PACIAN OF BARCELONA - SAYS PRAXEAS - WAS A MONTANTIST OF SOME CELEBRITY
PACIAN
OF BARCELONA (circa. 310-391 C.E.): “...you declare your
agreement with the Phrygians. But, most illustrious Lord, so manifold
and so diverse is the error of these very men, that in them we have
not only to overthrow their peculiar fancies against penance, but to
cut off the heads, as it were, of some Lernaean monster. And, in the
first place, they rely on more founders than one, for I suppose
Blastus the Greek is of them; Theodotus also AND --- ( PRAXEAS ) ---
WERE ONCE TEACHERS OF YOUR PARTY, THEMSELVES ALSO PHRYGIANS OF SOME
CELEBRITY, who falsely say they are inspired of Leucius, boast that
they are instructed by Proculus. FOLLOWING MONTANUS, AND MAXIMILLA,
AND PRISCILLA, how manifold controversies have they raised concerning
the day of Easter, the Paraclete, Apostles, Prophets, and many other
disputes, as this also concerning the Catholic name, the pardon of
penance...” - (Chapter 2, Epistle I, “On the Catholic Name,”
Pages 317-327, “The Extant Works of S. Pacian, Library of Fathers
of the Holy Catholic Church 17,” Translated by the Rev. C. H.
Collyns, M.A., Student of Christ Church 1842.)
PACIAN
OF BARCELONA (circa. 310-391 C.E.): “...Who therefore, must
first be refuted through my letter? Even if you wish it, these pages
will not be able to hold just the mere names of all these
heretics,{4} unless by your own writings, which in every way
are condemnatory of penance, ( you declare that you have shared the
veiws of the Phrygians ).{5} But, dear Sir, so manifold and
diverse is the error alone of these individuals [=
the Montantists] that among them [=
the Montantists] we have not only to strike against
that belief which they [=
the Montantists] hold against penance, but also to cut
off the heads, as it were, of some Lernaen creature.{6}
[Section 2.] First of all, they [=
the Montantist's] rely on several authorites, for, I
think, Blastus the Greek [=
mentioned by Irenaeus] is one of them ; Theodotus also,
AND PRAXAES WERE ONCE [=
accounts for Praxaes departure] TEACHERS OF [=
accounts for Tertullians ferocity] YOUR GROUP. [=
the Montantist's] THEY THEMESELVES, [=
Praxaes included] ALSO PHRYGIANS [=
the Montantist's] OF SOME NOTERIETY [=
accounts for Tertullians defence and attack] who
falsely allege that they [=
the Montantist's] are inspired by Leucius, boast that
they are instructed by Proculus. And having followed Montanus,
Maximilla, and Priscilla, what numerous controversies have they [=
the Montantist's] roused concerning the day of Easter,
the Paraclete, the apostles, the prophets, and many other things, –
as for example, the appelation “Catholic” and the forgiveness of
penance...” - (Chapter 2, Sections 1-2, Epistle I, [To
Sympronian] “On the
Catholic Name,” Page 18, “Pacian of Barcelona,” in: “The
Fathers of the Church,” Iberian Fathers, Volume 3, Pacaian of
Barcelona – Orosius of Braga,” Translated by Craig L. Hanson,
1999.)
[PERSONAL
NOTE]:
Comments in highlighting added by me.
[FOOTNOTE
3]: Another, earlier name for
the Montantists. Such writers as Eusebius of Caesarea and Epiphanius
of Salamis used the phrase: “...heresy of Gk., ( KATA ) the
Phyges...” to designate this heretical movement ; hence
“...Cataphrygians...”. Its birthplace was the region between
Mysia and Phrygia in Asia Minor.
[FOOTNOTE
4]: Peyot here conjectures a
gap in the text. Rubio Fernandez notes such in his critical
apparatus, but maintains the text. Either interpretation is possible.
[FOOTNOTE
5]: Again, the Montantists are
meant. Also, Pacian here as elsewhere in his letters purposely links
Sympronian and his Novationist colleagues with the Montantists.
[FOOTNOTE
6]: A reference to the
mythological Lernaen Hydra, a multiheaded serpentine monster disposed
of by Heracles in the course of his Labors. The Hydra's mortal heads
were believed to regenerate themselves and multiply when cut off.
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