The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Optatus of Carthage
attested AD 203 · Bishop at Carthage in Saturus's vision · Carthage
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Optatus of Carthage was
The bishop whom Saturus's prison vision shows outside the heavenly gate, set at odds with the presbyter Aspasius — the martyrs, to their own surprise, asked to make peace between their clergy: 'Are you not our bishop, and you our presbyter? Correct your people, who come to you as from the games, quarrelling about factions.'
Passio Perpetuae (Saturus's vision) only.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Optatus active?
Optatus of Carthage is dated attested AD 203 in the archive, which places Optatus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Optatus?
Optatus of Carthage is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Saturus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Optatus from?
The archive associates Optatus of Carthage with Carthage.
Who were Optatus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Optatus of Carthage to 3 other figures, including Vibia Perpetua, Saturus and Aspasius of Carthage. 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.
Passion of Perpetua 13 (the vision of Saturus)
c. AD 203And we went out, and saw before the doors Optatus the bishop on the right hand, and Aspasius the presbyter-teacher on the left, separated and sad. And they cast themselves at our feet and said: Make peace between us, for ye have gone forth and left us thus.Saturus · 13 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Optatus.