Novatianism orNovationism[1] was anearly Christian sect devoted to the theologianNovatian (c. 200–258) that held a strict view that refused readmission tocommunion oflapsi (those baptized Christians who had denied their faith or performed the formalities of a ritual sacrifice to the pagan gods under the pressures of the persecution sanctioned by EmperorDecius in AD 250). TheChurch of Rome declared the Novatianistsheretical following the letters ofSaint Cyprian of Carthage[2] andAmbrose wrote against them.[3] Novatianism survived until the 8th century.[4]
Novatian theology was heavily influenced byTertullian, and made heavy use of his writings.[5][6]
After themartyrdom ofPope Fabian during theDecian persecution, a Roman priest,Novatian, opposed the election ofPope Cornelius in 251, on the grounds that Cornelius was too liberal in accepting lapsed Christians. Novatian held that lapsed Christians, who had not maintained their confession of faith under persecution, may not be received again intocommunion with the church. He was consecrated bishop by three bishops of Italy and declared himself to be the truePope. He and his followers wereexcommunicated by a synod held at Rome in October of the same year.[7] Novatian is said to have suffered martyrdom underEmperor Valerian I (253–260).
Novatian should not be confused with one Novatus, a priest ofCarthage, who advocated re-admitting thelapsi without an enforcedpenance.[8]Cyprian of Carthage came to a position opposed to both and advocated a council be held to establish a policy under which former idolaters could be once again admitted to communion with the church.
Lardner argues thatEusebius and the Greeks in general were correct in calling the Roman presbyter Novatus, not Novatianus. He attributes the origin of the latter name to Cyprian, who called the Roman presbyter Novatianus, as being a follower of his own rebellious priest, Novatus of Carthage.[9] Novatian in his writings defended the doctrine of theTrinity, argued that theOld Testament prohibitions on meats must be understood spiritually, condemned Christians who attend public games and praised chastity.[10] Novatian was heavily influenced by the works ofTertullian.[5]
Novatian believed that thelapsi should not be let back into the church.[4] He believed that thelapsi might repent and be put to lifelong penance, but the forgiveness must be left to God, and that thelapsi could not be forgiven on this earth.[11]
Novatians cited theBook of Hebrews to support this idea.[12]
Novatian was a trinitarian.[10] Novatian's writings defended theFather as the creator of the world to combat the teachings of theGnostics. Novatian also defended the unity of thegodhead and humanity inJesus, and wrote about a distinction between the Son and the Father, to combatMarcionites,Modalists andAdoptionists. Novatian believed that the role of theHoly Spirit was solely to be the source of blessings given duringBaptism.[4]
UnlikeCyprian, Novatian believed that being inside the church is not a requirement forsalvation, but that the church is a congregation of saints, and if sinners would be let inside the church, it would endanger the church.[13] Novatians always had a successor of Novatian in Rome (where Novatian was from) and they used theepiscopal polity.[11]
According toTheodoret, the Novatians did not useconfirmation, and according to Eulugius, Novatians did not eithervenerate martyrs.[2] Novatians forbade remarriage.[6] Christologically Novatian was probably orthodox, however some suggest he had similarities to the laterNestorians, though this view has been criticized.[6]
By the 4th century, Novatians had also adoptedmonasticism.[2]
Some Novatians wereQuartodecimans.[14]
Augustine writes that the Novatians would rebaptize people who came from the Catholic Church.[15] Some have argued that the Novatians did not baptize infants, though the stance of the Novatians is disputed and the arguments that Novatians werecredobaptist is founded on somewhat weak evidence, and by this point infant baptism had become common and clear among the orthodox writers.[16][obsolete source]
Novatian's strict views existed before him and may be found inThe Shepherd of Hermas.[9] After his death, the Novatianist sect spread rapidly and could be found in every province and were very numerous in some places.[7] Those who allied themselves with his doctrines were calledNovatianists, but they called themselvesκαθαροι (katharoi) or "Purists" (not to be confused with the laterCathars)[17] to reflect their desire not to be identified with what they considered the lax practices of a corrupted and what was hitherto a universal Church.
While Novatian had refused absolution to thelapsi (those who had renounced their Christianity under persecution but later wanted to return to the church), his followers extended the doctrine to include all mortal sins (idolatry, murder, and adultery, or fornication). Most of them forbade second marriage. They always had a successor of Novatian at Rome and were everywhere governed by bishops.
Because Novatianists (including Novatian) did not submit to the Catholic bishop of Rome, they were labeled by Roman Catholics as schismatics. Additionally, Roman Catholics also labeled Novatianists heretics for denying that the Church had the power to grant absolution in certain cases (such as to thelapsi).
In the 4th and 5th centuries, theDonatist sect inAfrica Proconsulare maintained a similar belief about Christians who had lapsed under the pressures of persecution; they too were declared heretics.
Some Novatians blended with theMontanists.[2]
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