| Felicissimus |
|
A deacon of Carthage who, in the middle of the third century,
headed a short-lived but dangerous schism, to which undue doctrinal
importance has been given by a certain class of writers, Neander,
Ritschl, Harnack, and others, who see in it "a presbyterial reaction
against episcopal autocracy". Of the chief figure in the revolt,
Felicissimus, not much can be said. The movement of which he was
afterwards the leader originated in the opposition of five presbyters
of the church in Carthage to St. Cyprian's election as bishop of that
see. One of these presbyters, Novatus, selected Felicissimus as deacon
of his church in the district called Mons, and because of the
importance of the office of deacon in the African Church, Felicissimus
became the leader of the malcontents. The opposition of this faction,
however, led to no open rupture until after the outbreak of the Decian
persecution in 250, when St. Cyprian was compelled to flee from the
city. His absence created a situation favourable to his adversaries,
who took advantage of a division already existing in regard to the
methods to be followed in dealing with those who had apostatized (lapsi)
during persecution and who afterwards sought to be readmitted to
Christian fellowship. It was easy under the circumstances to arouse
much hostility to Cyprian, because he had followed an extremely
rigorous policy in dealing with those lapsi. The crisis was reached
when St. Cyprian sent from his place of hiding a commission consisting
of two bishops and two priests to distribute alms to those who had been
ruined during the persecution. Felicissimus, regarding the activities
of these men as an encroachment on the prerogatives of his office,
attempted to frustrate their mission. This was reported to St. Cyprian,
who at once excommunicate him. Felicissimus immediately gathered around
him all those who were dissatisfied with the bishop's treatment of the
lapsi and proclaimed an open revolt. The situation was still further
complicated by the fact that the thirty years' peace preceding the
Decian persecution had caused much laxity in the Church, and that on
the first outbreak of hostilities multitudes of Christians had openly
apostatized or resorted to the expedient of purchasing certificates
from the venal officials, attesting their compliance with the emperor's
edict. Besides this the custom of readmitting apostates to Christian
fellowship, if they could show tickets from confessors or martyrs in
their behalf, had resulted in widespread scandals. While St. Cyprian was in exile he did not succeed in checking the revolt even though he wisely refrained from excommunicating those who differed from in regard to the treatment of the lapsi. After his return to Carthage (251) he convoked a synod of bishops, priests and deacons, in which the sentence of excommunication against Felicissimus and the heads of faction was reaffirmed, and in which definite rules were laid down regarding the manner of readmitting the lapsi. The sentence against Felicissimus and his followers did not deter them from appearing before another council, which was held in Carthage the following year, and demanding that the case be reopend. Their demand was refused, and they sought to profit by the division in the Roman Church which had arisen from similar causes, except that in this case the charge of laxity was levelled against the orthodox party. This proceding and the fact that the Council of Carthage had decided with so much moderation in regard to the lapsi, modifying as it did the rigoristic policy of Cyprian by a judicious compromise, soon detached from Felicissimus all his followers, and the schism disappeared. |
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