Donatus Magnus
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Donatus Magnus, also known as Donatus of Casae Nigrae, was the leader of a
Life
Little is known of his early life because of the complete loss of his correspondence and written works. He first appears in Church records as Donatus of
The Schism
During the wave of persecutions of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in order to avoid torture, exile, or death, some Church leaders turned over their scriptures, liturgical books, and other church goods to the imperial authorities. Such people became known as traditors ("surrenderers").
The schism between the two Christian wings centered on the status of traditor clergy. The
During the
Upon the death of Bishop Mensurius of Carthage in 311, Caecilian was chosen as his successor. Caecilian was consecrated Bishop of Carthage and
The council then determined that
The supporters of Donatus appealed to the Emperor, requesting the issue be judged by the bishops of Gaul, since under Constantine's father there had been no persecution in Gaul and therefore no traditors. Instead he referred the matter to Pope Miltiades, himself of Berber descent.
Lateran council
Miltiades summoned Caecilian to the Lateran with ten bishops of his accusers and ten of his own communion. He then called a synod and appointed an additional 15 Italian bishops,[2] as well as three of the chief bishops of Gaul, Reticius of Autun, Maternus of Cologne, and Marinus of Arles.[1]
The
The Donatists again appealed to the Emperor, who responded by convening the
Aftermath
During his tenure of some 40 years Donatus oversaw the expansion of the Donatist Christian sect but struggled unsuccessfully against the
The issue was complicated because there it was not only Catholic bishops who were suspected of being traditores; some Donatist bishops were also suspected of the same, in contradiction to their sect's basic teaching. Further, bishops suspected of being traditores refused to be challenged.
Donatus succeeded in expanding the Donatist sect in spite of lack of success in removing Caecilian from office, in large part due to the unpopularity of Caecilian and the Roman administration - particularly amongst the rural population. Donatist priests and bishops were much closer to the rural agricultural population which consisted of Roman farmers and the Berber and Phoenician descendants of the indigenous people who lived there before the Romans conquered North Africa.
Most Donatist clergy in rural Numidia spoke the vernacular languages (Old Libyan and Eastern Berber languages or Punic) as well as Latin, whereas the Catholic clergy usually spoke only Latin.
Donatism after Donatus
In 347 Donatus was exiled to
The Circumcellions were bands of nomadic anti-Roman rebels, Punic-speaking bandits from the lower strata of society, who supported Donatism and were sometimes led by Donatist clergy. However, they broke out of control, attacking Roman landlords and colonists and redistributing goods. Their support for the Donatists caused the Donatists to be identified with them, leading officials to take punitive action against the Donatist Church.
Further, the Donatist church splintered into two main groups, reducing its effectiveness as a church.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Chapman, John. "Donatists." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 15 March 2021
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 9781580512299
- ^ a b Levillain, Philippe, ed. (2002). The Papacy: an Encyclopedia. 2. New York City: Routledge, p.993
- ISBN 9781608998081.
- ^ Burris 2012, p. 79.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Donatists". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Sources
- Beaver, R. Pierce, “The Donatist Circumcellions”. (Church History, Vol. 4, No.2 June 1935) pp. 123–133.
- Edwards, Mark ed. trans. Optatus: Against the Donatists. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1997.
- Frend, W. H. C., The Donatist Church. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.
- McGrath, Alister E.Reformation Thought, an Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, Third edition: January 1999.
- Gaddis, Michael. There Is No Crime for Those Who Have Christ. Berkeley: University of California Press: 2005. pp. 103 – 130.
- Tilley, Maureen A. trans., Donatist Martyr Stories – The Church in Conflict in Roman North Africa. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press: 1996.
- Tilley, Maureen A., "Dilatory Donatists or Procrastinating Catholics: The Trial at the Conference of Carthage" (Church History, Vol. 60, No.1 Mar. 1991) pp. 11 – 19.
- Donatus & the Donatist Schism. http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/donatism.php