Donatism

• Donatism was a schismatic Christian Church that developed amongst the Berbers of North Africa.
• It is named after Donatus Magnus, a priest who became Bishop of Carthage in 313 CE until he was Exiled in 347 CE. He died c. 355 CE.

The Donatist Debate

• The Debate centred on the nature of the Trinity.

The Traditores

• During the Diocletianic Persecution, many Christian Priests and Bishops had renounced their faith. After the Persecution, Constantine I restored these Priests and Bishops to Office.
• These restored Bishops and Priests became known as the ‘Traditores’ to the Donatists.
• A ‘Traditore’ meant ‘the people who had handed over’… meaning the people who had handed over the religious texts for burning during the the Persecution.
• The Donatists refused to accept their spiritual authority, or to accept the Sacrament of Penance from these Priests and Bishops.

Donatus becomes Bishop

• Caecilian was appointed Bishop of Carthage by Constantine I, but the Donatists refused to accept him, and instead recognised Donatus as Bishop.

Influence of Donatism

• Despite all attempts to end Donatism, the Donatist Church continued to exist in North Africa until the seventh century CE.