The Presbyters Project

Session 1

193. [...] Item recitauit: "Rufinus presbyter pro episcopo meo Iuliano Midilensi subscripsi".

194. Fortunatianus, episcopus ecclesiae catholicae, dixit: "Respondeatur utrum pro praesente subscripserit". Et, alia manu: "Recognoui".

195. Adeodatus episcopus dixit: "Iulianus aegritudine praepeditur; sed ne uideretur aliquo pacto defuisse, presbyterum misit per quem suam absentiam excusaret; et ipse pro illo subscribit". Et, alia manu: "Recognoui".

196. Marcellinus, uir clarissimus, tribunus et notarius: "Probabilis et rationabilis excusatio est".

197. Fortunatianus, episcopus ecclesiae catholicae, dixit: "Etiam hoc testatum esse uolumus quia pro absente subscripsit". Et, alia manu: "Recognoui".

(ed. Lancel 1972: 842-844)

Session 1

193. [...] [Marcellinus] read: "I, the presbyter Rufinus, signed for my bishop, Julian of Midili".

194. Fortunatianus, bishop of the Catholic Church, said: "Let him answer whether he signed for [the bishop] who was present". By another hand: "I confirm".

195. [Donatist] Bishop Adeodatus said "Julian is impeded by illness; but as he did not want it to seem that he neglected any agreement, he sent his presbyter and through him he apologised for his absence; and he [the presbyter] signed for him". And, by another hand: "I confirm".

196. Marcellinus, vir clarissimus, tribune and notary, said: "That is a probable and reasonable excuse".

197. Fortunatianus, the bishop of the Catholic Church, said: "However, we want it to be deposed that he signed for the absent one". And, by another hand: "I confirm".

(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

On the first day of the Conference, the Donatists challenged the list of the signatures of the Catholic bishops on the document in which they had assigned their representatives. The roll call followed, in which the tribune Marcellinus, who presided, called the Catholic bishops one by one, and their Donatist counterparts were to identify them. Then the roll call proceeded in the opposite way, with the Donatist bishops identified by the Catholics.

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa

City

Midili
Carthage

About the source:

Title: Acts of the Conference of Carthage, Gesta Collationis Carthaginiensis
Origin: Carthage (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian, Donatist

The conference between the Catholics and the Donatists was held in Carthage on 1-8 June 411. Its goal was to arrive at unity between the rival Churches. The proceedings were minutely recorded, and the majority of the acts have been preserved to our days.

Edition:

S. Lancel ed., Actes de la Conférence de Carthage en 411, tome II, Sources Chrétiennes 195, Paris 1972.

Categories:

Religious grouping (other than Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian) - Donatist

PR524.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR524.

Ecclesiastical administration - Participation in councils and ecclesiastical courts

PR524.

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

PR524.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1005, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1005