Saints Hippolytus and Cassian

"Ss. Hippolyti et Cassiani Martyrum" refers to the feast day of Saints Hippolytus and Cassian, who are celebrated as martyrs in the Christian tradition.

- **Saint Hippolytus** is one of the saints associated with Saint Lawrence, who baptized him, and whom he followed to martyrdom in 258.

Saint Hippolytus of Rome was a significant Christian theologian during the second and third centuries. Here are some key details about his life and work:

- **Birth and Death**: He was born around 170 AD and died around 235 AD.

- **Veneration**: He is venerated in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Anglican Communion.

- **Feast Day**: His feast day is celebrated on August 13th in the Catholic Church, and on January 30th in the Orthodox Church.

- **Patronage**: He is the patron saint of Bibbiena, Italy; Mexico City, and horses.

- **Theological Work**: Hippolytus was a disciple of Irenaeus of Lyon and was a strong opponent of opinions he considered heretical. He championed the Logos doctrine of the Greek apologists, most notably Justin Martyr, which distinguished the Father from the Logos ("Word").

- **Antipope**: He holds the distinction of being the first antipope, but he died in 235 reconciled to the Church as a martyr and is recognized as a saint.

- **Writings**: His most important work is considered to be Philosophumena (one part of a larger work called Refutation of All Heresies), which seeks to show that the various Christian heresies are traceable to false pagan philosophies.

It's worth noting that much about Hippolytus remains elusive to scholars and historians, including his exact community of origin. Despite this, his contributions to early Christian theology are widely recognized and respected.

(1) Hippolytus of Rome - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytus_of_Rome.

(2) Hippolytus of Rome - New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Hippolytus_of_Rome.

(3) Saint Hippolytus of Rome | Early Christian Leader, Antipope. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Hippolytus-of-Rome.

(4) Saint Hippolytus (170-235) | Saint Mary's Press. https://www.smp.org/resourcecenter/resource/7299/.

- **Saint Cassian** was a schoolmaster, and the official who sentenced him to death for being a Christian had him murdered by his own pupils.

Saint Cassian of Imola, also known as Cassiano, was a renowned schoolmaster at Imola, Italy during the early 4th century. He was known for his expertise in teaching handwriting, but he also took every opportunity to share his faith in Christianity with his students.

During one of the imperial persecutions of Christians, Cassian was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods. However, he adamantly refused to renounce his faith³. As a result, he was handed over to his pagan students, who were ordered to execute him³⁴. In a distressing turn of events, the children whom he once taught reluctantly carried out this gruesome act, stabbing him to death.

Cassian's death was a result of being tied to a post, tortured, and stabbed to death with iron styles, which were commonly used as pencils on wax tablets. He was buried in the catacombs of Rome, but later a sepulchre was built over his place of burial in the 4th century. In the 5th century, a basilica was constructed in place of the sepulchre. In 1175, Cassian's relics were transferred from Rome and enshrined in the crypt of the cathedral in Imola, where they remain to this day.

Saint Cassian of Imola serves as an inspiration for his unwavering commitment to his faith, even in the face of persecution and betrayal by those he taught. His courage and martyrdom continue to be celebrated and remembered by the faithful, especially those involved in education and clerical professions.

(1) Saint Cassian of Imola - Catholic Saint | Saint for a Minute: Blesseds .... https://www.saintforaminute.com/saints/saint_cassian_of_imola.

(2) Cassian of Imola - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassian_of_Imola.

(3) . https://bing.com/search?q=Saint+Cassian+schoolmaster.

(4) St. Cassian School. https://www.stcassianschool.org/.

Their feast day is celebrated on **August 13th**¹. The liturgy for their feast day includes readings from the Psalms and the New Testament, prayers (collects), and other elements of the Mass. It's a day to remember their faith and sacrifice.

(1) AUGUST 13, STS. HIPPOLYTUS & CASSIAN, MARTYRS - Extraordinary Form. https://extraordinaryform.org/propers/0813StsHippolytus&CassianMartyrsD20.pdf.

(2) PROPER OF THE MASS (aug13pom.htm) - DailyCatholic. http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/04Aug/aug13pom.htm.

(3) Ordo: Augustus 2024 - Divinum Officium. https://www.divinumofficium.com/cgi-bin/horas/kalendar.pl.

(4) Officium sanctorum martyrum Hippolyti, et Cassiani, patronorum hujus .... https://archive.org/details/officiumsanctoru00cath.