Optatus of Milevis

Optatus was Catholic bishop of Milevis in Numidia. His seven books against the Donatist Parmenian, bishop of Carthage, are the main Catholic account of the origins of the schism. He argues that the church's unity rests on its sacraments and on communion with the churches throughout the world.

Dates

fl. ca. 366–385 (approximate)

See or city

Milevis

Region

Numidia (North Africa)

Also known as

Optatus of Mileve

Notes

Catholic bishop of Milevis in Numidia and the chief Catholic writer against the Donatists before Augustine.

Works

• Against Parmenian the DonatistContra Parmenianum Donatistam · ca. 366–385 · CPL 244 (not yet checked)
• Appendix of Ten Documents on the Donatist ControversyAppendix decem monumentorum veterum ad Donatistarum historiam pertinentium · documents of 303–330