Saint Hyginus-Pope

Catholic Saint

Feast Day : January 11

Hyginus was Greek. He may have been a philosopher before his conversion to Christianity. He was the ninth bishop of Rome, thus the ninth pope, following St. Telesphorus in about 136. His rule lasted only four years, until ca. 140. Gnostics began to preach their heresy during Hyginus’s rule, and two (Valentinus and Cerdo) are thought to have been resident in Rome for at least part of that time. However, it is not known what action, if any, he took against them. Hyginus does not appear in the ancient lists of martyrs, such as the Roman Martyrology, and nothing is known about how he died. He was buried on Vatican Hill, near the tomb of St. Peter.