St. Hilarius

Hilarius of Arles A relative of Honoratus of Arles, St. Hilarius succeeded him as bishop of Arles in 429 and wrote the only extant life of his kinsman. Hilary presided at several councils and was interested in church reform. Prosper of Aquitaine accused him of being a "semi-Pelagian" because Hilarius did not share Augustine's thoughts on grace. Hilarius incurred the wrath of Pope Leo I when he removed three bishops from their sees and appointed new bishops. Leo demoted Arles from a metropolitan see to a bishopric to assert papal power over the church in Gaul. Although Leo also restored the deposed bishops, he did not remove Hilarius from office. Hilary died in 449, and Leo restored Arles as a metropolitanate a year later.