FELIX II.

felix ii., antipope, was in 356 raised from the archdeaconate of rome to the papal chair, when liberius was banished by the emperor constantius for refusing to subscribe the sentence of condemnation against athanasius. his election was contrary to the wishes both of the clergy and of the people, and the consecration ceremony was performed by certain prelates belonging to the court. in 357 constantius, at the urgent request of an influential deputation of roman ladies, agreed to the release of liberius on condition that he signed the semi-arian creed. constantius also issued an edict to the effect that the two bishops should rule conjointly, but liberius, on his entrance into rome in the following year, was received by all classes with so much enthusiasm that felix found it necessary to retire at once from rome. regarding the remainder of his life little is known, and the accounts handed down are contradictory, but he appears to have spent the most of it in retirement at his estate near porto. he died in 365.