DONATISM

GROUP 4 MLS3-E

DONATISM
It was an early heresy and a schismatic movement in the
North African church during the 4th and 5th centuries
Generally seen as the heirs of Cyprianic ecclesiology, the
representatives of what counted as orthodoxy in North
Africa
Developed as a result of persecution of the Christians by
the roman emperor Docletian in 303
The movement is named after the Aelius Donatus, the
Great
Donatus, Majorinus successor, preoccupied Augustine
during much of his episcopate
Donatists like to represent themselves as the church of the
martyrs, as the servants of God hated by the wold.

DONATISM CONTD

Donatists where:
Denied the validity of baptism conferred
outside what they considered to be the true
church
Consequent insistence of rebaptism for those
who were to enter their community from
outside
Rejection of episcopal consecration by
traditores

HISTORY
Early in 305, or soon after, the persecution
initiated by Diocletians decree two years before
was called of. The time of persecution brought
tensions within Christian communities.
The schism arose when certain groups in the
church protested against the election of the bishop
of carthage by bishop Felix Aptunga
This was because he (bishop Felix) was a traditor
A traditor is someone who gives up the scriptures
and sacraments in the face of persecution.

HISTORY CONTD
The surrender of copies of the Scriptures to the authorities
(traditio, handing over) by the clergy was generally
regarded as apostasy, but a wide range of attitudes existed
toward collaborators, or those who had failed to make a
sufficiently determined stand in the resistance.
In Carthage the conflict between opposed groups was held in
check under the episcopate of Mensurius, who took a prudent
and conciliatory attitude toward the secular authorities and
attempted to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
Mensurius had to defend himself against charges of traditio.
Caecilian, one of his deacons, was elected to fill his vacancy
when Mensurius died.

HISTORY CONTD
Caecilian was then accused by his enemies
Accusations:
He was consecrated by bishops who were
guilty of traditio
Of uncanonical procedure in bypassing the
primate of Numidia, who, in the absence of the
bishop of Carthage, was the senior bishop in
North Africa
Uncanonically taking possession of the
churchs property

HISTORY CONTD
Secundus of Tigisi representative of the local
opposition at Carthage and summoned Caecilian to
appear to the council.
Caecilian refused to appear before a council summoned
by Secundus. Then the council condemmed him as
ordained by traditores. It then proceeded to elect an
adherent of the dissenting faction, Majorinus, as bishop.
Majorinus was then succeeded by Donatus. His name
was adopted by his groups opponents and by the
imperial administration to label the party of Majorinus
thus calling the movement Donatists now known as
Donatism.

HISTORY CONTD
In 405, the Western court issued an Edict of Unity,
and schismatics became liable to the severe penalties
decreed for heretics. In 411 a huge conference called
by the imperial authorities failed to bring about any
solution.
Romanization attempts to interpret Donatism as a
national or egional movement, with Berber or Punic
features, against the more Romanized Catholic Church
Later, Augustine described Donatism primarily as th
schism resulting from the double election at Carthage.
Tyconius was a donatist thelogian

PROPONENTS OF DONATISM
The 70 synods opposed the consecration
of Caecillian, bishop of carthage, by bishop
Felix Aptunga in 311, because Felix was a
traditor.
Donatus, the great- taught about
donatism

TEACHINGS OF DONATISM
The effectiveness of the sacraments
depends on the moral character of the
minister
They held that the church must be a church
of saints not sinners.
They valued martydom and found lapses or
turn over of faith inexcusable.
Baptism, consecration and ministering
during sacraments by a traitor is considered
invalid

TEACHINGS CONTD
The sacraments should be done by a priest
of moral character and that only the pure
should be allowed in the church.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF ST.
AUGUSTINE
After his consecration he took part directly or
indirectly in all the important discussions of
the matter, some of which have been
already mentioned, and defended the cause
of the Church in letters and sermons as well
as in his more formal polemical writings.
He was considered as the donatists chief
antagonist.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF ST
AUGUSTINE CONTD
His polemic writings which was directed
towards to donatists included: Contra
epistulam Parmeniani (the Donatist bishop of
Carthage) and De baptismo contra
Donatistas. These were called the two
cognates
Contra epistulam Petiliani, and also the
Epistula ad catholicos de unitate ecclesioe.
St. Augustines reply to the donatist bishop

IS DONATISM A HERESY OR A
SCHISM?

AS A HERESY

Their beliefs were

contradictory to the
traditional Christian
beliefs

AS A SCHISM

They caused so many

disputes and division in
the church through their
disagreement and beliefs