Against the Donatists

258 Pages·1998·11.128 MB·English

by  Optatus, Mark Edwards (transl.)

Translated Texts for Historians
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Editorial Committee:
Sebastian Brock, Oriental Institute, University of Oxford
Averil Cameron, Keble College Oxford
Henry Chadwick, Oxford
John Davies, University of Liverpool
Carlotta Dionisotti, King’s College London
Peter Heather, University College, London
Michael Lapidge, Clare College, Cambridge
Robert Markus, University of Nottingham
John Matthews, Yale University
Raymond Van Dam, University of Michigan
Michael Whitby, University of Warwick
Ian Wood, University of Leeds
General Editors:
Gillian Clark, University of Liverpool
Mary Whitby, Oxford
Front cover drawing: Inscription from Tebessa, an example of Donatist iconography;
drawn by Gail Heather (source: Yvette Duval, Locu Suncrorum Africue: Le culte des
martyrs en Afrique uu IV uu VIF siicle [Rome: Ecole franGais de Rome, 19821).
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Caesarius of Arles: Life, Testament, Letters
Translated with notes and introduction by WILLIAM E. KLINGSHIRN
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The Lives of the Ninth-Century Popes (Liber Pontificalis)
Translated with an introduction and commentary by RAYMOND DAVIS
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Bede: On the Temple
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Pseudo-Dionysius of Tel-Make: Chronicle, Part 111
Translated with notes and introduction by WITOLD WITAKOWSKI
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Venantius Fortmatus: Personal and Political Poems
Translated with notes and introduction by JUDITH GEORGE
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Donatist Martyr Stories: The Church in Conflict in Roman North Africa
Translated with notes and introduction by MAUREEN A. TILLEY
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Lives of the Viyigothic Fathers
Translated and edited by A. T. FEAR
vdonc 26: 2oepp.. 1997. ISBN 0.a323-5rn-i
Optatus: Against the Donatists
Translated with Notes and Introduction by MARK J. EDWARDS
V O27: ~22q~ p..,1 997. ISBN ~323-m-2
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Translated Texts for Historians
Volume 27
Optatus:
Against the Donatists
Translated and edited by MARK EDWARDS
FI
Liverpool
University
Press
First published 1997 by
Liverpool TJniversity Press
Senate House, Abercromby Square
Liverpool, L69 3BX
Copyright Q 1997 Mark Edwards
All rights reserved. No part of this
book may be reproduced in any form
without permission in writing from the
publishers, except by a reviewer in
connection with a review for inclusion
in a magazine or newspaper.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A British Library CIP Record is available
ISBN 0-85323-752-2
printed in the European Community by
Bell & Bain Limited, Glasgow
CONTENTS
Preface vii
Chronology ix
Introduction xi
Optatus: Against the Donatists
Book 1 1
Book 2 29
Book 3 57
Book 4 84
Book 5 96
Book 6 1 I5
Book 7 127
The Optatan Appendix
Appendix 1 150
Proceedings before Zenophilus
Appendix 2 170
Trial of Bishop Felix
Appendix 3 181
Constantine to Aelafius
Appendix 4 185
The Council of Arles
vi
Appendix 5 i89
Constantine to the catholic bishops
Appendix 6 1 92
Constantine to the Donatist bishops
Appendix 7 193
Constantine to Celsus
Appendix 8 195
The prefects to Celsus
Appendix 9 196
Constantine to the Catholics
Appendix 10 198
Constantine to the catholic bishops of Numidia
Bibliography 202
Glossary and Index 210
Appendix 1: The Bishops of Rome 218
Appendix 2: The Italian bishoprics 220
Maps at end of volume 22 1
vii
PREFACE
Thanks are due to the editors of the series for commissioning this
volume, and especially to Mary Whitby, Gillian Clark and Robert
Markus for comments on early drafts. Some of the indispensable items
on the bibliography I owe to the vigilance of Henry Chadwick. I have
also benefited from the assistance of Mark Allen and Sarah Cannon, and
Christ Church has provided me not only with a computer and an office,
but with funding for the preparation of camera-ready copy. The most
important role in the production of the final text was played by my wife
Mali, who, knowing both the regular operation and the foibles of
computers better than 1 do, was able to reduce the anarchic typescript
to a sober uniformity. Any remaining blemishes, where they are not
inevitable, are mine.
Christ Church, February 1997.
...
Vlll
CHRONOLOGY
A.D. 303 Edicts of Diocletian against Christianity
305 Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian.
Accession of Galerius and Constantius
3051308 Protocol of Cirta against Caecilian
3 06 Constantine assumes power in Britian and Gaul,
Maxentius in Italy and Africa
308 Maximian unsuccessfully attempts to depose Maxentius
?308 Pamphlet of Felix the deacon against a tyrannical ruler
308- 10 Peace extended to Christians by Maxentius
311 Galerius repeals edicts of persecution; Caecilian
elected Bishop of Carthage
312 Conversion of Constantine, who captures Rome and
becomes sole ruler of west
313 Licinius becomes sole ruler of east and joins
Constantine in toleration of Christians
313 Roman council upholds Caecilian’s election
314 The party of Donatus appeals to Constantine. Council
of Arles
315 Felix of Abthugni acquitted of collaboration
316 Constantine gives unqualified support to party of
Caecilian