The Decian persecution of 250 AD, which required all citizens of the Roman Empire to publicly sacrifice to traditional gods, created unrest within the Church. Christians who submitted to pressure and made public sacrifice were called lapsed or lapsi. Upon completion of sacrifice, individuals received a certificate of sacrifice, or libellus, a legal document proving conformity with Roman religion. To avoid this test, many members of the clergy fled, leaving their communities without leadership. In their absence, lay people who had not lapsed, called confessors, filled their leadership role.
After the execution of Pope Fabian, Bishop Cyprian of Carthage went into hiding. When he returned to Carthage, he found these confessors assumed authority of clergy, especially forgiveness of sin. Although many confessors willingly relinquished their positions of authority upon the clergies' return, some attempted to retain their positions. Cyprian called a council in 251 AD to address this problem, the root of which was the status of the lapsi. Confessors tended to accept lapsi back into communion, while the clergy demanded harsher punishments..[2]
This difference of opinion in how to treat the lapsi was part of a larger picture which threatened the cohesion of the Christian church at that time. After Fabian’s execution, Cornelius succeeded him as Pope. Cornelius and Cyprian believed that the lapsi could be restored to communion through repentance and penance.[3] A Roman priest named Novatian believed that lapsi should not be allowed to return to the church as they could not be forgiven on earth, but only by God.[4] Novatian stood against Cornelius and was proclaimed as the new Pope.[5] He then created a stricter ‘Church of the Pure’ which ran for several centuries.[6] Another priest (Novatus) disagreed with both popes and took the opinion that all lapsi should be taken back without asking for any penance or apology.[7]
Cyprian was able to avoid full schism by identifying five categories of lapsi and assigning penance appropriate to each.[8]
Classificationsedit
After the 250 AD Decian Persecution, Cyprian of Carthage held a council sometime after Easter 251 AD, in which lapsi were classified into five categories:
Sacrificati: Those who had actually offered a sacrifice to the idols. Christians that made sacrifices, especially to Roman gods, were only offered absolution on their deathbeds.
Thurificati: Those who had burnt incense on the altar before the statues of the gods. From Latin thurificare – "burn incense"
Libellatici: Those who had drawn up attestation (libellus), or had, by bribing the authorities, caused such certificates to be drawn up for them, representing them as having offered sacrifice, without, however, having actually done so. A two-year sanction was imposed as penance. From Latin libellus – "little book; letter; certificate"
Acta facientes: Those that made false statements or other acts to save their lives. From Latin – "those doing the acts"
Traditores: Those who gave up sacred scriptures, artifacts and/or revealed names of fellow Christians. From Latin tradere - "hand over; deliver; betray" (source of the English "traitor”).
At Rome, the principle was established that the apostates should not be abandoned, but that they should be exhorted to do penance, so that, in case of their being again cited before the authorities, they might atone for their apostasy by remaining steadfast.[9]
Cyprian of Carthage: De lapsis and De Ecclesiae Catholicae unitate. Text and translation by Maurice Bévenot. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971
W.H.C Frend: The Rise of Christianity. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984. Page 318-323.
Catholic Encyclopedia, 1908: Novatian
Referencesedit
^Dvořáček, Michal (April 1, 2023). "Ctihodná Marie Egyptská jako příklad pokání a překonávání pokušení. Naděje pro všechny padlé lidi…". PRAVOSLAVNÁ CÍRKEVNÍ OBEC.
^"Saint Cyprian | Franciscan Media". www.franciscanmedia.org. September 11, 2022.
^McBrien, Richard P (September 24, 2004), National Catholic Reporter, vol. 40, General OneFile. Gale. Sacred Heart Preparatory (BAISL), p. 19(1), retrieved 5 December 2008, Pope Cornelius, a reconciler, had a hard road.
^"Catholic Encyclopedia: Novatian and Novatianism". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
^Papandrea, James L. (November 7, 2011). "Novatian of Rome and the Culmination of Pre-Nicene Orthodoxy". Wipf and Stock Publishers – via Google Books.
^"Novatus of Carthage from the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online.
^Frend, W.H.C. (1984). The Rise of Christianity. Philadelphia: Fortress. pp. 318-323. ISBN9780800619312.
^Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Lapsi." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 13 March 2021 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External linksedit
New Advent website; Cyprian’s Third Treatise, De Lapsis
April 12, 2024
lapsi, christianity, early, christian, church, lapsi, latin, fallen, greek, πεπτωκότες, romanized, peptōkotes, were, apostates, renounced, their, faith, under, persecution, roman, authorities, term, refers, those, have, lapsed, fallen, away, from, their, faith. In the early Christian Church lapsi Latin for fallen Greek peptwkotes romanized peptōkotes were apostates who renounced their faith under persecution by Roman authorities The term refers to those who have lapsed or fallen away from their faith only to return to it later 1 Contents 1 Origins 2 Classifications 3 See also 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksOrigins editThe Decian persecution of 250 AD which required all citizens of the Roman Empire to publicly sacrifice to traditional gods created unrest within the Church Christians who submitted to pressure and made public sacrifice were called lapsed or lapsi Upon completion of sacrifice individuals received a certificate of sacrifice or libellus a legal document proving conformity with Roman religion To avoid this test many members of the clergy fled leaving their communities without leadership In their absence lay people who had not lapsed called confessors filled their leadership role After the execution of Pope Fabian Bishop Cyprian of Carthage went into hiding When he returned to Carthage he found these confessors assumed authority of clergy especially forgiveness of sin Although many confessors willingly relinquished their positions of authority upon the clergies return some attempted to retain their positions Cyprian called a council in 251 AD to address this problem the root of which was the status of the lapsi Confessors tended to accept lapsi back into communion while the clergy demanded harsher punishments 2 This difference of opinion in how to treat the lapsi was part of a larger picture which threatened the cohesion of the Christian church at that time After Fabian s execution Cornelius succeeded him as Pope Cornelius and Cyprian believed that the lapsi could be restored to communion through repentance and penance 3 A Roman priest named Novatian believed that lapsi should not be allowed to return to the church as they could not be forgiven on earth but only by God 4 Novatian stood against Cornelius and was proclaimed as the new Pope 5 He then created a stricter Church of the Pure which ran for several centuries 6 Another priest Novatus disagreed with both popes and took the opinion that all lapsi should be taken back without asking for any penance or apology 7 Cyprian was able to avoid full schism by identifying five categories of lapsi and assigning penance appropriate to each 8 Classifications editAfter the 250 AD Decian Persecution Cyprian of Carthage held a council sometime after Easter 251 AD in which lapsi were classified into five categories Sacrificati Those who had actually offered a sacrifice to the idols Christians that made sacrifices especially to Roman gods were only offered absolution on their deathbeds Thurificati Those who had burnt incense on the altar before the statues of the gods From Latin thurificare burn incense Libellatici Those who had drawn up attestation libellus or had by bribing the authorities caused such certificates to be drawn up for them representing them as having offered sacrifice without however having actually done so A two year sanction was imposed as penance From Latin libellus little book letter certificate Acta facientes Those that made false statements or other acts to save their lives From Latin those doing the acts Traditores Those who gave up sacred scriptures artifacts and or revealed names of fellow Christians From Latin tradere hand over deliver betray source of the English traitor At Rome the principle was established that the apostates should not be abandoned but that they should be exhorted to do penance so that in case of their being again cited before the authorities they might atone for their apostasy by remaining steadfast 9 See also editPope Stephen I Judaizers Backsliding Crypto paganismBibliography editCyprian of Carthage De lapsis and De Ecclesiae Catholicae unitate Text and translation by Maurice Bevenot Oxford Clarendon Press 1971 W H C Frend The Rise of Christianity Philadelphia Fortress Press 1984 Page 318 323 Catholic Encyclopedia 1908 Novatian Christian Cyclopedia Lutheran Missouri Synod LapsiReferences edit Dvoracek Michal April 1 2023 Ctihodna Marie Egyptska jako priklad pokani a prekonavani pokuseni Nadeje pro vsechny padle lidi PRAVOSLAVNA CIRKEVNI OBEC Saint Cyprian Franciscan Media www franciscanmedia org September 11 2022 McBrien Richard P September 24 2004 National Catholic Reporter vol 40 General OneFile Gale Sacred Heart Preparatory BAISL p 19 1 retrieved 5 December 2008 Pope Cornelius a reconciler had a hard road Catholic Encyclopedia Novatian and Novatianism www newadvent org Retrieved 2021 08 16 Papandrea James L November 7 2011 Novatian of Rome and the Culmination of Pre Nicene Orthodoxy Wipf and Stock Publishers via Google Books Novatian earlychristianwritings com Novatus of Carthage from the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online Frend W H C 1984 The Rise of Christianity Philadelphia Fortress pp 318 323 ISBN 9780800619312 Kirsch Johann Peter Lapsi The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 9 New York Robert Appleton Company 1910 13 March 2021 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain External links editNew Advent website Cyprian s Third Treatise De Lapsis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lapsi Christianity amp oldid 1217921878, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
