The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Optatus of Milevis
d. c. 387 · Bishop of Milevis · First anti-Donatist theologian · Milevis, Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Optatus of Milevis was
Bishop of Milevis in Numidia and the first great Latin writer against the Donatist schism that had torn the African church since the Great Persecution over the question of whether sacraments from “traitor” clergy were valid. His treatise Against Parmenian argued that the catholicity and unity of the church, not the personal purity of its ministers, guaranteed the sacraments — the position Augustine would develop a generation later. Optatus laid the groundwork on which Augustine built; Augustine cited “the venerable memory of Optatus” with respect.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Optatus die?
Optatus of Milevis is dated d. c. 387 in the archive, which places Optatus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Optatus write?
Optatus of Milevis has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Against the Donatists (De schismate Donatistarum).
Which early sources mention Optatus?
Optatus of Milevis is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Jerome of Stridon and Augustine of Hippo. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Optatus from?
The archive associates Optatus of Milevis with Milevis, Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Against the Donatists (De schismate Donatistarum)
c. 365–385The Church is one, and her sanctity is drawn from the sacraments, not weighed by the pride of persons… The sacraments are holy of themselves, not through men.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
On Illustrious Men 110 (the six books against the Donatists)
c. AD 392Optatus the African, bishop of Milevis, during the reign of Valentinian and Valens, wrote in behalf of the Catholic party six books against the calumny of the Donatist party.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 110 · source text
Against the Letters of Petilian & On Baptism
c. AD 410Optatus of Milevis, of venerable memory, a catholic bishop, refuted the party of Donatus… and showed the unity of the Church spread throughout the whole world.Augustine of Hippo · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Augustine of Hippo
- Donatus of Carthage
- Parmenian of Carthage
- Nundinarius
- Silvanus of Cirta
- Domitius Zenophilus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
- AD 381 · The Council of Aquileia, AD 381
- AD 384 · The Altar of Victory petition, AD 384
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Optatus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.