biography
pronunciation:
[nohvayshn]
| biography:
| Theologian and antipope, born in Rome, Italy. Converted to Christianity, he was ordained a priest. In 251, soon after the persecution under Emperor Decius, a controversy arose about the status of those who fell away during persecution. Pope Cornelius (251–53) defended indulgence towards the lapsed. Novatian was chosen by a small party and ordained bishop in opposition to Cornelius, denying the lawfulness of readmitting the lapsed to communion. He was excommunicated at a synod in 251, but in spite of persecution the sect survived into the 6th-c. |
|
|