Rome from Evaristus to Eleutherus
After Clement, Irenaeus lists Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius, Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutherus, whom he describes as holding the episcopate in his own day.
Key points
- Irenaeus's sequence is a public teaching test against claims of secret Gnostic doctrine.
- It is an ancient succession of office; the passage does not preserve a personal consecration record at each link.
- Eusebius later repeats and expands early episcopal chronology; compare his testimony rather than treating it as independent first-century documentation.
Primary sources
His sequence continues:
Irenaeus names the later Roman office holders from Evaristus through Eleutherius and describes Eleutherius as his contemporary incumbent.
Alexander followed Evaristus; then, sixth from the apostles, Sixtus was appointed; after him, Telephorus, who was gloriously martyred; then Hyginus; after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Soter having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate.
Passage context and translation
The list follows Irenaeus's statement that Evaristus succeeded Clement. It is a late second-century office sequence used to argue for public teaching, not a record naming each ordaining bishop.
Before the excerpt
To this Clement there succeeded Evaristus.
After the excerpt
In this order, and by this succession, the ecclesiastical tradition from the apostles ... have come down to us.