Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Pope Saint Hilarius, Defender of the Church

Pope Saint HilariusPope Saint Hilarius (461-468) Image: St. Paul Street Evangelization

(EWTN) Born in Italy Sardina, Hilarius was elected 46th Pope in November 461 according to SQPN is credited for confirming the work of several general councils, together with rebuilding and remodeling many Churches, Convents and libraries during his Papacy.

Hilarius was a trusted aide to Pope Saint Leo I and used on many assignments according to Catholic Online — Hilarius was sent to ‘Robber Synod’ at Ephesus in 449 to report on the Monophysitism heresies of Eutyches, which denied the humanity of Jesus Christ and claimed that He had only a divine nature, a teaching condemned in 451 by the Council of Chalcedon — Eutyches’ followers attacked the legate party and forced them to return to Rome.

Following his election as Pope in 461, Hilarius continued the work of Pope Saint Leo I fighting vigorously for the rights of the Roman See, the Church’s role in the empire, affirming the position of the Pope and is remembered for his work on an updated method on calculating the date of Easter and defending the rights of the Bishops, while imploring on them to curb their excesses and devoting themselves more closely to God.

Pope Hilarius passed away on this date in 468 in Rome and was interred in the Basilica of St. Laurence Outside the Walls in Italy, Rome.

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