Quintilla (fl. 3rd century)[1] was aPhrygianChristian prophetess within the movement known asMontanism. The sect of theQuintillians was named after her.
Although her exact dates are unknown, Quintilla was probably not a contemporary of the Three—Montanus,Maximilla andPriscilla, the first generation of Montanist prophets—but was active some decades later, after the Three were dead.[2] This would place her in the 3rd century AD.[3]Epiphanius of Salamis, a strong opponent of Montanism, provides the only surviving account of Quintilla'sChristophany in hisPanarion, part 49.[2][4] He had heard it attributed both to her and to Priscilla, but the former is more probable. His account is generally regarded as authentic. While inPepuza, Christ in the form of a woman in a bright robe visited her in a dream, imparted wisdom to her and revealed that Pepuza was a holy place where theNew Jerusalem would descend. This should probably be interpreted as Christ manifested in the form of the church above[5] bringing wisdom[6] to his church on earth.[2]
There are no books nor any collections of sayings attributed to Quintilla, but her followers kept her memory and her doctrine alive long after her death. Epiphanius says that they came to Pepuza for their initiation rites.[2] They had women clergy, which they defended by appealing toMiriam's status as a prophet[7] and thedaughters of Philip.[8][4] Epiphanius also says that they believed thatEve was wise to have eaten the fruit of theTree of Knowledge. If this last report is accurate, it suggests that later Quintillians had adopted certainGnostic teachings.[9]
For Epiphanius, the Quintillianists are synonymous with the Priscillianists, Phrygians and Pepuzians and a sister sect of theArtotyrites andTascodrugites.[10]Augustine of Hippo andJohn of Damascus also mention Quintillians among the Montanist sects.[3] According to thePraedestinatus, which was probably composed during the papacy ofSixtus III (432–440), there were two churches at Pepuza, one dedicated to Priscilla and another dedicated to Quintilla.[2]