Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Hyginus, bp. of Rome


Hyginus (1), bp. of Rome after Telesphorus, probably from 137 to 141. Our early authorities for the dates and duration of his episcopate are confused, as in the case of other bishops of that early period. Anastasius (Lib. Pontif) says that he was a Greek, son of an Athenian philosopher, of unknown genealogy. Several spurious decretals are assigned to him. See Mart. Rom. under Jan. 11; also Lightfoot, on the Early Roman successions, Apost. Fath. part i. vol. i.

[J.B—Y.]