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Secundus, Bishop of Tigisis

Wace's Dictionary of Early Christian Biography

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Secundus (4), bp. of Tigisis, a fortified town of Numidia, in the neighbourhood of Lambese and Thamagada (Procop. Vandal. ii. 13). The persecution under Diocletian appears to have reached its height in Feb. 304, and on May 19 Paulus, bp. of Cirta, committed the act of "tradition" which partly gave rise to the proceedings in which Secundus became conspicuous. Paulus soon died, and some 11 or 12 bishops met at Cirta on Mark 5 (according to Optatus May 8), 305, under the presidency of Secundus, as primate of Numidia, to appoint a successor. Although persecution had virtually ceased, the churches were not yet restored, and the assembly met in the house of Urbanus, where they ordained Silvanus. Optatus says that amid the uproar of mutual incrimination [DONATISM] Purpurius of Limata taxed Secundus with tradition, because, instead of leaving his post of duty before the inquisition, he remained until dismissed in safety, which would not have been the case unless he had purchased his safety by act of surrender. On this a murmur arose in the assembly, and Secundus, in alarm, accepted a method of escape suggested by his nephew Secundus the younger, that such questions as this of personal conduct ought to be left to the judgment of the Almighty, a judicious evasion received with acclamation by all (Opt. i. 14; Aug. Ep. 43. 6).

When, on the death of Mensurius, bp. of Carthage, a.d. 311, Caecilian was appointed to succeed him, Secundus was sent for in haste to preside at a meeting of 70 malcontents at Carthage, and their factious opposition resulted in the schismatic appointment of Majorinus (Opt i. 19; Aug. Parm. i. 5). The case was brought up afresh at the conference of 411. Tillem. vi. 5–14; Morcelli, Afr. Chr. ii. 194–207; Ribbek, Aug. und Don. pp. 52–57, 69; Sparrow Simpson, St. Aug. and Afr. Ch. Divisions (1910), p. 32.

[H.W.P.]