Written by Guide Catholic
Pope St. Anastasius I (39º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: 27 November 399 –19 December 401 · Origin: Rome, Italy, Roman Empire · Birth name: Anastasius Primus
St. Anastasius I was the 39th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 27 November 399 –19 December 401 during the apostolic and patristic Church. Feast day 19 December. The Catholic Church venerates him as a saint.
Who Was Pope Anastasius I?
Pope Anastasius I — 39º in the Catholic list — reigned 27 November 399 –19 December 401 during the apostolic and patristic Church. Feast day 19 December. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Anastasius I beside neighboring pontiffs. Catholics also honor him as a saint whose intercession remains part of living devotion.
Early Life & Background
Born Rome, Italy, Roman Empire, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Anastasius I (#undefined) shepherded Christians when the faith was still illegal or barely tolerated inside the Roman Empire; records are thin, yet tradition preserves these earliest successors of St. Peter.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (27 November 399 –19 December 401) centered on governance during the apostolic and patristic Church. Feast day 19 December. Instructed priests to stand and bow their heads as they read from the Gospels.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Anastasius I (#39, 27 November 399 –19 December 401) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.
Key Highlights
- 39th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 27 November 399 –19 December 401
- Venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church
- Feast day 19 December.
Legacy in the Catholic Church
St. Anastasius I remains pope 39º in the Annuario Pontificio. The Church still points to Anastasius I's virtues for imitation. Set against the apostolic and patristic Church, Anastasius I's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
If you only remember one modern question about Anastasius I, ask how his decisions served unity and truth under the pressures of the apostolic and patristic Church. Because the Church venerates Anastasius I, you may seek his intercession and check his feast in the Martyrology or local calendar. Begin with this documented note: Feast day 19 December. Compare Anastasius I with the biographies of his predecessor and successor linked below to see reform, rupture, or quiet continuity.
Place in the Line of Succession
St. Anastasius I followed Pope St. Siricius (38º, 17 December 384 –26 November 399) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope St. Innocent I (40º, 21 December 401 –12 March 417), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.