Felix II. (Ί), pope or antipope, was in 356 raised from the archdeaconate of Rome to the papal chair, when Tiberius 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 Tiberius 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 Tiberius, 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, and, on what grounds it is impossible to determine, was enrolled amongst the number of martyrs, his day being the 2 2d of July. In the reign of Gregory XIIL the claims of Felix to rank among the popes was discussed, and in order to discover whether any miraculous help was to be found to aid in the decision of the question his sarcophagus wa3 opened, when it is said the words “Pope and Martyr” were found inscribed on his body; but this supernatural testimony is in contradiction to the earlier authorities of the church.

Felix III. (or II.) was descended from one of the most influential families of Rome, and succeeded Simplicius in the papal chair 2d March 483. His first act was to repudiate the Henoticon, a deed of union, originating, it is supposed, with Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople, and published by the emperor Zeno with the view of allaying the strife between the Monophysites and their opponents in the Eastern church. He also addressed a letter of remonstrance to Acacius; but the latter proved refractory, and sentence of deposition was passed against him. As Acacius, however, had the support of the emperor, a schism (the first on record) arose between the Eastern and Western churches, which lasted for 34 years. Felix died in 492.

Felix IV. (or III.), a native of Beneventum, was, on the death of John in 526, raised to the papal chair by the emperor Theodoric in opposition to the wishes of the clergy and people. His election was followed by serious riots, which were only quieted by the explanation of Theodoric that he had merely interposed his authority on account of the strifes of the ecclesiastical factions, and by his promise that in future the election should be vested in the clergy and people, although the confirmation of the emperor should also be required to render it valid. Felix, after an uneventful pontificate of four years, died in September 530.

Felix V. (or IV). See Amadeus VIII.

FELIX, of Urgel. See Adoptian Controversy.

FELIX, of Valois (1127-1212), one of the founders of the monastic order of Trinitarians or Redemptionists, was born in the district of Valois, France, 19th April 1127. Not long after he reached manhood he became a hermit in the forest of Galeresse, where he remained till his sixty-first year, when his disciple Jean de Matha suggested to him the idea of establishing an order of monks who should devote their lives to the redemption of Christian captives from the Mahometans. With this view they arrived at Rome about the end of 1197, and obtained the sanction of the pope for the establishment of the new order. On their return to France they founded the monastery of Cerfroi in Picardy, Felix remaining to govern and propagate the order, while Jean de Matha superintended the foreign journeys. A subordinate establishment was also founded by Felix in Paris near a chapel dedicated to St Mathurin, on which account his monks were also called St Mathurins. Felix died at Cerfroi 4th November 1212, and was canonized.

FELIX, Antonius, a Roman procurator of Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, and Peraea, entered upon his office in the 11th or 12th year of the emperor Claudius. Both he and his brother Pallas were originally slaves, and, it is said, owed their freedom to Antonia, wife of the emperor, on which account it is probable that Felix received the surname Antonius. By some writers he is also called Claudius. Felix was cruel and licentious, and his accessibility to bribes led to a great increase of crime in Judaea under his government. The apostle Paul, after being apprehended in Jerusalem, was sent to be judged before Felix at Caesarea, and so reasoned before him of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come that Felix trembled. He nevertheless retained Paul in custody for two years, hoping that a bribe would be offered to secure his liberty, but at the end of this time Felix was succeeded in the government by Festus, and in order to gratify the Jewish people left Paul bound. On returning to Rome Felix was accused of having taken advantage of a dispute between the Jews and Syrians of Caesarea to slay and plunder the inhabitants, but through the intercession of his brother Pallas, who had great influence with the emperor Nero, he escaped unpunished.

FELIX, Minucius. See Minucius Felix.