Guy (pope)

Born in Dalmatia , was a relative of the emperor Diocletian . Executed with his niece St. Susana and several courtiers and priests. It is revered by Catholics, especially in Croatia and northern Italy , as well as Orthodox ^[1] . According to Catholic sources ^[2] , buried in the catacombs of St. Callistus .

Around 280, a Christian prayer house was opened at the site of the current Santa Susanna church, which became the meeting place for Christians (Domus Ecclesiae). The house belonged to the brothers Guy and Gabinius. Guy subsequently became a pope, and Gabinius was the father of St. Susanna . Thus, sources claim that Guy was Susanna's uncle ^[3] .

As Pope Guy decreed, any candidate for a bishop had to go through all the steps of the church hierarchy — the doorkeeper, lecturer, exorcist, psalm-governer, subdeacon, deacon, and priest. He also divided the regions of Rome among deacons ^{[4] [5]} . During the pontificate of Guy, anti-Christian sentiments intensified, although new churches were built and cemeteries were expanded. Saint Guy may not have been tortured: the persecution of Diocletian began in 303 , after the alleged death of Guy ^[6] .

Guy is mentioned in the list of bishops of the 4th century Depositio Episcoporum . The tomb of Guy with the original epitaph was discovered in the catacombs of Callist. In 1631 , his alleged home in Rome was turned into a church. However, it was demolished in 1880 to make way for the building of the Ministry of War, and his relics were transferred to the chapel of the Barberini family.

The feast of Saint Guy is celebrated on April 22 , as is Saint Soter . Both are mentioned under the date April 22nd in the Roman Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints. The introduction to the article on Gaius is as follows: “In Rome, at the Callista cemetery on the Appian Way, Saint Gaius, the pope, who, fleeing the persecution of Diocletian, died as a confessor of faith” ^[7] .

Guy is portrayed in art in the papal tiara with Saint Nereus . It is revered in Dalmatia and Venice. In Florence, the church of San Gaggio was dedicated to him.