<p>St. Anastasius I was born in Rome.&nbsp; He was the son of Maximus.&nbsp; We know little about him, but he was Pope from November 27, 399 to December 19, 401.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We also know that he condemned the writings of the Alexandrian Theologian Origen, shortly after their translation into Latin.&nbsp;</p> <p>He fought against these writings throughout his papacy, and in 400 he called a council to discuss them.&nbsp; The council he assembled agreed that Origen was not faithful to the Catholic Church.&nbsp; During his reign we also know he encouraged Catholics in North Africa to fight Donatism.&nbsp; It was Pope Anastasius who instructed Priests to stand and bow their head as they read from the Gospels.&nbsp;</p> <p>Among his many friends were Augustine, Jerome and Paulinus.&nbsp; St. Jerome speaks of him as a man of great holiness who was rich in his poverty.&nbsp; St. Anastasius was succeeded by his son, Pope Innocent I, who was born before Anastasius entered the Clergy.&nbsp; Pope St. Anastasius is buried in the Catacomb of Pontian.&nbsp;</p> <h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></h1> <p>Pope St. Anastasius I, was a an early saint of the Church.&nbsp; We are not sure when he was born, but we know his papacy was only 25 months long, and he passed in 401.&nbsp; We also know he spent his time in the papacy defending the Catholic Faith, and he found the Alexandrian theologian, Origen, to be teaching agains the Catholic faith. He held a council and his decision was upheld.&nbsp; We also know that his son followed him as Pope Innocent I, a child of his prior to his entering the Clergy.&nbsp;</p>