Picture: Artaud de Montor (1772–1849) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Nicholas I
pope
SaintResearchedPapal StatesDate unknown
Feast: 13 November (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
820
Died
13 November 867
verified
Beatified
—
not on record
Canonised
—
not on record
Who they were
Nicholas, a Roman of distinguished family, was known for piety, kindness, learning and eloquence. Elected pope on 24 April 858, he became one of the great popes of the Middle Ages.
He upheld the law of God against powerful kings and bishops, even when besieged in Rome. He died on 13 November 867 and was regarded as a saint after his death.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A great pope who upheld God's law before kings.
Connected on this site
- Eigil of Prüm Saint“He crossed the Alps to deliver the council's letter to Pope Nicholas I and also to act as Charles the Bald's envoy in the case of the divorce of Lothair II.” — Wikipedia
- Gregory I Saint“He is the second of the three Popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title "the Great", alongside Popes Leo I and Nicholas I.” — Wikipedia
- Hunfrid of Prüm Saint“Hunfrid of Prüm (died 8 March, 871), also known as Saint Humphrey, was an East Frankish Benedictine monk at Prüm Abbey who was promoted to bishop of Thérouanne in Gaul in 856 by Pope Nicholas I.” — Wikipedia
- Leo I Saint“Additionally, he is the first of the three Popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title "the Great," alongside Gregory I and Nicholas I.” — Wikipedia
- Nicholas Mystikos Saint“Nicholas I Mystikos or Mysticus (Greek: Νικόλαος Μυστικός; 852 – 15 May 925) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1 March 901 to 1 February 907 and from 15 May 912 to his death on 15 May 925.” — Wikipedia
- Elena of Montenegro Servant of God“Elena was the daughter of King Nicholas I and Queen Milena of Montenegro.” — Wikipedia
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Pope St. Nicholas I
- Wikidata Q170503 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pope Nicholas I (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.