Editing Hilary of Poitiers (section)

==Early life==
Hilary was born at [[Poitiers]] either at the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century A.D.{{sfn|Hunter|2010|p=302}} His parents were [[pagan]]s of distinction. He received a good education,<ref>Bettenson, Henry. ''The Later Christian Fathers'' OUP (1970), p.4</ref> which included a high level of Greek.<ref>Watson E.W. "Introduction to the Life and writings of St Hilary of Poitiers" in ''Library of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers - Series II N° IX'' Eerdmans reprint 1983, p. ii</ref> He studied, later on, the Old and New Testament writings, with the result that he abandoned his [[Neoplatonism]] for [[Christianity]], and with his wife and his daughter, traditionally known as [[Abra of Poitiers|Saint Abra of Poitiers]], was [[baptism|baptized]] and received into the [[Catholic Church|Church]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=458}}

[[Arianism]] was becoming popular among Christians in this era and this theological position was supported by [[Constantine the Great]]. There were a series of violent battles between [[Trinitarianism|Trinitarians]] and Arians. [cite source]

In 353, the [[Trinitarianism|Trinitarian Christians]] of Arles elected Hilary as bishop as the existing bishop, [[Saturninus of Arles]], was an Arian.<ref>{{harvtxt|Hunter|2010|p=302}} names the date as 350.</ref> At the [[Synod of Arles#Council of Arles in 353|Council of Arles]], the legates of [[Pope Liberius]] refused to condemn Arianism and considered formally opposing [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], who was a strong advocate of Trinitarianism against Arianism. Hilary still managed to secure the local [[excommunication]], by those of the Gallican hierarchy who were his allies, of Bishop Saturninus and two of his prominent supporters, Bishops [[Ursacius of Singidunum]] and [[Valens of Mursa]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=458}}

About the same time, Hilary wrote to Emperor [[Constantius II]] a remonstrance against the persecutions by which the Arians had sought to crush their opponents (''Ad Constantium Augustum liber primus'', of which the most probable date is 355).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=458}} Other historians refer to this first book to Constantius as the "Book Against Valens", of which only fragments are extant.<ref>"Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature, A Literary History" O'Connell, Mathew, Peabody Mass, 2002, p.252-253</ref> His efforts did not succeed at first, for at the [[synod]] of Biterrae ([[Béziers]]), summoned by the emperor in 356 with the professed purpose of settling the longstanding dispute, an imperial [[rescript]] banished the new bishop, along with Rhodanus of Toulouse, to [[Phrygia]], a stronghold of Arianism.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=458-459}}<ref>Clavis Patrum Latinorun, E. Dekkers, Claudio Moreschin, Enrico Norello, Vienna, 1995</ref>

Hilary spent nearly four years in exile, although the reasons for this banishment remain obscure. The traditional explanation is that Hilary was exiled for refusing to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius and the Nicene faith. More recently several scholars have suggested that political opposition to Constantius and support of the usurper [[Claudius Silvanus]] may have led to Hilary's exile.{{sfn|Hunter|2010|p=302}}