On January 5, 269, just ten days after the death of Saint Dionysius, Pope Felix I was elected as his successor and twenty-sixth Pope of the Catholic Church. Very little information is available about the reign of Pope Felix.

Prior to Pole Felix I’s ascension to Peter’s throne, the Synod of Eastern Bishops excommunicated Paul of Samsota, Patriarch of Antioch, for teaching the Adoptionist heresy. (According to the heresy, Christ was only human, and was only deified through perfect union with God and God's will).

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A letter addressed to Pope Dionysius with this information was received by Pope Felix soon after he became the Pontiff. He confirmed the decision of the Eastern Fathers and wrote a letter to Paul of Samsota telling him to resign. Pope Felix also explained in the same letter the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. He further appointed Domnus as the new Patriarch of Antioch.

Paul of Samsota refused to accept the decision of the Synod of Antioch and Pope Felix to resign. Queen Zenobia, the queen of Palmyra, supported Paul and his studies, providing material aid and protection. The people of Antioch appealed to the Roman Emperor Aurelian for help in ousting the deposed patriarch.

Emperor Aurelian in AD272 defeated Queen Zenobia and removed Paul of Samsota from his position. The appointment of Domnus as his successor was also approved.

The event bore significance in the fact that for the first time in the history of the Holy Church that a heathen authority recognised Peter's authority and the Church.

Though Emperor Aurelian recognized Pope Felix I at first, his later actions proved otherwise. He measures further tested the faithful and pushed them into suffering.

Like his predecessors, Emperor Aurelian did not hold back from persecuting Christians.

Pope Felix I passed away on December 30, 274 A.D. and was buried in the cemetery of Saint Callixtus. The fourth Ecumenical Council of Ephesus testified and declared that Pope Felix I had been martyred to death.

The feast day of Saint Felix I is observed on December 30th.
-edit&transl. SM

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