Urban I

Pope Urban I was bishop of Rome from 222 to 230, in the time of Emperor Alexander Severus. He is honoured as a saint of the undivided Church and commemorated on 25 May; the English-⁠language Orthodox calendar sometimes calls him a hieromartyr, though modern historians think he died a natural death.

He was born in Rome and succeeded Callixtus I, who had died a martyr; his name means "of the city" in Latin. He was elected in 222 (OrthodoxWiki gives 14 October 222). Few sources survive for his ministry: Eusebius's history and an inscription in the catacomb of Callixtus bearing his name. He is the first pope whose reign can be dated with certainty. He lived in a time of peace for Christians, since Alexander Severus did not promote persecution, and the Church of Rome grew. He continued the opposition to Hippolytus, who led a rival community and had attacked Callixtus.

A decree on the gifts of the faithful (that they be used only for the needs of the Church, the community and the poor) is attributed to him. The story in the old Roman breviary, that he converted Valerian, the husband of Saint Cecilia, and Tiburtius and was scourged and beheaded, comes from the legendary Acts of Saint Cecilia; likewise, the report that he ordered silver vessels for twenty-⁠five Roman churches is a sixth-⁠century invention.

His death is dated 23 or 19 May 230. Opinions differ on his burial place: De Rossi's discoveries point to the catacomb of Callixtus, but a list of popes buried there does not include him, so the cemetery of Praetextatus has also been argued. A relic of him is kept in the church at Monok in Hungary, given to the Andrássy family in 1773.