Category:Saint Hippolytus

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Arms showing Saint Hippolytus of Rome.

Hippolytus of Rome (170 – 235) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the Christian Church in Rome. He came into conflict with the popes of his time and seems to have headed a schismatic group as a rival bishop of Rome. For that reason he is sometimes considered the first antipope. He opposed the Roman bishops who softened the penitential system to accommodate the large number of new pagan converts. However, he was very probably reconciled to the Church when he died as a martyr.

Starting in the 4th century, various legends arose about him, identifying him as a priest of the Novatianist schism or as a soldier converted by Saint Laurence.