Novatian

Novatian Novatian also, (* 200, † 258 ) was a theologian and 251-258 Roman anti-bishop.

After Bishop Fabian had died in January 250, was summoned Novatian first speaker of the community. Everything indicated that he would be the next Bishop of Rome; but the clergy elected in March 251 Cornelius to succeed Fabian. Novatian was thereupon consecrate three bishops southern Italian bishop and joined the fight against Cornelius. A Christian persecution in February 251 led to the fall of several trailers, resulting now arose a violent dispute between Novatian and Cornelius. While Cornelius wanted Resigned ( lapsi ), penance activities, resume, Novatian represented a more radical position and wanted to exclude this " fickle ghost " forever from the Church.

Novatians rigorous attitude was also reflected in the founded his own church community of Novatian, in the supreme law was that the church baptized a serious sins can never forgive. Because the Novatians awards for the full power of forgiveness is not the Church, but only God, they could not prevail in Rome. The Novatians were commonly referred to in the tradition of the Church as heretics. At a synod in the fall of 251 Novatian was excommunicated by Cornelius and 60 bishops. The separation ( schism Novatianisches ) lasted practically until the unification of the kingdom created by Constantine Church during the Council of Nicaea in 325 parts of Spain, the community of faith still held to the 5th century. A few months after his excommunication began a renewed persecution of Christians and Novatian left Rome. In the reign of Emperor Valerian ( 253-259 ), he probably died a martyr's death.

Novatian used in his writings as one of the first Roman theologian Tertullian according to the Latin language. Two of his nine known treatises have been preserved: About the Trinity and about Jewish food. In the collection of letters of Cyprian two letters of Novatian ( Cyp. ep. 30 and 36) are obtained.