Pope Fabian was the bishop of Rome from 10 January 236 until his death on 20 January 250, succeeding Pope Anterus.

According to the Liber Pontificalis, Fabian was a noble Roman by birth, and his father's name was Fabius.

After the short reign of Pope Anterus, Fabian had come to Rome from the countryside when the new papal election began. While the names of several illustrious and noble churchmen were being considered over the course of thirteen days, a dove suddenly descended upon the head of Fabian. The congregation took this as a sign that he was marked out for this dignity, and Fabian was at once proclaimed bishop by acclamation.

Pope Fabian had enough influence at court to effect the return of the bodies of both of these martyrs from Sardinia, where they had died at hard labor in the mines.

Most of his papacy was characterized by amicable relations with the imperial government, and the schism between the Roman congregations of Pontian and Hippolytus was ended. He divided Rome into diaconates and appointed secretaries to collect the records of the martyrs. He sent out seven "apostles to the Gauls" as missionaries.

Pope Fabian died a martyr at the beginning of religious persecution by Emperor Decius and is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. He was interred in the catacomb of Callixtus in Rome.

Other Saints of the Day

1. Saint Abadios
2. Saint Euthymius
3. Saint Fechin
4. Saint Maurus
5. Saint Sebastian