Jerusalem authored the five Mystagogical Catecheses, which was previously ascribed to his predecessor Cyril. John II, Bishop of Jerusalem is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Eusebius of Dorylaeum

(Bishop of Dorylaeum)

Birthplace: Byzantine

Eusebius of Dorylaeum served as the bishop of Dorylaeum, present-day Eskişehir, Turkey. He is best remembered for his criticism against the dissident teachings of Eutyches and Nestorius. Eusebius of Dorylaeum succeeded in having both Eutyches and Nestorius expelled from their positions.

Anthimus I of Constantinople

(Patriarch of Constantinople)

Birthplace: Unknown

Perpetua

(Christian Martyr of the 3rd Century)

Birthdate: 0182 AD

Birthplace: Unknown

Died: 0203 AD

Perpetua was a noblewoman who was martyred alongside Felicity when she was 22 years old. Perpetua and Felicity were put to death with others at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. The events surrounding their death were published in The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, according to which five people were executed to celebrate Emperor Septimius Severus's birthday.