The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Montanus of Cirta
fl. 19 May 303 (death unrecorded) · Presbyter of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Montanus of Cirta was
One of the three presbyters standing beside Bishop Paul while the inventory of the church was written down against them. The record gives his name, his order and nothing else — which is the point: it fixes a working presbyter of a Numidian city church on a dated morning of the Great Persecution. Distinct from Montanus the Phrygian prophet.
Named once, in the Gesta apud Zenophilum — the Cirta records of 19 May 303 and 13 December 320; no other ancient source names him.
Common questions
When was Montanus active?
Montanus of Cirta is dated fl. 19 May 303 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Montanus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Montanus?
Montanus of Cirta is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Municipal acts of Cirta. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Montanus from?
The archive associates Montanus of Cirta with Cirta (Constantina), Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Montanus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Montanus of Cirta to 3 other figures, including Paul of Cirta, Victor of Deusatelium and Memorius. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The Acts of Munatius Felix, 19 May 303 — read into evidence before Zenophilus
c. AD 303In the presence of Paul the Bishop (who remained seated), of Montanus and Victor of Deusatelium, and Memorius priests, Mars and Helius the deacons, Marcuclius, Catullinus, Silvanus and Carosus the subdeacons standing by with Januarius, Meraclus, Fructuosus, Migginis, Saturninus, Victor and the rest of the grave-diggers, Victor of Aufidus made this brief inventory against them.Municipal acts of Cirta · Gesta apud Zenophilum, Acts of 19 May 303 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Montanus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.