Heresy and Schism in the
Pontificate of St. Callistus I
Gnosticism was by no means the only heresy plaguing the Church during
the second century. Heretics and their heresies began to abound
everywhere: the Adoptionists¹, Modalists², and Ditheists³. Another serious
heresy was Montanism.
Montanism had its remote origins in the wild Phrygian countryside in
central Asia Minor some time during the 170’s. This heresy received its
name from its founder, Montanus, a former priest of the pagan goddess
Cybele. Together with two women followers, Priscilla and Maximilla,
Montanus taught a version of Christianity that combined enthusiasm with
rigorous ritual purity. As apart of his repertoire, Montanus would utter
alleged prophesy and claimed to “speak in tongues.”
Montanist spirituality was heavily centered on the supposed coming end of
the world. To meet this climactic event, Montanus encouraged his
followers to practice the most extreme asceticism, including severe fasting.
Montanist preachers called upon their listeners to renounce all marriage,
especially second marriages, to abandon worldly possessions, and
foreswear all civil obligations. On the other hand, flight from persecution
was forbidden and martyrdom was actively encouraged. The ‘faithful
remnant’ were called upon to live together in the obscure Phrygian town of
Pepuza, the so-called new Jerusalem, where Montanus’ followers adhered
to his every word as the utterances of the Holy Spirit Himself. Though
finding virtually no support among bishops, Montanus was able to find
receptive ears from all over Asia Minor. The whole church of Thyatira, for
example, became entirely Montanistic.
1
The Adoptionists taught that Christ was inferior to the Father, being only a
creature and becoming the adopted Son of God only at his baptism.
2
This heresy otherwise known as Monarchianism or Patripassianism, advocated
that there were not three distinct Persons in the one God, but that God was one
Person who manifested Himself in three different ‘modes.’
3
Ditheism advocated that the Father and the Son were two separate Gods.
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