Antipope Hippolytus
The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus
Translated into English with Introduction and Notes
"The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus" by Antipope Hippolytus is an early Christian treatise rediscovered in the 19th century. This ancient church order provides crucial insights into third-century Christian worship and liturgy. Long attributed to Hippolytus of Rome and dated before 235 AD, the text profoundly influenced modern liturgical reforms across mainstream Christianity. However, recent scholarship has sparked intense debate over its true authorship, dating, and origins—questioning whether it represents actual Roman practice or a compilation from diverse sources spanning centuries.