Hippolytus of Rome

Hippolytus of Rome also known as Saint Hippolytus (sometimes Ypolitus; (Italian) Ippolito; in Middle English, Ippolitt; (German) Pilt; (Spanish) Ipolito) was one of the most prolific writers of the early Church. Hippolytus must have been born in the second half of the 2nd century, probably in Rome. Photius describes him in his Bibliotheca (cod. 121) as a disciple of Irenaeus, who was said to be a disciple of Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of John the Apostle, and from the context of this passage it is supposed that we may conclude that Hippolytus himself so styled himself. He came into conflict with the Popes of his time and for some time headed a separate congregation. Therefore he is sometimes considered the first Antipope. However he died in 235 reconciled to the Church as a martyr, so now he is honored as a saint.

Life

As a presbyter of the church at Rome under Bishop Zephyrinus (199-217), Hippolytus was distinguished for his learning and eloquence. It was at this time that Origen, then a young man, heard him preach.

It was probably not long before questions of theology and church discipline brought him into direct conflict with Zephyrinus, or at any rate with his successor Calixtus I. He accused the bishop of favouring the Christological heresies of the Monarchians, and, further, of subverting the discipline of the Church by his lax action in receiving back into the Church those guilty of gross offences. The result was a schism, and for perhaps over ten years Hippolytus stood at the head of a separate congregation.

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