The Church of the Martyrs in Egypt and North Africa: A Comparison of the Melitian and Donatist Schisms

Abstract

Although Christianity became a religio licita under Constantine in 313, this did not lead to the establishment of a single version of Christianity. Indeed, the end of the imperial persecutions saw increasing tensions between diverse Christian groups and their beliefs and practices. In both Egypt and North Africa, these disagreements hardened into schisms with the emergence of the rigorist Melitians in Egypt and Donatists in North Africa. While mainstream opponents named these groups by their leaders, the groups identified themselves as the “Church of the martyrs.” The Melitians remained a minority group while the Donatists grew to become the majority Church in North Africa for much of the fourth and early fifth centuries. This article will compare the main issues involved in each schism in order to provide insight into some of the complex issues facing Christians in Egypt and North Africa in the fourth century. It also addresses the question why the Donatists were able to exert influence within their province than the Melitians.