DONATIST Meaning and
Definition
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Donatist refers to a member or follower of the Donatist movement, which emerged as a Christian sect in North Africa during the 4th century AD. The Donatists were a group of rigorist Christians who rejected the authority and validity of the sacraments performed by those clergy members who had either been ordained or consecrated by bishops deemed to be traditors. The term 'traditor' refers to a bishop or cleric who had handed over Christian scriptures or other sacred objects during the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians from 303-305 AD.
The Donatists firmly believed that sacraments administered by unworthy clergy, irrespective of their personal holiness, were rendered invalid. They believed that only sacraments performed by righteous and uncontaminated bishops and priests were efficacious. As a result, they refused to recognize the ordinations and sacraments performed by the mainstream Catholic Church, considering them to be tainted and worthless.
The movement derived its name from Donatus, the Bishop of Casae Nigrae, who was a prominent leader and advocate for the Donatist cause. The Donatist movement gained widespread support in North Africa, with its strongest influence in Carthage. It presented a significant challenge to the authority and unity of the Catholic Church in the region.
The Donatists were eventually declared heretics by the Catholic Church, primarily due to their rejection of the validity of sacraments performed by traditor bishops. Despite their eventual decline and disappearance, the Donatists left a lasting impact on the history of early Christianity, particularly in terms of ecclesiastical controversies and debates concerning the nature of sacramental efficacy.
Common Misspellings for DONATIST
Etymology of DONATIST
The word "Donatist" derives from the Latin term "Donatista". It is derived from the name of a prominent 4th-century Numidian Christian bishop, Donatus Magnus (Donatus the Great). Donatus was a leader of the Donatist movement in the early Christian Church in North Africa, which originated in the Roman province of Africa in the year 311 AD. The term "Donatist" was later used to refer to the followers of Donatus and their beliefs.
Similar spelling words for DONATIST
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