Hilary was a fervent opponent of Arianism, which in his time enjoyed the support of the emperor and many influential bishops. As the image at left emphasizes, his opposition took the form not only of written treatises but of frequent travel to the many synods throughout the empire that were grappling with this issue in the 4th century. The Catholic viewpoint that he championed held that the Father and Son were "of the same substance" and co-eternal, a theological concept which the image seeks to represent in the scene in the upper half.
Feast day: January 14
At left, fresco in the chapel of St. Hilary, Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome
Hagiography:
Menu