St. Cornelius Pendant

Description

Saint (Pope) Cornelius was the Bishop of Rome until his Martyrdom in 253. Emperor Decius persecuted Christians, ordering all Citizens to perform a religious sacrifice or face death. Many Christians refused and were martyred. After Decius was killed in Battle, Cornelius became pope over his rival Novatian, and accepted Christians who had abandoned their faith under Decius. The Church regrew and prospered under his papacy until the reign of Emperor Gallus brought a new persecution to the faith. Pope Cornelius was exiled to Italy, where he died in May of 253.
d. c. 253
Patronage: Earaches, Domestic animals, Cattle, Epilepsy
Feast Day: September 16