Hippolytus, martyred around 235, was a scholar who wrote in Greek, but
was resident in or near Rome. Some Eastern writers refer to him as the
Bishop of Rome, but he is not on the list of Bishops of Rome at that
time. Moreover, his surviving works include a severe censure of
Callistus, Bishop of Rome, whose life, if Hippolytus is correct, includes
some scandalous episodes. (On the other hand, without supposing
Hippolytus to be a liar, we can see innocent explanations for the actions
he cites, and may conclude that he has read unwarranted interpretations
into the actions of someone whom he opposes on other grounds.) From these
facts, some have inferred that he was an anti-pope, that is, the head of
a rival faction who regarded him rather than Callistus as the true Bishop
of Rome. They explain his canonization by assuming that he was reconciled
with the Pope before his death. However, a simpler explanation is that he
was Bishop of Ostia (41:46 N 12:18 E), the port city of Rome, and that
the Eastern writers, observing him to be the most important Christian
writer in Italy at that time, simply made a mistake.
His best known work is the Philosophoumena, a refutation of various Gnostic heresies. He also wrote a commentary on the book of Daniel, and a work called The Apostolic Tradition, which complains that public worship is getting very sloppy, and explains in detail how church services ought to be conducted, and were conducted back in the Good Old Days. It is one of our most valuable sources of information on the worship of the early Church.
O God, who hast enlightened thy Church by the teaching of thy Servant Hippolytus: Enrich us evermore, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses who by their life and doctrine will set forth the truth of thy salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O God, who have enlightened your Church by the teaching of your Servant Hippolytus: Enrich us evermore, we pray, with your heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses who by their life and doctrine will set forth the truth of your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.