Saint Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor

Hilary of Poitiers (Latin: Hilarius Pictaviensis; c. 310 – c. 367) was Bishop of Poitiers and a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" (Malleus Arianorum) and the "Athanasius of the West". His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. In addition to his important work as bishop, Hilary was married and the father of Abra of Poitiers, a nun and saint who became known for her charity. Hilary was born at Poitiers either at the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century AD. His parents were pagans of distinction. He received a good education, which included a high level of Greek. He studied, later on, the Old and New Testament writings, with the result that he abandoned his Neoplatonism for Catholicism, and with his wife and his daughter, traditionally known as Saint Abra of Poitiers, was baptized and received into the Church. Arianism was becoming popular among Christians in this era and this theological position was refuted by the bishops at the Council of Nicaea, under the sponsorship of the emperor Constantine the Great. There had been rigorous debates—even some violent disputes—between Trinitarians and Arians, leading up to the Council. In 353, the Trinitarian Christians of Arles elected Hilary as bishop as the existing bishop, Saturninus of Arles, was an Arian. At the Council of Arles, the legates of Pope Liberius refused to condemn Arianism and considered formally opposing Athanasius of Alexandria, who was a strong advocate of Trinitarianism against Arianism. Hilary still managed to secure the local excommunication, by those of the Gallican hierarchy who were his allies, of Bishop Saturninus and two of his prominent supporters, Bishops Ursacius of Singidunum and Valens of Mursa.