Hieromartyr
Hieromartyr Hippolytus of Rome
ок. 170 — ок. 235
Hieromartyr Hippolytus of Rome — the foremost theologian and church writer of the 3rd century, who rivaled Pope Callistus I and later reconciled with him, both dying together in exile in the Sardinian mines.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170 – c. 235) was one of the most important theologians of the third century, a presbyter and disciple of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, author of the "Refutation of All Heresies," the "Apostolic Tradition," and commentaries on Daniel and the Song of Songs.
He sharply opposed Pope Callistus I (already covered in this database as martyr_callistus, feast October 14/27) over the readmission of repentant sinners, and reportedly led a rival community as a competing bishop — hence his reputation as the first "antipope."
Under Maximinus Thrax (235) he was exiled with his former rival Pontian to the Sardinian mines, where tradition holds they reconciled before both died of the harsh conditions. His relics were translated to Rome, to the Via Tiburtina.
His feast is kept on January 30/February 12.
NOTE: category refined martyr→hieromartyr (he was a presbyter). Some sources note possible conflation of this commemoration with a separate, legendary Hippolytus of Porto/Ostia — honestly flagged as an unresolved scholarly question.