Editing Hippolytus of Rome (section)

== Life ==
Little is known for certain about his community of origin. One Victorian theory suggested that as a [[presbyter]] of the church at Rome under [[Pope Zephyrinus]] (199–217 AD), Hippolytus was distinguished for his learning and eloquence. It was at this time that [[Origen]], then a young man, heard him preach.<ref>[[De Viris Illustribus (Jerome)|Jerome's ''De Viris Illustribus'']] # 61; cp. [[Eusebius]], ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Historia Ecclesiastica]]'' vol. 14, 10.</ref><ref name="EB1911" />

In this view, Hippolytus accused Pope Zephyrinus of [[modalism]], the heresy which held that the names Father and Son are simply different names for the same subject. Hippolytus championed the [[Logos]] doctrine of the Greek apologists, most notably [[Justin Martyr]], which distinguished the Father from the Logos ("Word"). An ethical conservative, he was scandalized when [[Pope Callixtus I]] (217–222 AD) extended [[absolution]] to Christians who had committed grave sins, such as adultery.<ref name="EBO">[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/266682/Saint-Hippolytus-of-Rome "Saint Hippolytus of Rome"]. [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]. 2010.</ref>

Some suggest Hippolytus himself advocated a pronounced rigorism.<ref name="Kirsch" /> At this time, he seems to have allowed himself to be elected as a rival Bishop of Rome, and continued to attack [[Pope Urban I]] (222–230 AD) and [[Pope Pontian]] (230–235 AD).<ref name="ODCC"  /> G. Salmon suggests that Hippolytus was the leader of the Greek-speaking Christians of Rome.<ref name="dcb" /> Allen Brent sees the development of Roman house-churches into something akin to Greek philosophical schools gathered around a compelling teacher.<ref>Brent, Allen; ''Hippolytus and the Roman church in the third century - communities in tension before the emergence of a monarch-bishop'', 1995, Brill {{ISBN|9004102450}}</ref>

Also under this view: during the persecution at the time of Emperor [[Maximinus Thrax]], Hippolytus and Pontian were exiled together in 235 to [[Sardinia]],<ref name="SHMI">{{Cite book |author=Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI |title=My First Book of Saints |year=1997 |publisher=Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate – Quality Catholic Publications |isbn=978-971-91595-4-4 |pages=179-180 |chapter=Sts. Pontian & Hippolytus}}</ref> likely dying in the mines.<ref name="dcb">[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.h.html?term=hippolytus+romanus "Hippolytus Romanus"]. ''Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature''. Henry Wace, ed. John Murray, London, 1911.</ref> It is quite probable that, before his death there, he was reconciled to the other party at Rome, for, under [[Pope Fabian]] (236–250 AD), his body and that of Pontian were brought to Rome. The so-called ''[[Chronography of 354]]'' (more precisely, the ''[[Liberian Catalogue]]'') reports that on 13 August, probably in 236, the two bodies were interred in Rome, that of Hippolytus in a cemetery on the [[Via Tiburtina]] (now known as the [[Catacomb of Sant'Ippolito]]),<ref name="SHMI" /> his funeral being conducted by [[Justin the Confessor]]. This document indicates that, by about 255, Hippolytus was considered a martyr and gives him the rank of a priest, not of a bishop, an indication that before his death the schismatic was received again into the Church.<ref name="ODCC"  /><ref name="EB1911" />