Religious Intolerance in the Later Roman Empire - Bad request ...

pronounced Caecilian’s good name to be upheld and that he should continue in his
see. 45
The Donatists however refused to accept the decision of the council; apparently
because Caecilian had already been condemned by a council of Numidian Bishops in
early 312 and therefore by weight of numbers (seventy Numidians had condemned
against the nineteen Gallic and Italian Bishops who acquitted) the decision of the larger
council should take precedence over that of the smaller. 46 As such the Donatists
appealed; a decision that displeased Constantine. However, the basis of the emperor’s
displeasure was not religious, but rather that the bounds of propriety in behaviour had
been breached. Constantine appears to have been quite saddened that a Bishop should
have sunk to such depths that he would consider an appeal: “Just as if this were a
common case of heathen litigation, a bishop thought it proper to appeal.” 47 Despite
this however, Constantine ordered the secular authorities of North Africa to conduct
an enquiry into the behaviour of Felix of Apthungi to determine whether he was
indeed a traditor and hence whether Caecilian’s enthronement was invalid. The
enquiry, finished its proceedings in late 314 or early 315 and found no evidence that
Felix had surrendered any scriptures. 48 Constantine also heeded the concerns of the
Donatists and ordered another council to be held, in August 314 at Arles, in order to
attempt a conclusion to the controversy.
Two letters of Constantine announcing the Arles council survive. Both must
have been written at almost the same time, i.e. Spring 314. One was to Chrestus,
bishop of Syracuse 49 and the other was to the Vicar of North Africa Aelafius. 50 From
these letters onwards it appears that Constantine was concerned to emphasise his
personal involvement and that is shown by the knowledge he displays of what had
45
Opt. 1.24 Ziwsa 27 quod confessus sit se rebaptizasse et episcopis lapsis m anum inposuisse, quod ab ecclesia
alienum est Edwards 24
46
Aug. Ep. 43.5.14-15
47
Opt. 1.25 Ziwsa 27; sicut in causis gentilium fieri solet, appellandum episcopus credidit
48
Opt. App. 2; Ziwsa 197-204; Edwards 170-180
49
Eus. HE. 10.5.21-24; Maier (1987) 158-160; Corcoran (2000) 304;
64