Hippolytus the soldier
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Hippolytus the soldier was a third century officer in the Roman army. Saints of the name Hippolytus, including Hippolytus of Rome, are mentioned in the old martyrologies and legends of martyrs for the Faith. Some of these, however, are to be identified with him.
According to the Acts of St. Laurence, an officer Hippolytus was, with his nurse Concordia and nineteen others of his household, put to death for the Faith. The same statement also appears in the Roman Martyrology under the date of August 13. But this Hippolytus is without doubt identical with the presbyter and martyr who has been connected by legend with St. Laurence, whose grave is situated near the cemetery of Hippolytus.
Hippolytus was also commemorated at a later date in common with Saint Cassian, with whom he had no connection whatsoever. According to the hymn of Prudentius on Cassian (Peristephanon, hymn IX), the latter was a teacher at Forum Cornelii (modern Imola) and was surrendered to the fury of his pupils, who tortured him to death with their iron styles. This historical martyr probably suffered in the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (circa 304).
Another Hippolytus is likewise found among a group of martyrs described as martyres groeci "Greek martyrs", whose burial place was venerated in the catacomb of Callistus. This Hippolytus is certainly distinct from the Roman presbyter (De Rossi, "Roma sotterranea", III, 201-208). The feast of these saints is celebrated on December 2.
Furthermore, the bishop and martyr Hippolytus of Porto is commemorated on August 22 in the Roman Martyrology. This statement, which occurs even in ancient martyrologies, is connected with the confusion regarding the Roman presbyter, resulting from the Acts of the Martyrs of Porto. It has not been ascertained whether the memory of the latter was localized at Porto merely in connection with the legend in Prudentius, without further foundation, or whether a person named Hippolytus was really martyred at Porto, and afterwards confounded in legend with Hippolytus of Rome.
There is also a Saint Hippolyte of Antioch.
Later certain liturgical feasts seem to have been moved.
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- This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
