ANASTASIUS I, SAINT

born , Rome? died Dec. 19, 401, Rome ; feast day December 19 pope from Nov. 27, 399, to 401, succeeding Pope Siricius. Anastasius earned the praise of St. Jerome (Letter 127) for censuring (c. 400) the works of Origen, one of the most influential theologians of the early Greek church. In papal letters he condemned several Origenist writings and disapproved the spreading of Origen's teaching. Anastasius' virtues were praised by his admirers Saints Augustine of Hippo, Jerome, and Paulinus of Nola.