The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Novatus of Carthage
fl. c. 250 (death unrecorded) · Carthaginian presbyter · Schismatic agitator · Carthage → Rome
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Novatus of Carthage was
A turbulent presbyter of Carthage who opposed Cyprian from the moment of his election, ordained the deacon Felicissimus without leave, and championed the lax readmission of the lapsed — then, crossing to Rome, reversed himself entirely and threw his energy behind the rigorist Novatian, helping consecrate him rival bishop. Cyprian painted him as a man of ungovernable ambition, “a firebrand to kindle the flames of sedition,” who left ruin in both cities. Not to be confused with Novatian of Rome, whose party he joined; the two names, so alike, and their opposite errors met in the same schism.
Cyprian's corpus only; Eusebius's 'Novatus' is Novatian, not this man.
Also listed in heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When was Novatus active?
Novatus of Carthage is dated fl. c. 250 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Novatus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Novatus?
Novatus of Carthage is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Cyprian of Carthage. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Novatus from?
The archive associates Novatus of Carthage with Carthage, Rome. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Novatus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Novatus of Carthage to 4 other figures, including Cyprian of Carthage, Novatian of Rome, Felicissimus of Carthage and Cornelius of Rome. 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.
Cyprian, Epistle 52 (to Cornelius)
c. AD 253Novatus… who here had been a firebrand and kindler of the flame of sedition, an appropriator of the widows’ and orphans’ money… when he had gone to Rome, wrought there things greater and worse.Cyprian of Carthage · 52 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Novatus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.