Sixtus I (St)

Sixtus I (St.), pope, was born at Rome, of a senatorial family, near the close of the 1st century, and succeeded Alexander I in 119. We know little of his life, except that he perished in 127 during the persecution ordered by the emperor Hadrian. He was canonized, and his day was fixed as Aug. 6, although he appears in the martyrologies likewise under April 3 or 6. There have been attributed to him two decretal Letters, which are spurious; there is also a Commentary under his name in the patristic collections. He was succeeded in the episcopal office by Telesphorus.