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Hippolytus, Pontian, Pope and AntiPope

Just like Popes, anti-Popes come and go, sometimes even during their own lifetimes. Hippolytus is one such figure: The history is somewhat obscure, but he was a priest of Rome of rather rigorous views, who thought the hierarchy too lenient on repentant sinner – particularly apostates and adulterers, actually granting them absolution! Apparently, some sins merited hell unconditionally and irrevocably; but it seems he did not have the same scruple about schismatics, for Hippolytus sometime around 230 had himself elected ‘Pope’ against the true Pontiff, Pontian, whom we also celebrate today.
The schism continued until the persecution of Maximinus Thrax in

Praise the Lord

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