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Priscillianism

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832: 318:, rejecting conventional interpretations and relying on personal inspiration. The Priscillians respected most of the Old Testament but rejected the Creation story. They believed that several of the apocryphal Scriptures were genuine and inspired. Because the Priscillians believe that matter and nature were evil, they became ascetics and fasted on Sundays and Christmas Day. Because their doctrines were esoteric and exoteric, and because it was believed that men in general could not understand the higher paths, the Priscillianists, or at least those of them who were enlightened, were permitted to tell lies for the sake of a holy end. 174:, who were on their way to Hispania to extirpate the heresy. The Church did not invoke civil authority to punish heretics. The pope censured not only the actions of Ithacius but also that of the emperor. St. Ambrose was equally stern in his denunciation of the case. Some of the Gallican bishops, who were in Trier under the leadership of Theognistus, broke off communion with Ithacius. He was subsequently deposed from his see by a synod of Hispanic bishops, and his friend and abettor Hydatius was compelled to resign. 307:, a belief in the existence of two kingdoms, one of Light and one of Darkness. Angels and the souls of men were said to be severed from the substance of the Deity. Human souls were intended to conquer the Kingdom of Darkness, but fell and were imprisoned in material bodies. Thus both kingdoms were represented in man. Their conflict was symbolized on the side of Light by the Twelve Patriarchs, heavenly spirits, who corresponded to certain of man's powers, and on the side of Darkness by the Signs of the 1109: 243: 311:, the symbols of matter and the lower kingdom. The salvation of man consists in liberation from the domination of matter. The twelve heavenly spirits having failed to accomplish their release, the Saviour came in a heavenly body that appeared to be like that of other men. Through His doctrine and His apparent death, he released the souls of the men from the influence of earthly matter. 142:, but with the same result. They then resorted to intrigue and bribery at the Court with such success that they were not only freed from the sentence of exile, but permitted to regain possession of their churches in Hispania, where, under the patronage of the imperial officials, they enjoyed such power as to compel Ithacius to leave the country. He, in turn, appealed to 135:(also from Hispania) in having this sentence revoked. On their journey they were joined by many supporters from Gaul, including a large number of women mentioned in contemporary sources. Reports of improper behavior by their followers and benefactors – possibly fabricated – were circulated against them. 334:
Some writings by Priscillian were accounted Orthodox and were not burned. For instance, he divided the Pauline epistles (including the Epistle to the Hebrews) into a series of texts based on their theological points and wrote an introduction to each section. These "canons" survived in a form edited
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After St. Martin had left the city, the emperor appointed the prefect Evodius as judge. He found Priscillian and some others guilty of the crime of magic. This decision was reported to the emperor, who ordered the execution of Priscillian and several of his followers. The property of others was
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Maximus treated the matter not as one of ecclesiastical rivalry, but as one of morality and society. As he wished to curry favour with the orthodox bishops and to replenish his treasury through confiscations, the Emperor gave orders for a synod, which was held in
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Helpidius, converted Priscillian, who was a layman "of noble birth, of great riches, bold, restless, eloquent, learned through much reading, very ready at debate and discussion". Through his oratorical gifts and reputation for extreme
831: 166:, who was then in Trier, intervened. After expressing his disapproval of bringing an ecclesiastical case before a civil tribunal, he obtained from the emperor a promise not to carry his condemnation to the extent of shedding blood. 362:. Edited by Georg Schepss. (Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum, 18.) Vienna, 1889. Though they bear Priscillian's name, four describing Priscillian's trial appear to have been written by a close follower. 566: 170:
confiscated and they were banished. The conduct of Ithacius was severely criticized. St. Martin, hearing what had taken place, returned to Trier and compelled the emperor to rescind an order to
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in 380. Though summoned, the Priscillianists refused to appear. The synod pronounced sentence of excommunication against the four leaders, Instantius, Salvianus, Helpidius and Priscillian.
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issued a decree which deprived the Priscillianists of their churches and sentenced them to exile. Instantius, Salvianus and Priscillian proceeded to Rome to gain the aid of
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Ithacius was chosen to enforce the synod's decrees, but he failed to bring the heretics to terms. In defiance Priscillian was ordained to the priesthood and appointed
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to deal with this problem; many, including bishops Symphonius and Dictinnius, were reconciled to the Church through this synod. Dictinnius was the author of a book
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books of the Bible, not as being inspired but as helpful in discerning truth and error; however, several of the books were considered to be genuine and inspired.
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After the executions of Priscillian and his followers by the emperor, however, the numbers and zeal of the heretics increased. In 400 another synod was held in
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and wine. The charismatic gifts of all believers are equally affirmed. Study of scripture is urged. Priscillian placed considerable weight on the
225:. In spite of these efforts, the sect continued to spread during the fifth century. In the following century it began to decline. After the 1041: 84:
Marcus, a native of Memphis in Egypt, came to Spain and taught Gnostic theories. Two of his followers, a Spanish woman named Agape and the
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It was long thought that all the writings of Priscillian himself had perished, but in 1885, Georg Schepss discovered at the
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at a later date took active steps for its repression and at his urgent insistence, councils were held in 446 and 447 at
883: 185:(Scales), a moral treatise from the Priscillianist viewpoint. The upheaval in the Hispania due to the invasion of the 253: 272: 257: 355: 336: 752: 544: 1134: 414: 391: 344: 69: 1113: 1056: 226: 93:, Priscillian attracted a large following, including Helpidus and two bishops, Instantius and Salvianus. 1088: 526: 73: 158:
in 384. Instantius was first tried and condemned to deposition. Priscillian appealed to the emperor at
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These doctrines could be harmonized with the teaching of Scripture only by a complex system of
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They established a new sect as an oath-bound society, attracting the attention of the bishop
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a historical and geographical background to the building of the cathedral in Compostela
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Denied an audience by Pope Damasus, they went to Milan to make a similar request of
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Paganism and Pagan Survivals in Spain up to the Fall of the Visigothic Kingdom
210: 162:. Ithacius acted as his accuser and was so vehement in his denunciations that 90: 57: 53: 521: 505: 1066: 1046: 1006: 986: 976: 933: 923: 918: 893: 863: 769: 690: 660: 628: 202: 113: 913: 898: 665: 638: 633: 606: 340: 315: 155: 117: 109: 85: 45: 411:
Priscillian of Avila: The Occult and the Charismatic in the Early Church
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McKenna, Stephen, "Priscillianism and Pagan Survivals in Spain", in
229:(561), which specifically targeted its doctrines, it soon died out. 435: 222: 194: 190: 159: 127:. Ithacius then appealed to the imperial authorities. The emperor 421: 548: 510:
Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 26 Oct. 2014
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St. James' Catapult: The Life and Times of Diego Gelmirez
100:. Hyginus made his fears known to Hydatius, Bishop of 576:
Beliefs condemned as heretical by the Catholic Church
209:(415 CE) to enlist his aid in combating the heresy. 1027: 947: 839: 587: 326:("Against Lying"), in reaction to this doctrine. 303:The Priscillianists taught a Gnostic doctrine of 472:"Priscillianus and Priscillianism, Priscillian" 560: 8: 271:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 567: 553: 545: 476:A Dictionary of Early Christian Biography 291:Learn how and when to remove this message 205:priest from northwest Hispania, wrote to 64:. Priscillianism was later considered a 44:sect developed in the Roman province of 501: 499: 497: 458: 466: 464: 462: 7: 1042:Community of the Lady of All Nations 358:eleven genuine tracts, published as 269:adding citations to reliable sources 197:aided the spread of Priscillianism. 1165:Christian vegetarian organizations 506:Healy, Patrick. "Priscillianism." 25: 1107: 830: 241: 409:Henry Chadwick's landmark book 56:doctrines taught by Marcus, an 27:For the Montanist faction, see 1140:Heresy in ancient Christianity 446:University of California Press 1: 378:appears to be the Latin book 34:Christian sect in Roman Spain 478:, John Murray, London, 1911 360:Priscilliani quae supersunt 1181: 1114:Catholic Church portal 508:The Catholic Encyclopedia. 26: 1102: 828: 52:. It is derived from the 1155:5th-century Christianity 1145:4th-century Christianity 330:Writings and rediscovery 1160:5th century in Hispania 1150:4th century in Hispania 442:The Making of a Heretic 415:Oxford University Press 392:Christian vegetarianism 70:Eastern Orthodox Church 434:: *Galicia, online at 426:Fletcher, Richard A., 356:University of Würzburg 227:First Council of Braga 48:in the 4th century by 1089:Positive Christianity 527:Catholic Encyclopedia 420:"Liber Apologeticus" 322:wrote a famous work, 150:had taken his place. 74:Roman Catholic Church 372:, the source of the 345:abstinence from meat 265:improve this section 1057:Jehovah's Witnesses 929:Spanish Adoptionism 487:Sulpicius Severus, 164:St. Martin of Tours 624:Antidicomarianites 440:Burras, Virginia, 380:Liber Apologeticus 108:. 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Index

Priscillianists
Prisca (prophet)
Christian
Hispania
Priscillian
Gnostic
Egyptian
Memphis
heresy
Eastern Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
rhetorician
asceticism
Hyginus of Cordoba
Emerita
Ossonoba
Hispania
Aquitaine
Zaragoza
Bishop of Avila
Gratian
Pope Damasus I
St. Ambrose
Gratian
Magnus Maximus
Bordeaux
Trier
St. Martin of Tours
military tribunes
Toledo

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