Pope Martin I

7th‑century pope and martyr, bishop of Rome (649–655), exiled for opposing Monothelitism, venerated as a saint in Catholic and Orthodox Churches

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Lived 598–655, aged 57

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Wikipedia
72 languages
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Era
598–655
Aged 57

Summary

Updated 2026-05-29

Held the papal throne while Constantinople held the leash—until he refused to compromise on Monothelitism and paid for it with exile. The last pope the Church canonised as an actual martyr.

Biography

About

Pope Martin I, also known as Martin the Confessor, was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 649 to 653 or 654. He had served as Pope Theodore I's ambassador to Constantinople, and was elected to succeed him as pope. He was the only pope when Constantinople controlled the papacy whose election had not awaited imperial mandate. For his strong opposition to Monothelitism, Pope Martin I was arrested by Emperor Constans II, carried off to Constantinople, and ultimately banished to Cherson. He is considered a saint by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the last pope reco…

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