Born in Bethlehem, Palestine; died c. 105-107. Evaristus was born like his Savior in Bethlehem. A Hellenic Jew, he was converted to Christianity and eventually reached Rome. There he accepted the dangerous office of pope, after the death of the fourth pope, Saint Clement, between the years 96- 100.

Evaristus contributed to the growing organization of the Church. He is credited with the establishment of cardinal priests. He divided Rome into seven parishes, then appointed seven deacons to serve the city, just as the early apostles did to serve the poor of Jerusalem.

Evaristus conferred holy orders three times in December, when ordinations traditionally took place for moral and mystical reasons (according to Amalarius). Others say that ordinations took place during Advent because the bishops had more free time give proper attention to this important function, and because holy orders were always conferred during the seasons of fasting and prayer.

There is no direct evidence that Evaristus died a martyr's death, though most martyrologies list him as such. It is not unbelievable, however, because virtually any prominent Christian in the early centuries of the Church was likely to be brutally put to death because of his beliefs (Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).