Pope St. Telesphorus

Pope St. Telesphorus governed the Roman Church in the first half of the second century, reigning by tradition from about 126 to 137. A Greek by origin, said to have lived earlier as a hermit, he holds a special place among the early popes because his martyrdom is affirmed by the early witness of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, making it among the best attested of the second-century bishops of Rome.

Tradition credits him with several liturgical customs of lasting influence, including the celebration of Midnight Mass at Christmas, the singing of the Gloria in Excelsis, and a period of fasting before Easter, though the historical certainty of these attributions varies. He died a martyr, most likely under the Emperor Hadrian or Antoninus Pius. Honored from ancient times, he is celebrated on 5 January.