HILARY OF POITIERS, SAINT poitērzˈ, poiˈtyā, c.315–367?, bishop of
Poitiers from c.350, Doctor of the Church. A convert from paganism, he distinguished himself as a supporter of Athanasius against
Arianism. For his zeal he was exiled (c.356). After his return (360) he aided Pope Liberius in the attempted purge of Arianism in the West. He wrote many theological works, mostly against the Arians, including the historically invaluable De synodis and the De trinitate (tr. by Stephen McKenna, 1954). He composed allegorical interpretations of the Bible and sacred poetry. His hymns were important in the early development of that form. Feast: Jan. 14; in England, Jan. 13 (Hilarymas). Hilary term, in English courts and schools, begins Jan. 11.
See W. N. Myers, ed. and tr., The Hymns of Saint Hilary of Poitiers (1928); C. F. A. Borchardt, Hilary of Poitiers' Role in the Arian Struggle (1966). ____________________The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright© 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All rights reserved. -22029- |