Against the Donatists — Appendix 1 - The Trial of Felix, Bishop of Aptunga

Against the Donatists · Optatus of Milevis · the golden age of the Fathers · part 2 of 10

Against the Donatists — Appendix 1 - The Trial of Felix, Bishop of Aptunga

ACTA PURGATIONIS FELICIS EPISCOPI AUTUMNITANI The scene of the events described in this document----of which unfortunately a large part is missing----was Carthage. The date is a.d.

314. It is, therefore, exactly sixteen hundred years since Constantine, fresh from his victory over Maxentius and full of zeal for the welfare of the religion which he had so recently embraced, gave orders for the charge of Betrayal brought so persistently against Felix, Bishop of Aptunga, to be heard publicly on the spot----that is to say in Africa. It was indeed notorious that there was no real ground for this charge. But to the Donatists it was a matter of life and death that the truth of their accusation against the consecrator of Caecilian should be substantiated, or at any rate generally accepted. Otherwise any attempt to justify their schism broke down of itself. When the matter was gone into at Rome under Pope Miltiades, it had been admitted that no accusation was made against Caecilian personally. The whole question really concerned Felix. Consequently Caecilian was declared at Rome to be the rightful Bishop of Carthage, and the legates Eunomius and Olimpius promulgated the Roman decree at Carthage itself. Still the Donatists remained obstinate, and represented to Constantine that their case had not been fairly heard, but that the judges had shut themselves up and given their verdict without any regard to the weight of evidence. Thus it came to pass that a certain Alfius Caecilianus was ordered to go before the Proconsul's court at Carthage, there to give an account of a former investigation of this same matter which had been held at the time when he was himself duovir.

He was told to bring with him the men who had been his secretary and notary respectively. The name of the Proconsul before whom the trial was to be heard was Aelianus. With Aelianus were at least three commissioners or assessors (though their name of duovirs seems to us somewhat quaintly out of keeping with this fact), Gallienus, Fuscius and Sisenna. The case heard at Rome had direct reference to Caecilian. Now, the case of Felix was to be examined anew, without any reference to Caecilian, on its own merits. We shall see that Aelianus required the Acts of the former African trial to be produced and read in extenso. Alfius Caecilianus, in consequence of his age, had been excused from going to the Imperial Court and had made a deposition before the duovir Aurelius Didymus Speretius. It was shown that the letter upon which the Donatists relied to convict Felix had been interpolated (or rather added to) by a certain Ingentius. This Ingentius was secretary to one Augentius, who had been fellow-aedile with Caecilianus. After these Acts had been read the counsel Apronianus insisted on questioning Caecilianus, who explained in some detail his dealings with Ingentius. Ingentius had falsely represented that Felix had told him that he had certain valuable codices in his possession---and that their owner now wanted them back----so would Ingentius obtain a letter from Caecilianus stating that they had been burned when he was duovir?

Thus Felix would be able to steal the codices! Had Caecilianus given the letter, as requested, it was to have been used as a proof that Felix had been a Betrayer. It was an ingenious plot; but it failed. At first Caecilianus would not write anything. In the end Ingentius induced Augentius to persuade Caecilianus to write a letter of some kind. This letter has been almost wholly lost, but it is clear that from the point of view of Ingentius it was quite unsatisfactory, as it contained nothing which would have been of any value for his purpose. So Ingentius forged the interpolation, which had been read out at the previous trial. Caecilianus swore that this interpolation was a forgery, and indeed it could not possibly be genuine, since it consisted of an addition (after the original conclusion) purporting to relate a conversation with Felix, who was absent from home at the time. It represents him as giving up the Scriptures privately to a friendly official. This was meant to explain why there was no public proof available of Felix's fall. The evidence was all against Ingentius, who had to confess to the forgery, under fear of torture. But he tried to make out that he committed his crime through love for a certain Bishop Maurus, who was charged with simony. It was shown, however, that, notwithstanding his oaths to the contrary, he had been an envoy of the Donatist faction throughout Numidia and Mauritania, so that it became clear that the calumny had been invented in the interests of party.

Thus was Felix finally and triumphantly vindicated. The Donatists, who styled themselves 'the Pure,' were conscious of being themselves Traditores. It was partly in order to cover up their own guilt that they invented the quite baseless charge against Felix, the consecrator of Caecilian Bishop of Carthage. That charge once formulated, the next step was to argue that all who communicated with Caecilian----'polluted' by Betrayal----were themselves 'polluted,' even though this conclusion might involve the whole Catholic world in apostasy from Christ. All this has been made clear in the pages of St. The document now before us has vivid touches of dramatic interest, where various scenes are described, as they took place, with much actuality. Sometimes, it must be admitted, we cannot well refrain from asking ourselves how far, with regard to details, play is being given to the exercise of the imagination. But as to the central fact of the innocence of Felix there can be no question, nor as to the justice of the verdict which Optatus tells us was delivered in his favour. Whoever else may have behaved discreditably, against Felix of Aptunga there was no evidence. 7 The Acts of the Vindication of Felix, Bishop of Aptunga (the Consecrator of Caecilian, Bishop of Carthage) before Aelianus, Proconsul of Africa, at Carthage, during the Consulate of Volusianus and Aunianus. . . . In the town of Autumna, Gallienus the Duovir said: 'Since, Caecilianus, you are here present, listen to the letter of my lord, the Right Honourable Aelius Paulinus, acting deputy of the Prefect, in which, according to his letter addressed to us, he has deigned to command that you and the secretary whom you employed during the period of your administration, and the notary should make a declaration.

But, inasmuch as the notary of that time has departed this life, you will have to bring with you all the Acts of your administration, in compliance with the requirements of the letter of my Lord, and you will have to go with your secretary to Carthage. The Curator is present. In his presence we charge you, what answer do you make to this?' Caecilianus said: 'As soon as you handed to me the letter of the Right Honourable Aelius Paulinus, acting deputy of the Prefect, I sent immediately to my secretary Miccius to come and bring me the Acts which were set down at that time, and he is still searching for them. For no small space of time has passed since I held the office of Duovir. It was eleven years ago. So, as soon as he has found them, I will obey a command of such high dignity.' Gallienus the Duovir said: 'It is to your interest to obey the command, for you see that it is sacred. ' Caecilianus said: 'I have due devotion to a command of such great dignity. ' Then when, a little time after, the secretary Miccius had also arrived, Fuscius the Duovir said: 'Have you too, Miccius, heard that you also have to go with Caecilianus to the office of the Right Honourable Deputy, and bring there with you the documents concerning that time?

What have you to say to this?' Miccius answered: 'The magistrate, when his year of office was completed, took all his Acts home with him. ... I am searching to see whether the wax tablet can be found among them. ' And whilst he was searching, Quintus Sisenna the Duovir said: 'He has answered according to what the Court already knows.' Apronianus said: 'If the magistrate took away all his Acts, whence can we procure the Acts which were then made or put together at a time of so great importance?' And, when he said this, Aelianus the Proconsul said: 'Both my questions and the answers of the various persons are contained in the Acts.' Agesilaus said: 'There are besides other letters, necessary for the understanding of this affair. It is of importance that they should be read.' 'Read them in the hearing of Caecilianus, that he may know whether he dictated them.' Agesilaus read aloud : During the consulate of Volusianus and Annianus, on the nineteenth of August, in a lawsuit before Aurelius Didymus Speretius, priest of mighty Jupiter, duovir of the magnificent colony of the Carthaginians, Maximus said: 'I speak in the name of the seniors of the Christian people of the Catholic Law. The case must be pleaded before the Supreme Emperors against Caecilian and Felix, who strive their utmost to attack the supremacy of that Law.

The proofs of the charges against them in this matter are being searched for. When persecution was proclaimed against the Christians, that is to say, when they were required to offer sacrifice, or betray whatever Scriptures they might have, to be burned, Felix, who was then Bishop of Autumna, had given his consent for Scriptures to be given up by the hand of Galatius, that they might be committed to the fire. And at that time Alfius Caecilianus, whom you may observe here present, was a magistrate, and since it was then his duty to see that, in accordance with the proconsular command, all should sacrifice, and that, in accordance with the Imperial law, they should hand over any Scriptures they might possess, I ask him, since he is here and you see he is an old man and cannot go to the Imperial Court, to make his deposition in the Acts as to whether he gave (as is stated in the Acts ) a letter in accordance with an agreement which he had already made, and as to whether the statements which he has made in the letter are true----so that the actions and the truthfulness of these persons may be set forth in the trial before the Emperor.' Speretius the Duovir said to Caecilianus who was present: 'Do you hear what are the depositions in the Acts? ' Alfius Caecilianus said: 'I had gone to Zama with Saturninus to buy linen garments, and when we arrived there, the Christians themselves sent to me in the praetorium to ask "Has the Emperor's ordinance reached you?"

I answered "No, but I have already seen copies, and have seen churches destroyed and also Scriptures burnt at Zama and Furni. So if you have any Scriptures, bring them forth, that the Emperor's command may be obeyed." Then they sent to the house of the Bishop Felix to bring out the Scriptures from there, that they might be burnt in accordance with the Emperor's decree. So Galatius went with us to the place where they had been accustomed to celebrate their prayers. We took out the Chair and the letters of salutation, and afterwards all were burnt in accordance with the Emperor's decree. And when we sent to the house of this Bishop Felix the public officials informed us that he was not there. And when, at a later time, Ingentius 27 arrived----the secretary of Augentius, with whom I was aedile----I dictated to that colleague the letter which I wrote to this Bishop Felix.' Maximus said: 'He is here. Let this letter be shown him, that he may recognise it.' He answered: 'It is the one.' Maximus said: 'Since he has recognised his own letter, I shall read it, and ask that it be inserted in the And he read it aloud: 'Caecilianus to his father Felix, health! Inasmuch as Ingentius has approached my colleague Augentius his friend, and asked whether, in accordance with the Emperor's command, any Scriptures of your Law were burnt in the year when I was aedile .

. . my friend Galatius, a Christian, publicly brought forth letters of salutation from the Basilica. I wish thee good health. 'This is the proof that the Christians and the owner of the praetorium had written to entreat my mercy----that you said "Take the key and take also whatever books you may find upon the Chair and whatever codices there may be upon the stone. But see, I beg you, that the officials do not take away the oil and wheat." And I said to you "Are you unaware that where Scriptures are found, the house itself is pulled down?" And you said "What then are we to do?" And I said to you "Let one of your people take them out into the court where you make your prayers, and let them be placed there. And I will come with the officials and take them away.' 'And we all went there and took everything away in accordance with the Emperor's command.' Maximus said: 'Since the reading of his letter, which he has acknowledged that he sent, has been placed upon the Acts, we ask that his words should remain upon the Acts.' Speretius the Duovir said: 'What you have said has been written down.' Agesilaus said: 'With regard to the present letter which he has recognised, he says that the last part which has just been read is a forgery.'

Caecilianus said: 'My lord, I dictated up to the point where we find the words "My dearest father, I wish thee good health." ' Apronianus said: 'Always has it been so, that those who have refused to adhere to the Catholic Church, have acted thus treacherously, by terrorising, by acting a pretence, by anti-religious bent. For when Paulinus was Vice-prefect here, a man without official position was suborned to act the part of a courier, that he might go to those who belong to the Catholic unity, and ensnare and terrify them. And now the conspiracy has been discovered. For a lying story was made up against the most holy Bishop Felix, so that it might appear that he had betrayed and burnt the Scriptures. It was in fact Ingentius (since his whole line of conduct was opposed to the holiness and religion of Caecilian) who was suborned to come with a letter that purported to be from Felix the Bishop to Caecilianus the Duovir, and pretend to him that he was commissioned by Felix. Let him give us the very words in which this story was concocted.' 'Tell us.' Apronianus said: ['Ingentius spoke in this way to Caecilianus:] "Tell my friend Caecilianus," said Felix to me, "that I received [from somebody] eleven precious divine codices, and, as he is now demanding of me to restore them, say that you burnt them in your year of office, so that I need not return them to him."

For this reason Ingentius must be questioned as to the manner in which these designs were manufactured and fabricated, as to how he strove to lead his master to tell lies, that he might bespatter Felix with infamy. Let him tell us by whom he was sent, but if this plot against the good name of Felix, by which he might do injury to the episcopal character of Caecilian from its commencement. . . For there is a certain person who was sent by the other side ambassador through Mauritania and Numidia.' as In the presence of Ingentius, Aelianus the Proconsul said: 'At whose bidding did you undertake to do these things that are brought against you? ' Ingentius said: 'Where?' 'As you pretend not to understand what you are asked, I will speak more plainly. Who sent you to the magistrate Caecilianus?' Ingentius said: 'No one sent me.' 'How was it then that you went to the magistrate Caecilianus?' Ingentius said: 'When we had arrived and the case of Maurus, a Bishop from Utica, who bought his bishopric, was being tried, Felix, the Bishop of Autumna, came up to the city to preach, and said "Let no one communicate with him, for he is guilty of fraud. " And I, on the other hand, said to him "Let no one communicate with you any more than with him, because you are a Betrayer."

I was grieving over the case of Maurus my guest, since I had communicated with him when I was abroad----for I escaped from the persecution. From it I went into the country of Felix himself and took with me three seniors, that they might see whether in truth he had been a Betrayer or not.' Apronianus said: 'It is not so. He went to Caecilianus. Ask Caecilianus about it.' Aelianus the Proconsul said to Caecilianus: 'How was it that Ingentius came to you?' Caecilianus answered: 'He came to me at home. I was at dinner with the workmen. He came in and stood in the doorway. "Where is Caecilianus?" said he. I answered "Here." I said to him "What is it? Is all right? " "Everything," said he. I answered him "If you are not too proud to dine, come and have dinner." He said to me "I am coming back." He came alone. He began to tell me that he wanted me to look into the matter and inquire whether the Scriptures had been burnt in the year when I was Duovir. I said to him "You annoy me. You are a man who has been suborned. Be off with you. Take yourself away from me." And I spurned him from me. And he came yet a second time together with my colleague with whom I had been aedile.

My colleague said to me "Felix, our Bishop, sent this man here that you might give him a letter, because he has received precious codices, and is unwilling to give them back. Write for him that they were burnt in the year when you were Duovir." And I said "Is this the faith of Christians? " ' Ingentius said: 'My lord, let Augentius also be called, for I too have held honourable office. this story] it will be all over with my honour, and . . .' [If you listen to Aelianus the Proconsul said to Ingentius: 'You are convicted on another ground.' Aelianus the Proconsul said to an officer: 'Strip and bind him.' And when he was made ready, Aelianus the Proconsul said: 'Let him be drawn up.' And while he was being drawn up on the rack, Aelianus the Proconsul said to Caecilianus: 'Under what circumstances did Ingentius come to you? ' He answered: ' "Our friend Felix," so he spoke, "sent me here that you should write to him, since there is an abandoned man who is the owner of some most precious codices which are in his possession, and he is unwilling to restore them. So ----that they may not be claimed back----write that they were burnt." And I said to him "Is this the faith of a Christian? " Then I began to rebuke him.

But my colleague said "Write thither to our friend Felix." And so I dictated the letter which lies before you, up to the place that I have pointed out.' 'Listen without fear to the reading of your letter. See how far you dictated.' Agesilaus read out: ' " . . . I wish you, my dearest father, good health for many years." ' Aelianus the Proconsul said to Caecilianus: 'Did you dictate as far as this? ' He answered: 'As far as this. The rest is a forgery.' Agesilaus read aloud [the remainder of the letter]: ' "This is the proof that the Christians and the owner of the praetorium had written to entreat my mercy, and that you had said 'Take the key and take also whatever books you may find upon the Chair and whatever codices there may be upon the stone. But see, I beg you, that the officials do not take away the oil and the wheat.' And I said to you, 'Are you unaware that where Scriptures are found the house itself is pulled down?' And you said 'What then shall we do?' And I said to you 'Let one of your people take them out into the halls where you make your prayers, and let them be placed there. And I will come with the officials and take them away.' And we went thither, and took everything away as we had arranged, and burnt it in accordance with the Emperor's command."

' Maximus said: 'Since there has also been placed upon the Acts the purport of this letter, which he himself said that he had acknowledged and sent, we ask that this should be set down on your Acts.' Speretius said: 'What you have said has been written down.' Caecilianus answered: 'It is a forgery from that point. It is my letter up to where I said "My dearest father, farewell." ' 'Who do you say added to the letter? ' Caecilianus said: 'Ingentius.' 'Your statement is set down in the Acts.' Aelianus the Proconsul said to Ingentius: 'You shall be tortured to prevent your telling lies.' Ingentius said: 'I have sinned. I did add to this letter, through my grief on account of Maurus my guest.' 'Constantine Maximus ever Augustus, and Licinius, Caesars, deign to show such favour to Christians as to be unwilling that their discipline should be corrupted; on the contrary, they are determined that this religion should be observed and respected. Do not, therefore, flatter yourself that, because you tell me that you are a worshipper of God, on this account you cannot be tortured. You shall be tortured, that you may not tell lies----a thing which is thought to be foreign to Christians. So tell the truth frankly, that you may not be tortured.' Ingentius said: 'I have already confessed without torture.' Apronianus said: 'Be pleased to ask him by what authority, by what craft, by what madness he went through all the districts of Mauritania and also of Numidia, and by what means he stirred up sedition against the Catholic Church.'

'Have you been to the Numidias?' He answered: 'No, my Lord. Let anyone prove it who can.' 'Nor to Mauritania? ' He answered: 'I was there on commercial business.' Apronianus said: 'In this he lies, my Lord, for it is impossible to travel to Mauritania, excepting through the Numidias. Now he says that he was in Mauritania, but not in Numidia.' Aelianus the Proconsul said to Ingentius: 'What is your rank?' Ingentius answered: 'I am a decurion of the Ziquenses.' Aelianus the Proconsul said to the officer: 'Lower him.' When he had been lowered, Aelianus the Proconsul said to Caecilianus: 'You have given false evidence.' Caecilianus answered: 'Not so, my lord. Command the attendance of him who wrote the letter. He is his friend. He will tell you to what point I dictated the letter.' 'Who is it whom you wish to have here? ' Caecilianus said: 'Augentius, with whom I was aedile. It is only through the evidence of Augentius himself who wrote the letter, that I can prove my case. He can tell you to what point I dictated to him.' 'Is it then certain that the letter is a forgery?' Caecilianus answered: 'It is certain, my lord. In my blood I do not lie.' 'Since you held the office of Duovir in your country we ought to give credence to your words.' Apronianus said: 'It is no new thing for them to act in this way.

They have added what they pleased to the Acts. It is a trick of theirs.' 'Through the evidence of Caecilianus, who tells us that the Acts have been falsified, and many additions made to his letter, the purpose of Ingentius in doing these things has been made clear. So let him be committed to gaol, for we shall require him for stricter examination. Moreover, it is manifest that Felix the holy Bishop has been cleared from the charge of burning the Divine writings, since no one has been able to prove anything against him to show that he gave up or burned the most sacred Scriptures. For through all the evidence, it has been made clear on the interrogatories that no Divine Scriptures were either discovered or corrupted or burnt by him. It is shown by the Acts that Felix the holy Bishop was neither present when these things were done, nor was privy to them, nor did he order anything of the kind.' Agesilaus said: 'What does your lordship order to be done with these witnesses, who came to give evidence to your lordship?' 'Let them go back to their homes.'