View source for Pope Hyginus

Pope '''Hyginus''' was the eighth [[Pope]] of the [[Catholic Church]] (the official title is [[Bishop of Rome]]). He served around 138{{ndash}}142 [[AD]].  Hyginus was a Greek born in [[Athens]].<ref>Matthew Bunson, ''OSV’s Encyclopedia of Catholic History'', (Huntington, IN:Our Sunday visitor, 2004), p. 451</ref>

He served as Pope during the [[Heresy|heretical]] teachings of the [[Gnosticism|Gnostics]]. Heresy is a belief or opinion that does not agree with the official belief or opinion of a particular religion.  The Gnostics taught that [[Yahweh]], (the Old Testament name for God) and [[Jesus Christ]] were two different Gods. This was against the Catholic Church teachings. Hyginus declared these men, Valentinus and Cerdo, to be [[heretic]]s.<ref>Charles A. Coulombe, ''Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes'' (NY: Citadel Press, 2003), p. 27, 28</ref>

Pope Hyginus died a [[martyr]]. He was made a [[Saint]] by the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on January 11.<ref>Richard P. McBrien, ''Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul II'', (San Francisco:Harper San Francisco, 1997), p. 38</ref>

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[[Category:Italian popes|Linus]]
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