Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/112

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102

THE FIRST ŒCUMENICAL

Primacy of the Ælian Church.

Since an ancient custom has obtained and a venerable tradition, that deference should be paid to the bishop of Ælia^[1] (that is, Jerusalem), therefore let him retain this, his special honor, but, also, to the metropolitan, may be preserved the dignity which belongs to him.^[2]

8. Permits Novatian bishops and clergymen to be restored on certain conditions:

Novations permitted to return to the Catholic Church.

Concerning the Novatian schismatics,^[3] the Council decreed, that, if any of them had been willing

↑ Jerusalem having been destroyed by Titus, a colony was subsequently established on its ruins by Adrian, and named "Ælia." It was under the jurisdiction of Cæsarea, the metropolis of Palestine.
↑ The Roman prelate probably exercised, through his legates, Vito and Vincentius, and, also, his particular friend, Hosius, great influence in the Council of Nice. In a letter from the Synod, dated 8 Kalen. Julias, and received by the consuls, Paulinus and Julian, 13 Kalen. Novem., it is stated that Pope Silvester's advice, and his position respecting the Trinity, were fully concurred in by the Synod, and all his views adopted.
↑ This canon I find in Baronius, tom. iv., anno 325, cap. 142.

The Novatian party had their name from Novatus, who is styled by the Roman Catholics, the first anti-pope, and is called by the Latin writers "Novatian." Philostorgius says he was a native of Phrygia. He was of heathen parentage, and was educated a philosopher of the sect of Stoics. He was chosen bishop of Rome, by some bishops upon the death of Fabianus. But Cornelius was chosen at the same time by a larger number of bishops, and hence there was a division in the church. His adversaries called his followers, sometimes "Cathari," that is, Puritans, by way of derision. These Novatians obliged such as came over to them from the other party of Christians, to submit to a re-baptism. In Phrygia, they condemned second marriages; at Constantinople, they had no certain rule as to this; while in the West, they received bigamists to communion without scruple.

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[1] Jerusalem having been destroyed by Titus, a colony was subsequently established on its ruins by Adrian, and named "Ælia." It was under the jurisdiction of Cæsarea, the metropolis of Palestine.

[2] The Roman prelate probably exercised, through his legates, Vito and Vincentius, and, also, his particular friend, Hosius, great influence in the Council of Nice. In a letter from the Synod, dated 8 Kalen. Julias, and received by the consuls, Paulinus and Julian, 13 Kalen. Novem., it is stated that Pope Silvester's advice, and his position respecting the Trinity, were fully concurred in by the Synod, and all his views adopted.

[p102-3] This canon I find in Baronius, tom. iv., anno 325, cap. 142.

The Novatian party had their name from Novatus, who is styled by the Roman Catholics, the first anti-pope, and is called by the Latin writers "Novatian." Philostorgius says he was a native of Phrygia. He was of heathen parentage, and was educated a philosopher of the sect of Stoics. He was chosen bishop of Rome, by some bishops upon the death of Fabianus. But Cornelius was chosen at the same time by a larger number of bishops, and hence there was a division in the church. His adversaries called his followers, sometimes "Cathari," that is, Puritans, by way of derision. These Novatians obliged such as came over to them from the other party of Christians, to submit to a re-baptism. In Phrygia, they condemned second marriages; at Constantinople, they had no certain rule as to this; while in the West, they received bigamists to communion without scruple.

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