Saint Narcissus was born toward the end of the first century and was nearly eighty years old when he became the thirtieth Bishop of Jerusalem.

In the year 195, together with Theophilus, the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, he presided over a council of bishops held in Caesarea around Easter. The council decided that the Easter feast should always be celebrated on a Sunday rather than in conjunction with the Jewish Passover.

According to the historian Eusebius, a remarkable miracle is attributed to Saint Narcissus. One Easter Eve, when the deacons found themselves without oil for the church lamps, which was essential for the solemn celebration, Narcissus instructed them to fetch water from nearby wells. After praying over the water, he told them to pour it into the lamps. To everyone’s astonishment, the water was instantly transformed into oil. Eusebius notes that some of this miraculous oil was still preserved in his time as a lasting reminder of the event.

Despite being deeply respected for his holiness and discipline, Saint Narcissus became the target of false accusations from three unrepentant men who feared his strict enforcement of church order. Each swore oaths to confirm their lies. One wished to die by fire, another to be struck with leprosy, and the third to lose his sight if they were not telling the truth. Divine justice soon revealed their deceit. The first was consumed in a fire that destroyed his home, the second was afflicted with leprosy, and the third, overcome with remorse, confessed his slander and wept so bitterly that he lost his sight before dying.

Shaken by the scandal or perhaps seeking the solitude he had long desired, Narcissus withdrew into a life of seclusion. He spent several years in an unknown location, devoting himself to prayer and contemplation. During his absence, the local bishops appointed another pastor to lead the Jerusalem church.

When Narcissus eventually returned, the faithful welcomed him with joy and persuaded him to resume his duties as bishop. In his advanced years, he appointed Saint Alexander as his coadjutor to assist him in the governance of the diocese. Even in extreme old age, Narcissus remained dedicated to prayer and to promoting unity and harmony among the faithful. According to Saint Alexander’s writings to the Arsinoites in Egypt, Narcissus was about one hundred and sixteen years old at that time.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates Saint Narcissus on October 29.