St. Fabian was a farmer who became Pope and, later, martyr. He reigned from A.D. 236 until A.D. 250. He defended the Deposit of the Faith against heresy. St. Cyprian calls him an incomparable man.
In A.D. 250, Roman Emperor Decius required everyone in Rome to offer public sacrifice to the pagan gods of Rome or be killed--and the law was applied first of all to the bishops, especially the Bishop of Rome, who enjoys primacy over the whole Church. Pope Fabian suffered martyrdom rather than deny his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
God chooses the weak and makes them strong in bearing witness to Him.