The Presbyters Project

Session 1

201. [...] Item recitauit: "Vitalis episcopus Masculitanus". Cumque accessisset, idem dixit: "Mandaui et subscripsi". Aurelius episcopus ecclesiae catholicae Macomadiensis dixit: "Iste Vitalis diaconus fuit catholicus in ciuitate Sitifensi. Rebapizatus, factus est presbyter. Proiectus est causa adulterii, et factus est postea episcopus". Petilianus episcopus dixit: "Accusatoris loco stare uoluisti". Et, alia manu: "Recognoui". Aurelius episcopus ecclesiae catholicae Macomadiensis dixit: "Non accusatoris loco, sed purgatoris" [...]

(ed. Lancel 1972: 866)

Session 1

201. [...] [Marcellinus] read: "Vitalis, the bishop of Mascula". When he approached, he said: "I signed the mandate". Aurelius, the bishop of the Catholic Church of Macomades, said: "This Vitalis was a Catholic deacon in the city of Sitifis. He was rebaptised, and made a presbyter. He was rejected because of adultery, and later made a bishop". [Donatist] Bishop Petilianus said: "You chose to put yourself in the position of a prosecutor". And, by another hand: "I confirm". Aurelius, the bishop of the Catholic Church of Macomades, said: "Not in the position of a prosecutor, but a cleaner". [...]

(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

Sitifis
Mascula

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:

Sexual life - Extramarital

PR530.

Travel and change of residence

PR530.

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

PR530.

Change of denomination

PR530.

Ecclesiastical transfer

PR530.

Further ecclesiastical career - Bishop

PR530.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR530.

Public law - Ecclesiastical

PR530.

Former ecclesiastical career

PR530.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1018, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1018