Pope Hyginus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Saint Hyginus |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
| Church | Christian Church |
| Papacy began | c. 136 |
| Papacy ended | c. 142 |
| Predecessor | Telesphorus |
| Successor | Pius I |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Hyginus |
| Born | Athens, Greece, Roman Empire |
| Died | 142 Rome, Roman Empire |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 11 January |
Pope Hyginus was a very important leader in the early Christian Church. He served as the bishop of Rome (which is like the main leader of the Church) from around 138 AD until he passed away in about 142 AD.
During his time as Pope, it is believed that Hyginus helped set up how the Church was organized. He also decided on the different roles and levels for people working in the Church.
Pope Hyginus started the idea of having godparents at baptism. Godparents are special adults who help guide and support a person throughout their Christian life. He also made a rule that all churches should be consecrated. This means they were officially dedicated for holy use.
It is said that he died as a martyr, meaning he died for his beliefs. However, there are no clear records to fully confirm this. It's also a bit hard to know the exact dates for the early leaders of the Church in Rome.
Contents
Who Was Pope Hyginus?
According to an old book called the Liber Pontificalis, Hyginus was born in Greece. This book tells us some of the earliest stories about the popes.
Important People During His Time
A writer named Irenaeus mentioned that a teacher called Valentinus came to Rome when Hyginus was Pope. Valentinus was a Gnostic, which means he had different ideas about Christianity. He stayed in Rome until another Pope, Anicetus, took over.
Another Gnostic teacher named Cerdo also lived in Rome during Hyginus's time. Cerdo admitted he was wrong about his teachings and was allowed back into the Church. But later, he went back to his old beliefs and was asked to leave the Church again.
How Pope Hyginus Organized the Church
The Liber Pontificalis also says that Pope Hyginus helped organize the Church's structure. It mentions he set up the different levels and roles for the clergy (people who work in the Church). This might have been about creating lower roles for Church workers.
His Death and Legacy
Old writings do not clearly state that Pope Hyginus died as a martyr. When he passed away, he was buried on the Vatican Hill in Rome, close to Saint Peter's tomb. We remember him and celebrate his life on January 11th each year.
See also
