Ναυατιανοί
Novatians
Translated by Catharine Roth21 Aug 2009Vetting: high7 revisions
Translation
[Meaning a type of] heretics, holders of the [doctrines] of Novatus.1
And Sisinnius2 became their bishop; an eloquent man, learned in sacred books and above criticism, but in his lifestyle luxurious and changeable. When he was asked why he would bathe a second [time], he said, "Because I can't manage a third." But when he continued to use a white garment, someone from the catholic church mocked him, but he replied: "So tell me, where is it said that one must wear a black garment?" When the other was puzzled, he rejoined by saying: "You will not be able to find proof for your claim; but for me the most wise Solomon gives his approval, saying 'Let your cloaks be white.'3 And Christ himself in the Gospels appearing in white raiment shows Moses and Elijah similarly [clothed] to his apostles."4 Besides, many other witty sayings are attributed to him.
And Sisinnius2 became their bishop; an eloquent man, learned in sacred books and above criticism, but in his lifestyle luxurious and changeable. When he was asked why he would bathe a second [time], he said, "Because I can't manage a third." But when he continued to use a white garment, someone from the catholic church mocked him, but he replied: "So tell me, where is it said that one must wear a black garment?" When the other was puzzled, he rejoined by saying: "You will not be able to find proof for your claim; but for me the most wise Solomon gives his approval, saying 'Let your cloaks be white.'3 And Christ himself in the Gospels appearing in white raiment shows Moses and Elijah similarly [clothed] to his apostles."4 Besides, many other witty sayings are attributed to him.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ναυατιανοί· αἱρεσῖται, τὰ Ναυάτου φρονοῦντες. καὶ τούτων ἐγένετο ἐπίσκοπος Σισίννιος, ἐλλόγιμος καὶ ἱερῶν βίβλων ἐπιστήμων καὶ κρείττων διαβολῆς, περὶ δὲ τὴν δίαιταν ἁβρὸς καὶ ποικίλος. ἐρωτώμενος δὲ διὰ τί δεύτερον λούοιτο, ὅτι μὴ τρίτον, ἔφη, φθάνω. ἐπεὶ δὲ λευκῇ ἐσθῆτι διετέλει χρώμενος, ἐπέσκωψέ τις αὐτῷ τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς καθόλου ἐκκλησίας, ὁ δὲ πρὸς αὐτόν· οὐκοῦν εἰπέ, ποῦ εἴρηται ἐσθῆτα μέλαιναν χρῆναι ἀμφιέννυσθαι; τοῦ δὲ ἀπορήσαντος, ὑπολαβὼν ἔφη· σὺ μὲν οὐκ ἂν τοῦτο ἐπιδεῖξαι δυνήσῃ· ἐμοὶ δὲ καὶ Σολομῶν ὁ σοφώτατος, ἔστωσαν τὰ ἱμάτιά σου λευκά, λέγων παραινεῖ. καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστὸς λευχείμων ἐν τοῖς εὐαγγελίοις φαινόμενος Μωσῆν τε καὶ Ἡλίαν τοιούτους τοῖς ἀποστόλοις δείκνυσιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ χαρίεντα αὐτῷ εἴρηται.
Betacode
*nauatianoi/: ai(resi=tai, ta\ *naua/tou fronou=ntes. kai\ tou/twn e)ge/neto e)pi/skopos *sisi/nnios, e)llo/gimos kai\ i(erw=n bi/blwn e)pisth/mwn kai\ krei/ttwn diabolh=s, peri\ de\ th\n di/aitan a(bro\s kai\ poiki/los. e)rwtw/menos de\ dia\ ti/ deu/teron lou/oito, o(/ti mh\ tri/ton, e)/fh, fqa/nw. e)pei\ de\ leukh=| e)sqh=ti diete/lei xrw/menos, e)pe/skwye/ tis au)tw=| tw=n a)po\ th=s kaqo/lou e)kklhsi/as, o( de\ pro\s au)to/n: ou)kou=n ei)pe/, pou= ei)/rhtai e)sqh=ta me/lainan xrh=nai a)mfie/nnusqai; tou= de\ a)porh/santos, u(polabw\n e)/fh: su\ me\n ou)k a)\n tou=to e)pidei=cai dunh/sh|: e)moi\ de\ kai\ *solomw=n o( sofw/tatos, e)/stwsan ta\ i(ma/tia/ sou leuka/, le/gwn parainei=. kai\ au)to\s o( *xristo\s leuxei/mwn e)n toi=s eu)aggeli/ois faino/menos *mwsh=n te kai\ *(hli/an toiou/tous toi=s a)posto/lois dei/knusin. ou) mh\n a)lla\ kai\ a)/lla polla\ xari/enta au)tw=| ei)/rhtai.
Notes (4)
- 1Novatus: nu 50; Catholic Encyclopedia at web address 1. In addition to what follows here, on Sisinnius, see alpha 843, kappa 2097, mu 207, pi 814. ↩
- 2Sisinnius: sigma 481, sigma 482. The entry from here on comes from Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History 8.1 (translation at web address 2). ↩
- 3Ecclesiastes 9.8 LXX. ↩
- 4At the Transfiguration. ↩
External resources
- Web address 1 newadvent.org
- Web address 2 ccel.org
Linked from3 entries
- α843ἈκέσιοςAkesios, AcesiusBishop of the Novatians who lived in the time of Constantine the Great. "And he [Constantine] asked him whether he accepted what had been decided upon in the council, the definition of faith and the regulation of the…
- μ207ΜαρκιανόςMarkianos, Marcianus, MarcianHe was an eloquent man [who lived] in the time of the emperor Valens and when Agelius was bishop of Constantinople; [it was he] who once served as a soldier at the palace, but then was a presbyter of the church of the…
- ν50ΝαυάτοςNauatos, Novatus, NovatianThis man, being an elder of the Church in Rome, was separated [from it] when the bishop Cornelius received into communion the faithful who had sacrificed in the persecution which the emperor Decius had stirred up…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history7 revisions · last 8 Jul 2016
- tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
- coding — David Whitehead
- another keyword; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- corrected reference — Catharine Roth
- tweaked translation, raised status — Catharine Roth
- more x-refs — David Whitehead
- tweaks to tr; more keywords — David Whitehead
- Translated — Catharine Roth