The Pope Stephen I reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Pope Stephen I

Stephen I, pope (about 254 to 257). Of Roman birth but of Greek ancestry, he became bishop of Rome in 254, when internal disputes racking the Church were as much a threat as the external persecutions. He withdrew from church fellowship with Cyprian and certain bishops of the Roman province of Asia on account of their views as to the necessity of rebaptizing heretics for readmission to communion. He is also mentioned as having insisted on the restoration of the bishops of León and Astorga, who had been deposed for unfaithfulness during persecution but afterwards had repented. He is commemorated on August 1.

Preceded by: Pope Lucius I

List of popes

Succeeded by: Pope Sixtus II

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