[St. Pachomius Library]

ANTIPOPE


Self-styled bishops of Rome considered schismatic by Orthodox (or later by Roman Catholic) tradition. Like those of the Eastern Church, the internal schisms of the Western have been of many kinds, ranging from heresies to political power-struggles; sometimes, the schismatics had the best of intentions. The two most famous antipopes of the Orthodox period (both eventually reconciled to the canonical church) were St. Hippolytus of Rome and the scholar Anastasius Bibliothecarius.

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