Felix
CLAUDIUS, or ANTONIUS, a Roman procurator of Judea, before whom Paul so "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to FELLOWS come," that he trembled, saying, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee."
Felix rose from slavery, having been manumitted by Claudius Cæsar. His rule in Judea, notwithstanding its severity or rather in consequence of it, was marked by constant disorders and disaffection; and but for the interest of his brother (the notorious freedman Pallas) with Nero, the charges carried up against him to Rome would have been his ruin.
FELIX I., Bishop of Rome. He succeeded Dionysius, 269, and suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Aurelian.
FELIX II., Pope. He occupied the pontifical see during the banishment of Liberius, 355. In reply to a proposition for the recall of Liberius, it was proposed by the Emperor Constantius that Liberius and Felix should reign conjointly, but the people exclaimed, "One God, one Christ, and one bishop!" Felix was exiled in 358, but became Pope again the same year, and died in 359.
FELIX III., Pope; he succeeded Simplicius in 483. He had a holy dispute with the Emperor Zeno, in behalf of the Western Church, and died in 492.
FELIX IV., Pope; a native of Benevento; he ascended the chair after John I., 526. He governed the Church with zeal and piety, and died in 530.
He introduced extreme unction.
FELIX V., antipope; the same as Amadeus VIII., Count of Savoy. See AMADEUS.