Saint Hilary of Poitiers

Saint Hilary of Poitiers , 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.

Bibliography: 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).

Hilary of Poitiers, St (c.315–67/8), the foremost Latin theologian of his age. A convert from paganism, he was elected Bp. of Poitiers c.350. He became involved in the Arian disputes and, probably as a result of his defence of Catholic teaching, in 356 was exiled for 4 years by the Emp. Constantius. In 359 he defended the cause of orthodoxy at the Council of Seleucia. His main works are a treatise De Trinitate (against the Arians); De Synodis, valuable for the doctrinal history of the period; and the so-called Opus Historicum. He is the earliest known writer of hymns in the W. Church. Feast day, 13 Jan. (before 1969, 14 Jan. in the RC Church).

Hilary, St (c.315–c.367), French bishop. In c.350 he was appointed bishop of Poitiers, in which position he became a leading opponent of Arianism; he was named a Doctor of the Church in 1851. His feast day is 13 January.
Hilary term a university term beginning in January; a term or session of the High Court beginning in January.