Hippolytus of Rome (170 – 235 AD) was the most important 3rd-century theologian in the
Christian Church in Rome, where he was probably born.
Photios I of Constantinople describes him in his
Bibliotheca (cod. 121) as a disciple of
Irenaeus, who was said to be a disciple of
Polycarp, and from the context of this passage it is supposed that he suggested that Hippolytus so styled himself. However, this assertion is doubtful. He came into conflict with the
popes of his time and seems to have headed a schismatic group as a rival
Bishop of Rome. For that reason he is sometimes considered the first
antipope. He opposed the Roman bishops who softened the penitential system to accommodate the large number of new pagan converts. However, he was very probably reconciled to the Church when he died as a
martyr.