St Liberius, Pope of Rome (+366)

Saint Liberius the Confessor, Pope of Rome, took the headship of the Church of Rome in 352, after the death of Pope Julius. He boldly defended the Orthodox faith against the Arians. The Emperor Constantius (337–361), who inclined towards heresy, could not persuade Pope Liberius to renounce Orthodoxy, and exiled him to Beroea (Thrace), but soon, at the insistent demand of the Romans, recalled him. Before his return the hierarch Liberius was summoned to the third, semi-Arian council gathered at Sirmium and forced to sign its decrees. Afterwards the holy hierarch deeply repented of this act and, to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, laboured with still greater zeal for the strengthening of Orthodoxy in Rome. The blessed Liberius reposed in peace in 366.