Hilary of Poitiers
c. 310 – 367 · Bishop of Poitiers
Also known as Hilarius Pictaviensis
Feast: 13 January (Catholic)

Bishop of Poitiers and 'Athanasius of the West.' Defender of Nicene Trinitarianism in Latin; wrote De Trinitate while exiled in Phrygia.
Hilary is the Athanasius of the West. While Athanasius fought the Arians in Greek in the East, Hilary fought them in Latin in Gaul, and got exiled to Asia Minor for it — which turned out to be a gift, because he learned Greek theology there and brought it home. His De Trinitate was the first serious Latin treatment of the doctrine, and it gave Augustine the categories he later worked with. Without Hilary, Latin Trinitarian theology starts later and weaker. He also taught Martin of Tours, which is how monasticism reached Gaul.
Notable works
- ·On the Trinity · 360
Primary sources
- ·Hilary, De Trinitate
- ·Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 100
- ·Sulpicius Severus, Chronica 2.39-45
Daily Patristic Wisdom — in your inbox.
A Father, council, schism, or quote each morning — sourced, annotated, and tied back to the chain. Free. Unsubscribe whenever.