In the city of the Romans, when Cornelius had completed his episcopate after about three years, Lucius was appointed his successor; but he, after not even eight full months, at his death handed on his office to Stephen. To him Dionysius addressed the first of his letters On Baptism, since no small question had then been stirred up—namely, whether it was necessary to cleanse by baptism those who were turning back from any heresy whatsoever; for an old custom had prevailed of using, in such cases, only prayer with the laying on of hands.