St. Hyginus, like many of the early popes, was martyred during a Roman persecution. Accordingly, many of the early popes, like Hyginus, were honored as saints.

Not much is recorded in historical documents about Hyginus’ biographical details, other than that he was born in Greece. The diocese (and city) of Rome, as the center of the empire, drew many different people from the corners of the empire and was subsequently a very diverse place. Many of these earliest popes reflected this diversity—a sharp distinction from the medieval popes who were nearly uniformly of Italian descent.

History (or legend) credits Hyginus with two important ecclesial developments. One of the ancient sources that contain the bulk of our surviving information about the early popes, the Liber Pontificalis (literally, “The Book of the Popes”), credits Hyginus for organizing the current structure of the Roman Hierarchy—distinguishing the orders of deacon, presbyter (or priest), and bishop. The Liber Pontificalis also claims Hyginus established the practice of Christian churches becoming formally consecrated in order to be valid spaces of worship. During the first centuries of Christianity, Christians began to have their liturgies at martyria, which are churches established above the tomb of a martyr. Hyginus was apparently responsible for creating the process of turning an ad hoc local shrine into an approved worship space.

Legend has it that Hyginus was martyred in the year 142, but the story of his martyrdom was never written down. He was buried on Vatican Hill, near the tomb of St. Peter, and his feast has been celebrated on January 11, traditionally believed to be the date of his death.

The image of St. Hyginus above comes from the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.

Pope St. Hyginus, martyr for the faith and faithful shepherd of your flock—pray for us!