Pontian was a Roman and succeeded St. Urban I as Pope on July 21, 230. During his five-year tenure as head of the Church, Pontian was an avowed defender of orthodoxy and condemned the errors propagated by Origen, a reputed theologian of Alexandria. In the meanwhile, Maximinus was elected emperor of Rome. As a result of his ruthless persecution against the Christians, Pontian was banished to the dangerous and unhealthy mine fields of Sardinia, Italy.
Hippolytus was a Roman priest, a brilliant scholar and a prolific writer. His book Apostolic Tradition is our chief source of information regarding Christianity as lived in the third century. However, Hippolytus was a rigorist, demanded austere living, harsh penance at the confessional and became more orthodox than the Pope himself. He had a large following and yielded to the temptation of being elected their Pope and headed a parallel Church – the first antipope in the history of the Church. Emperor Maximinus had him arrested in 235 and thrown into the mines of Sardinia. In this exile, Pontian and Hippolytus reconciled their ideological differences and jointly suffered martyrdom in the same year, 235. At a later date, their remains were brought back to Rome for a solemn burial.
Reflection: Knowledge and intelligence do not guarantee immunity from errors. In the desolation of their common exile, Pontian’s openness to new ideas and Hippolytus’ humility to accept the excesses of his orthodoxy brought about the reconciliation between the two. Healing and reconciliation are a never-ending process in the life of individuals and of the Church.
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave the gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (Mt. 5:23-24)
