Traditors
Encyclopedia
Traditor, pl.traditores (lat), is a term meaning the one(s) who had handed over. This refers to bishops and other Christians who turned over sacred scriptures or betrayed their fellow Christians to the Roman authorities
under threat of persecution. During the persecution of Diocletian
between AD 303–305, many church leaders had gone as far as turning in Christians to the authorities and handing over sacred religious texts to authorities to be burned
. Later, some traditors would be returned to positions of authority under Constantine, sparking a split with the Donatist
movement.
While many church members would eventually come to forgive the traditors, the Donatists were much less forgiving. They proclaimed that any sacrament
s celebrated by these priests and bishops were invalid. They refused to accept the sacraments and spiritual authority of the priests and bishops who had fallen away from the faith during the persecution. As a result, many towns were divided between Donatist and non-Donatist congregations.
The sect had particularly developed and grown in North Africa
. Constantine, as emperor, began to get involved in the dispute, and, in AD 314
, he called a council at Arles in Gaul
, modern France
; the issue was debated and the decision went against the Donatists. The Donatists refused to accept the decision of the council. Their distaste for bishops who had collaborated with Rome came out of their broader view of the Roman empire.
The word traditor comes from the Latin transditio from trans (across) + dare (to hand, to give), and is the source of the modern words traitor and treason
. The same derivation, though with different context of what is handed to whom, gives us the word tradition
.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
under threat of persecution. During the persecution of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
between AD 303–305, many church leaders had gone as far as turning in Christians to the authorities and handing over sacred religious texts to authorities to be burned
Book burning
Book burning, biblioclasm or libricide is the practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, books or other written material and media. In modern times, other forms of media, such as phonograph records, video tapes, and CDs have also been ceremoniously burned, torched, or shredded...
. Later, some traditors would be returned to positions of authority under Constantine, sparking a split with the Donatist
Donatist
Donatism was a Christian sect within the Roman province of Africa that flourished in the fourth and fifth centuries. It had its roots in the social pressures among the long-established Christian community of Roman North Africa , during the persecutions of Christians under Diocletian...
movement.
While many church members would eventually come to forgive the traditors, the Donatists were much less forgiving. They proclaimed that any sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
s celebrated by these priests and bishops were invalid. They refused to accept the sacraments and spiritual authority of the priests and bishops who had fallen away from the faith during the persecution. As a result, many towns were divided between Donatist and non-Donatist congregations.
The sect had particularly developed and grown in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. Constantine, as emperor, began to get involved in the dispute, and, in AD 314
314
Year 314 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufius and Annianus...
, he called a council at Arles in Gaul
Roman Gaul
Roman Gaul consisted of an area of provincial rule in the Roman Empire, in modern day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Roman control of the area lasted for less than 500 years....
, modern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; the issue was debated and the decision went against the Donatists. The Donatists refused to accept the decision of the council. Their distaste for bishops who had collaborated with Rome came out of their broader view of the Roman empire.
The word traditor comes from the Latin transditio from trans (across) + dare (to hand, to give), and is the source of the modern words traitor and treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. The same derivation, though with different context of what is handed to whom, gives us the word tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
.