Difference between revisions of "Novatianism" - New World Encyclopedia

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==Novatian==
 
==Novatian==
Novatian was a Roman priest or deacon of considerable learning. In [[251]] opposed the election of [[Pope Cornelius]], following the assassination of [[Pope Fabian]] during the persecution, on the grounds that he was too lax in accepting the lapsed Christians. He let himself be made a rival [[pope]], one of the first [[antipope]]s.   He held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again into communion with the church, and that second marriages are unlawful. He and his followers were excommunicated by a synod held at Rome in October of the same year. Novatian is said to have suffered martyrdom  under the [[Emperor Valerian I]] (253-260).
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Novatian was a Roman priest or deacon of considerable learning. In [[251]] opposed the election of [[Pope Cornelius]], following the assassination of [[Pope Fabian]] during the persecution, on the grounds that he was too lax in accepting the lapsed Christians. He let himself be made a rival [[pope]], one of the first [[antipope]]s. He held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again into communion with the church, and that second marriages are unlawful. He and his followers were excommunicated by a synod held at Rome in October of the same year. Novatian is said to have suffered martyrdom  under the [[Emperor Valerian I]] (253-260).
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Novatian was a man of learning and had been trained in literary composition. Even his rival, Pope Cornelius speaks of him bitterly as "that champion of ecclesiastical learning." His eloquence is mentioned by Cyprian (Ep. lx, 3). Cornelius relates that was made a priest by a previous pope, probably Fabian, over the protests of others in the Roman clergy and laity. [[Eulogius of Alexandria]] says that Novatian Rome's [[archdeacon]]. The anonymous work ''Ad Novatianum'' (xiii) tells us that Novatian, while still in communion with the Roman church, possessed a deep and abiding concern for the spiritual welfare of the community. He "bewailed the sins of his neighbors as if they were his own, bore the burdens of the brethren, as the Apostle exhorts, and strengthened with consolation the backsliding in heavenly faith."
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Cornelius, however, accused Novatian denying his priesthood during the persecution, remaining in seclusion rather than administering the sacraments to those in danger. However, he is known to have written letters during this period in the name of the Roman clergy, some of which were preserved Cyprian (Epp. xxx and xxxvi). These letters express concern over the the claim that the church of Carthage intended not only to restore those who had denied to faith to communion, but to do so without requiring penance. Here, he did not express the idea restoration of the lapsed to communion itself was improper, but he does express himself in severe terms.
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Cornelius also indicates that Novatian was noted for his boldness during the persecution, so much so that some in the church refused to associate with him.
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Shortly after the election of Cornelius as bishop of Rome by the faction favoring leniency toward the lapsed, Novation was consecrated as a rival pope. He was not the first [[antipope]], as [[Saint Hippolytus]] had done likewise during the pontificate of Pope Calixtus and his successors, one of the issues at that time also being the treatment of the ''lapsi''. His opponents allege that he had to summon three bishops from a distant corner of Italy to find three country bishops willing to consecrate him, but given the success of his movement, we may take this report with a grain of salt.
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In any case, Cornelius and Novatian both sent messengers throughout the empire to announce their respective papacies, and Novatian was able to establish churches widely during his lifetime. Both men appointed their own bishops and priests in cities where the current occupant favored their rival. Several well known Christians still in prison initially favored Novatian—namely Maximus, Urbanus, Nicostratus, and others—but these were later persuaded by Cyprian and others to moderate their views. The respected Carthaginian priest Novatus, on the other hand, became a staunch support of Novatian's cause.
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In the initial period of the schism, no mention is made by Novatian's enemies of his "[[heresy]]," but only of which pope should be considered the true occupant of Peter's chair.  Cyprian's Epistle number 45 is the first time the word heresy in mentioned as applied to Novatian's doctrine. Not even Cornelius, who wrote very bitterly against his rival, dared to call him a heretic. Saint [[Dionysius of Alexandria]], a supporter of Cornelius wrote to Novatian in surisingly respectful terms, chiding him for causing a schism, but not for preaching heresy (Eusebius, VI, xlv)
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As the schism persisted, however, Cyprian and many others escalated their attacks and indeed called Novatian's doctrine a departure from orthodoxy.  Novatian held that idolatry, even performed under threat of death, was such as serious sin that the bishops could not take it upon themselves to forgive it. However, he did not shun those who had lapse. Rather, they should be urged to repent, and should be admitted to fellowship with other Christians in lifelong penance. They could not, however, received the Eucharist, and their forgiveness must be left to God.
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Such sentiments regarding the forgiveness of mortal sin were not new. [[Tertullian]] had resisted the forgiveness of adultery by Pope [[Callixtus]] as an innovation, and the antipapacy of Saint [[Hippolytus]] was based in part on the same issue. The popular late-second century work known as the ''[[Shepherd of Hermas]]'' had threated no futureforgiveness of serious post-baptmismal sins. In various churches rules had been made which punished certain sins by deferring of communion until the hour of death, or even refusing it altogether. Even Cyprian withholding the sacrament to those who escaped penance for their crimes by repenting only on their death-bed.
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Novatian's "heresy" was to doubt the power of the church—especially of pope, who theoretically held Saint Peter's powers of "binding and loosing" from Jesus—to exercise that power fully. Cyprian that accused the Novatianists of making a mocker of the baptismal creed: "Dost thou believe in the remission of sins, and everlasting life, through Holy Church?"
  
 
==Novatianism==
 
==Novatianism==

Revision as of 15:30, 9 January 2009

Novatianism was a Christian "heresy" of the third century CE based on the teachings of the antipope Novatian, who was elected in opposition to the lenient policy of Pope Cornelius regarding the treatment of Christians who had abandoned their faith under persecution.

The Novatianists formed a major schism, with churches in many cities throughout the Roman Empire. They held a strict view that refused readmission to communion baptized Christians who committed serious sins, including apostasy, adultery, and murder.

Novatian

Novatian was a Roman priest or deacon of considerable learning. In 251 opposed the election of Pope Cornelius, following the assassination of Pope Fabian during the persecution, on the grounds that he was too lax in accepting the lapsed Christians. He let himself be made a rival pope, one of the first antipopes. He held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again into communion with the church, and that second marriages are unlawful. He and his followers were excommunicated by a synod held at Rome in October of the same year. Novatian is said to have suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Valerian I (253-260).

Novatian was a man of learning and had been trained in literary composition. Even his rival, Pope Cornelius speaks of him bitterly as "that champion of ecclesiastical learning." His eloquence is mentioned by Cyprian (Ep. lx, 3). Cornelius relates that was made a priest by a previous pope, probably Fabian, over the protests of others in the Roman clergy and laity. Eulogius of Alexandria says that Novatian Rome's archdeacon. The anonymous work Ad Novatianum (xiii) tells us that Novatian, while still in communion with the Roman church, possessed a deep and abiding concern for the spiritual welfare of the community. He "bewailed the sins of his neighbors as if they were his own, bore the burdens of the brethren, as the Apostle exhorts, and strengthened with consolation the backsliding in heavenly faith."

Cornelius, however, accused Novatian denying his priesthood during the persecution, remaining in seclusion rather than administering the sacraments to those in danger. However, he is known to have written letters during this period in the name of the Roman clergy, some of which were preserved Cyprian (Epp. xxx and xxxvi). These letters express concern over the the claim that the church of Carthage intended not only to restore those who had denied to faith to communion, but to do so without requiring penance. Here, he did not express the idea restoration of the lapsed to communion itself was improper, but he does express himself in severe terms. Cornelius also indicates that Novatian was noted for his boldness during the persecution, so much so that some in the church refused to associate with him.

Shortly after the election of Cornelius as bishop of Rome by the faction favoring leniency toward the lapsed, Novation was consecrated as a rival pope. He was not the first antipope, as Saint Hippolytus had done likewise during the pontificate of Pope Calixtus and his successors, one of the issues at that time also being the treatment of the lapsi. His opponents allege that he had to summon three bishops from a distant corner of Italy to find three country bishops willing to consecrate him, but given the success of his movement, we may take this report with a grain of salt.

In any case, Cornelius and Novatian both sent messengers throughout the empire to announce their respective papacies, and Novatian was able to establish churches widely during his lifetime. Both men appointed their own bishops and priests in cities where the current occupant favored their rival. Several well known Christians still in prison initially favored Novatian—namely Maximus, Urbanus, Nicostratus, and others—but these were later persuaded by Cyprian and others to moderate their views. The respected Carthaginian priest Novatus, on the other hand, became a staunch support of Novatian's cause.

In the initial period of the schism, no mention is made by Novatian's enemies of his "heresy," but only of which pope should be considered the true occupant of Peter's chair. Cyprian's Epistle number 45 is the first time the word heresy in mentioned as applied to Novatian's doctrine. Not even Cornelius, who wrote very bitterly against his rival, dared to call him a heretic. Saint Dionysius of Alexandria, a supporter of Cornelius wrote to Novatian in surisingly respectful terms, chiding him for causing a schism, but not for preaching heresy (Eusebius, VI, xlv)

As the schism persisted, however, Cyprian and many others escalated their attacks and indeed called Novatian's doctrine a departure from orthodoxy. Novatian held that idolatry, even performed under threat of death, was such as serious sin that the bishops could not take it upon themselves to forgive it. However, he did not shun those who had lapse. Rather, they should be urged to repent, and should be admitted to fellowship with other Christians in lifelong penance. They could not, however, received the Eucharist, and their forgiveness must be left to God.

Such sentiments regarding the forgiveness of mortal sin were not new. Tertullian had resisted the forgiveness of adultery by Pope Callixtus as an innovation, and the antipapacy of Saint Hippolytus was based in part on the same issue. The popular late-second century work known as the Shepherd of Hermas had threated no futureforgiveness of serious post-baptmismal sins. In various churches rules had been made which punished certain sins by deferring of communion until the hour of death, or even refusing it altogether. Even Cyprian withholding the sacrament to those who escaped penance for their crimes by repenting only on their death-bed.

Novatian's "heresy" was to doubt the power of the church—especially of pope, who theoretically held Saint Peter's powers of "binding and loosing" from Jesus—to exercise that power fully. Cyprian that accused the Novatianists of making a mocker of the baptismal creed: "Dost thou believe in the remission of sins, and everlasting life, through Holy Church?"

Novatianism

The followers of Novatian called themselves katharoi, or Greek word which later entered the English language as "puritans," and is rendered in Latin as cathari. They were found in every province of the Roman Empire, and in some places were very numerous. The best source of information on the History of Socrates Scholasticus, who was a sympathizer. He provides details about their their bishops, especially those of Constantinople, and also speaks of persecutions carried out against them by the "orthodox" faction. Their chief contemporary opponent was Bishop Cyprian Carthage. Other Latin writings against them include the anonymous Ad Novatianum writings by Pacian of Barcelona, the De paenitentia of Ambrose of Milan, Saint Augustine's Contra Novatianum. In the Greek East they are mentioned by such figures as Athanasius of Alexandria, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom.

Novatian specifically refused absolution to idolaters—those former who had sacrificed to the Roman gods under duress and wished to readmitted to the Christian church. Whether or not he also refused absolution to those who committed other serious sins is debatable, but his movement clearly did so, possibly on the basis of his teaching. The Novatianists those refused forgiveness to Christians who had committed "mortal sins," namely idolatry, murder, and adultery or fornication. Most of the Novatianists also forbade second marriage.

They are known to have made considerable use of works of Tertullian, who had been a type of puritan himself and had joined the Montanist sect in his later career. In Phrygia, where they Montanists were still active, they two groups seem to have cooperated and even merged. Theodoret states that they did not use the sacrament of confirmation, which Novatian himself had never received. Eulogius complained that they would not venerate martyrs, although he may refer to martyrs who were specifically Catholic and not Novatianists themselves, as opposed to earlier martyrs.

The Novatianists maintained a rival church and bishop of Rome, in opposition to the pope. Their governance, like the Catholic Church, was episcopal. According to Socrates, their bishops at Constantinople were highly esteemed persons. Indeed, the Novatianist bishop of that city bishop was invited by Constantine I to the Council of Nicaea and approved of its decisions, but would not accept union with the main body of the church.

‘For what reason then do you separate yourself from communion with the rest of the Church?’ he related what had taken place during the persecution under Decius; and referred to the rigidness of that austere canon which declares, that it is not right persons who after baptism have committed a sin, which the sacred Scriptures denominate ‘a sin unto death’191191 John v. 16. to be considered worthy of participation in the sacraments:192192 θείων μυστηρίων. that they should indeed be exhorted to repentance, but were not to expect remission from the priest, but from God, who is able and has authority to forgive sins.193193 Cf. IV. 28. When Acesius had thus spoken, the emperor said to him, ‘Place a ladder, Acesius, and climb alone into heaven.


Constantine at first treated them as schismatics rather than heretics, but later persecuted them by ordering the closing of their churches and cemeteries.

In the fourth century, they conformed to the orthodox practice in almost everything, including monasticism, except the matter of accepting those who had committed mortal sins. The Novatianists were persecuted like the Catholics by Emperor Constantius, who supported Semi-Arianism. After the death of Constantius they were protected by Julian the Apostate, but the Emperor Valens persecuted them once more. The pro-Catholic Emperor Honorius included them in his law against heretics in 412, and Pope Innocent I closed some of their churches in Rome. Pope Celestine expelled them from capital, as Bishop Cyril of Alexandria had done in his city


Earlier, John Chrysostom closed their churches at Ephesus, but at Constantinople they were tolerated, and their bishops there are said by Socrates to have been highly respected.

The work of Eulogius shows that the Novatianists were still active Alexandria about 600, enough so that he wrote six volumes against them.

and affected to call the Catholic Church Apostaticum, Synedrium, or Capitolinum.

Theodosius made a stringent law against this sect, which was imported to Constantinople about 391 by a certain Sabbatius, whose adherents were called Sabbatiani.


In the 4th and 5th centuries, the Donatists of North Africa followed a similar belief about Christians who had lapsed under the pressures of persecution. They too were declared to be heretics.

See also

External links

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