Felix, Bishop of Aptunga, in

proconsular Africa Africa was a Roman province on the northern coast of the continent of Africa. It was established in 146 BC, following the Roman Republic's conquest of Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day Tunisi ...

was a 4th-century churchman, at the center of the

Donatist Donatism was a schism from the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Carthage from the fourth to the sixth centuries. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to ...

controversy. Felix was one of those who

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

Caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform (worm-shaped) or serpentine (snake-shaped) amphibians with small or sometimes nonexistent eyes. They mostly live hidden in soil or in streambeds, and this cryptic lifestyle renders caecilians ...

as Bishop of Carthage in 311 A.D. This act led to a major

schism A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...

in Early North African Christianity.

Biography

Felix of Abthugni, the bishop of Aptunga had escaped arrest during the Diocletian Persecution in 303. He held an administrative office within the town council, and was on friendly relations with the local

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...

who was to implement the persecution. It is therefore probable he was warned of the coming persecution, and was away at the time. The

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

and some documents were destroyed in his absence. Felix consecrated Caecilian as Bishop of Carthage in 311. The proto-

in a

Council A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

Cirta Cirta, also known by #Names, various other names in classical antiquity, antiquity, was the ancient Berbers, Berber, Punic people, Punic and Roman Empire, Roman settlement which later became Constantine, Algeria, Constantine, Algeria. Cirta was ...

called this consecration invalid because of Felix's participation. However, Felix was considered to have been a '' traditor'' during the Diocletian Persecution and as such Caecilian's consecration was not supported by the majority of the Church. Furthermore, Felix should have consulted with

Secundus of Tigisis Secundus of Tigisis () was an early church leader and primate of Numidia. He was a leading organiser of the early Donatist movement in Carthage. Biography Personal life Little is known about Secundus' personal life. He lived in Numidia during the ...

, Primate of Numidia before doing such an act. Secundus and 70

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

s appointed

Majorinus Majorinus was the leader of a schismatic Christian sect in Roman North Africa known as the Donatists. Life Very little is known of his early life, as Donatist writings were mostly destroyed in the following years. What we can garner of his life ...

in his place, precipitating a

in the Early North African Christianity that lasted for three centuries.

Trial

The Donatist faction accused Felix of being a ''traditor,'' and the Roman Emperor ordered Aelianus, the

proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a Roman consul, consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority. In the Roman Republic, military ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

, to investigate. A hearing took place on February 15, 314 at

Carthage Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...

. Felix was accused of apostasy by Ingentius, a Donatist, who had been a secretary to one of the city officials in

Abthugni Abthugni (, , or , ) was an ancient city in Roman North Africa at present day Suwar (Henchir-es-Souar) in Tunisia. It was, in Roman Empire, Roman times, in the province of Africa Proconsularis, Roman North Africa, Africa, and latter in Byzacena. ...

during the persecution. He would have known Felix from Aptunga. It is assumed this accusation was retaliatory after Felix had accused Maurus of Utica (a friend of Ingentius) of similar crimes. On January 19, 314, Felix appeared before the court of Vicar Aelius Paulinus in

to defend himself against his accusers. He was exonerated on February 15 by proconsul Aelianus.

Reception

Felix was supported by the writers

Optatus Optatus, sometimes anglicized as Optate, was Bishop of Milevis, in Numidia, in the fourth century, remembered for his writings against Donatism. Biography and context Augustine of Hippo suggests that Optatus was a convert: "Do we not see with ho ...

Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

and

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (30 May AD 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilius, was a historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian polemicist from the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In about AD 314 he became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima. ...

.Saint

(Bishop of Mileve), Mark J. Edwards, OPTATUS (Liverpool University Press, 1997
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References

{{Reflist, 2 4th-century bishops in Roman North Africa Ancient Christians involved in controversies Year of birth unknown 4th-century births Carthaginians Year of death missing Diocletianic Persecution 4th-century Punic people

Biography

Trial

Reception

See also

References