Maximilla (

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

: Μαξιμίλλα) was a prophetess and an early advocate of

Montanism Montanism (), known by its adherents as the New Revelation, was an History of Christianity#Early Christianity (c. 31/33–324), early Christian movement of the Christianity in the 2nd century, mid-to-late 2nd century, later referred to by the n ...

, a heretical Christian sect founded in the third century A.D. by

Montanus Montanus (; Greek: Μοντανός) was the second century founder of Montanism and a self-proclaimed prophet. Montanus emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit, in a manner which set him apart from the Great Church. Life Little is known about t ...

. Some scholars believe that Maximilla and

Priscilla Priscilla is an English female given name adopted from Latin '' Prisca'', derived from ''priscus''. There is a theory that this biblical character was the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. The name first appears in the New Testament either ...

, another prophet, were actually the co-founders of Montanism. Other scholars dismiss this as unproven. Either way, it is generally agreed upon that Maximilla and Priscilla provided the primary prophetic content and some of the oracles for the movement. According to the anti-Montanist polemic written by an anonymous author and preserved in

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. ...

’ ''Ecclesiastical History'', Maximilla and Priscilla were pawns of the devil who spoke and acted in “a frenzied manner.” According to their followers, Maximilla and Priscilla were prophetesses like early Christian prophetesses. While Maximilla was claiming to prophesy in

Pepuza Pepuza (Greek: Πέπουζα ''Pepouza'') was an ancient town in Phrygia, Asia Minor (in today's Karahallı District, Uşak Province, in Turkey's Aegean Region). From the middle of the 2nd century AD to the middle of the 6th century, Pepuza was ...

, Zoticus of Comana became resistant to her teachings and tried to refute what she said. However, he was stopped by her followers and fellow Montanists. Apollinarius of Hierapolis also claimed that a bishop named Julian of Apimea rebuked her.Eusebius. ''Church History''. Viewable at: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm

Background

Nothing is known of Maximilla's family background. Perhaps she was a descendant of

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

citizens resident in Central Phrygia or its vicinity. According to Eusebius's ''

Church History Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritual side of t ...

'', Maximilla and Priscilla had been married but “left their husbands the moment they were filled with the spirit.”

Death

According to Eusebius, there were rumors that Maximilla had hanged herself while in a frenzied state. Eusebius compared her death to that of

Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot (; ; died AD) was, according to Christianity's four canonical gospels, one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Judas betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin in the Garden of Gethsemane, in exchange for thirty pieces of sil ...

References

External links

* {{Montanism 3rd-century apocalypticists 3rd-century Roman women Montanism