7th century
Saint Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Pope of Rome who opposed Monothelitism, was arrested on the orders of Emperor Constans II and died in exile in Cherson in 655.
Biography
Martin was born near Todi in Umbria, central Italy. He served as Pope Theodore I's envoy to Constantinople and in 649 was elected Pope of Rome without waiting for imperial approval.
He firmly opposed Monothelitism, the teaching upheld by the Patriarch of Constantinople Paul II with the backing of Emperor Constans II, and convened a council in Rome against it.
The emperor had him arrested by deceit, brought him as a captive to Constantinople and exiled him to Cherson, where he died on 16 September 655, together with two other bishops who had been exiled with him.