Saint Hegesippus
Ecclesiastical author
A Jewish convert and disciple of the Apostles, Saint Hegesippus traveled to Rome to collect the authentic traditions of the Church. He is the author of the 'Memoirs', a major ecclesiastical history of the 2nd century of which only fragments remain today.
Guided reading
2 reading sections
SAINT HEGESIPPUS, ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHOR (180).
Conversion and journey to Rome
Hegesippus, a converted Jew, leaves his homeland for Rome to gather apostolic traditions from local churches.
Hegesippu Hégésippe Ecclesiastical author of the 2nd century and Jewish convert. s was a converted Jew to whom the misfortunes of the disloyal nation had early on opened his eyes to the cause of so many disasters. Having become one of the most fervent disciples of the Apostles, he left his homeland and came to Rome whe re Saint Ani saint Anicet Pope reigning in Rome during the visit of Hegesippus. cetus presided. Along the way, he visited the principal churches with the goal of gathering, for the instruction of his compatriots, the authentic traditions concerning the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles. He recorded, in a colle ction en Mémoires Historical work by Hegesippus covering the history of the Church up to Marcus Aurelius. titled *Memoirs*, the fruit of his observations and his travel impressions. It was, in truth, a complete ecclesiastical history from Jesus Christ to M arcus Aurel Marc-Aurèle Roman emperor marking the chronological limit of Hegesippus's work. iu s. Eus Eusèbe Church historian to whom Ceraunus is compared. ebiu s and Saint saint Jérôme Father of the Church and author of the original biography of Saint Asella. Jerome, who had this work in their hands, praise the simplicity of the style, the candor of the narrative, and the orthodoxy of the author. These praises, confirmed by all of antiquity, only increase our regrets. The *Memoirs* of Hegesippus are lost to us. The only fragments that remain to us have been inserted into the Greek *Patrologia*, vol. V, col. 1320.
The Memoirs and their posterity
The author wrote the Memoirs, a major ecclesiastical history now lost, but whose quality was praised by Eusebius and Saint Jerome.
Hegesippus was a converted Jew to whom the misfortunes of the disloyal nation had early on opened his eyes to the cause of so many disasters. Having become one of the most fervent disciples of the Apostles, he left his homeland and came to Rome where Saint Anicetus presided. Along the way, he visited the principal churches with the goal of gathering, for the instruction of his compatriots, the authentic traditions concerning the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles. He recorded, in a collection titled Memoirs, the fruit of his observations and travel impressions. It was in truth a complete ecclesiastical history from Jesus Christ to Marcus Aurelius. Eusebius and Saint Jerome, who had this work in their hands, praise the simplicity of the style, the candor of the narrative, and the orthodoxy of the author. These praises, confirmed by all of antiquity, only increase our regrets. The Memoirs of Hegesippus are lost to us. The only fragments that remain to us have been inserted in the Greek Patrology, vol. V, col. 1320.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Conversion from Judaism to Christianity
- Journey to Rome during the pontificate of Saint Anicetus
- Visited major churches to collect authentic traditions
- Writing of the Memoirs, an ecclesiastical history from Jesus Christ to Marcus Aurelius