St. Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3, 3) states that St. Clement knew and
worshipped with Sts. Peter and Paul. Both Origen and Eusebius identify
him as the Clement who collaborated with St. Paul and mentioned in his
Epistle to the Philippians (4, 3), but this is doubted by all other authorities
(Andrew Louth, Early Christian Writers, Penguin Books, 1968, p. 18).
According to Tertullian (The Demurrer Against the Heretics 32, C. 199
AD), it was St. Peter who ordained him as presbyter and then bishop of the
Church of Rome. Hence the enormous value of his epistle in understanding
ancient Apostolic teaching, especially as concerns the Eucharist.
Of the life and death of St. Clement very little is known. According to
Rufinus (C. 400 AD) St. Clement is said to have died a martyr’s death in
exile around the year 100 at the order of the Emperor Trajan. His crimes
allegedly relating to his preaching and miracles which converted thousands,
including hundreds of high rank. He was thrown into the Black Sea with an
iron anchor. Around the year 868, St. Cyril, while in the Crimea to
evangelize the Kazars, dug up some bones in a mound together with an
anchor and had them translated to Rome whereupon they were deposited by
Pope Adrian II in the high altar of the basilica of St. Clement.
Extracts
Letter to the Corinthians (C. 96-98 AD):
Address; 1, 1
“The Church of God which sojourns in Rome to the Church of God which sojourns
in Corinth...Owing to the sudden and repeated calamities and misfortunes which
have befallen us, we must acknowledge that we have been somewhat tardy in
turning our attention to the matters in dispute among you.”
32, 4
“We, therefore, who have been called by his will in Christ Jesus, are not justified
by ourselves, neither by our wisdom or understanding or piety, nor by the works
we have wrought in holiness of heart, but by the faith by which almighty God has
justified all men from the beginning…What, then, shall we do, brethren? Shall we
cease from good works, and shall we put an end to love? May the Master forbid
that such should ever happen among us; rather, let us be eager to perform every
good work earnestly and willingly.”
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