c. 200 – 238

Hippolytus of Rome and the schism against bishop Callistus

Hippolytus was Rome's leading Greek-speaking theologian. He wrote the Refutation of All Heresies and the Apostolic Tradition, which contains the oldest surviving description of the rites of baptism and episcopal ordination. He fought the modalism of Noetus and Montanism.

When Callistus became bishop of Rome in 217, Hippolytus refused to recognize him. He led a rival community, considering himself the lawful bishop. The schism lasted until 235.

Hippolytus accused Callistus of excessive leniency – admitting penitents guilty of grave sins and recognizing baptism performed by sectarians. Callistus, in turn, accused Hippolytus of "ditheism." For his part, Callistus excommunicated Sabellius himself for modalism.

In 235, during Maximinus Thrax's persecution, both rivals – pope Pontian and Hippolytus – were exiled to the Sardinian mines. According to tradition, they reconciled there, and both died.