St. Anicetus

Anicetus · ~155 – ~166

Hosted Polycarp of Smyrna in Rome for the Easter dating debate and maintained unity despite their disagreement.

Anicetus was Syrian by birth. His pontificate is remembered chiefly for his meeting with Polycarp, the aged bishop of Smyrna who had known the apostle John personally. They disagreed about when to celebrate Easter: Anicetus followed the Sunday tradition, Polycarp the Asian practice of the 14th of Nisan regardless of the day. Neither convinced the other, but they parted in peace, with Anicetus letting Polycarp celebrate the Eucharist in his own church as a gesture of respect. It was a model of disagreement without schism.

A Disagreement Done Right

Anicetus and Polycarp couldn't agree on Easter, and neither budged. But instead of excommunicating each other, they shared the Eucharist and went home. It was a remarkable display of Catholic unity that didn't require uniformity. Later generations wouldn't always manage the same grace.