The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Secundus of Tigisis
fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Tigisis · Primate of Numidia · Tigisis, Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Secundus of Tigisis was
Primate of Numidia, who presided at the council of Cirta and consecrated Silvanus over the objections of the city. He is the hinge of the schism: the same man who examined his colleagues for betrayal in 305 put a proven traditor into the see of Cirta, and the bishops he consecrated went on to consecrate Majorinus against Caecilian at Carthage. Distinct from Secundus of Ptolemais and Secundus of Thessalonica.
Named once, in the Gesta apud Zenophilum — the Cirta records of 19 May 303 and 13 December 320; no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Secundus active?
Secundus of Tigisis is dated fl. AD 303–320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Secundus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Secundus?
Secundus of Tigisis is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Gesta apud Zenophilum. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Secundus from?
The archive associates Secundus of Tigisis with Tigisis, Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Secundus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Secundus of Tigisis to 4 other figures, including Silvanus of Cirta, Purpurius of Limata, Majorinus of Carthage and Caecilian 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.
The trial before Domitius Zenophilus, 13 December 320
c. AD 320Victor said: ‘…when I lived at Carthage and the Bishop Secundus had at length arrived there, they are said to have discovered that Caecilian had been wrongfully made a Bishop, by whom I know not; and they set up another in opposition.’Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Secundus in the sources
This figure is placed with Secundus by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Secundus naming them in return.
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Secundus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.