Pasagians
The Pasagians, also spelled Passagians or Pasagini, were a religious sect which appeared in
They likely considered
As late as the eleventh century Cardinal
The following report is found in a work written by
“After what has been said of the Cathari, there still remains the sect of the Pasagini . They teach Christ to be the first and pure creature; that the Old Testament festivals are to be observed, circumcision, distinction of foods. Moreover, in nearly all other matters, save the sacrifices, the Old Testament is to be observed as literally as the New. Circumcision is to be kept according to the letter. They say that no good person before the advent of Christ descended into the lower regions; and that there is no one in the lower regions and in paradise until now, nor will there be until sentence has been rendered on the day of Judgement.” [3]
As to the origin of the Pasagians, most Church historians suppose them to have come from the East. Neander expresses himself as follows:
“Among the sects of Oriental origin belongs, perhaps besides those already mentioned, the Pasagii or Pasagini.” “The name of this sect reminds one of the word passagium (passage), which signifies a tour, and was very commonly employed to denote pilgrimages to the East. To the holy sepulcher, — crusades. May not this word, then, be regarded as an indication, pointing to the origin of the sect as one that came from the East, intimating that it grew out of dealings with Palestine? May we not suppose that from very ancient times a party of Judaizing Christians had survived, of which this sect must be regarded as an offshoot? The way in which they expressed themselves concerning Christ as being the first-born of creation, would point also, more directly, at the connection of their doctrine with some older Jewish theology, than at that later purely Western origin.”[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Blunt, John Henry (1874). Dictionary of Sects, Heresies, Ecclesiastical Parties and Schools of Religious Thought. London, Oxford and Cambridge: Rivingtons. pp. 408–9.
- ^ J.N. Andrews The History of the Sabbath and the First Day of the Week 4th edition part II Ch XXI Section 2
- ^ Collectio Rev. Occitan in the Royal Library of Paris, doc. 35, quoted in Dollingers' History of the Sects, Vol 2 p. 375
- ^ Church History, fifth period, 8, pp. 403,404