Felix II, Antipope

FELIX II, Antipope. - Archdeacon of the Roman church, after the Arian Council of Milan in 355, despite the promise of fidelity to the legitimate pontiff Liberius, driven into exile by Constantius, he accepted consecration as bishop. The ceremony was held in the imperial palace in the presence of a few officials. The Roman people, however, refused to recognize him and sacked his churches.

In 358, when Liberius was able to return from exile, the Emperor and the Eastern bishops demanded that Liberius and F. should govern together; the people mocked the absurd proposal and forced F. to leave the city. Shortly afterwards, however, he attempted to seize the basilica Iulii in Trastevere, but once again he had to withdraw. He then retired to an estate of his on the Via Portuense, where he died on 22 Nov. 365. At the beginning of the 6th century, when the history of the events that occurred under Constantius II had become confused, while the memory of the supposed fall of Liberius remained alive, F. was regarded as a legitimate pope and martyr, and therefore Liberius became a heretic and persecutor. The confusion became complete when F. was identified with one of the homonymous martyrs buried on the Via Portuense or the Aurelia. Witness and echo of this muddle is the life of F. inserted in a recension of the Liber Pontificalis.

Agostino Amore