RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
North African Church North, Frank Mason
uable contribution as to the status of cloisters in the several provincial churches is furnished by the " Life " of Fulgentius of Ruspe (q.v.). The tolerance accorded by the Roman government to foreign religions advantaged the Christians of North Africa until the edict of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in 177, produced the first victims of persecution in the case of Namphamo and companions; while not long afterward (180), the Scilitan martyrs succumbed to the same doom. Of particular note, again, was the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas (see Perpetua), in the time of Septimius Severus. The operations of the Decian persecution are known through Cyprian's De lapsis, and through the history of the penance dispute (see Lapsi) ; while of the final persecution under Diocletian there are reminders in the allusion in an inscription to the " days of offering " [of sacrifice to pagan gods]. After conclusion of peace between the Roman government and the Christian Church, an enhanced zeal for building set in on all sides, as is shown by the many ruins of ecclesiastical edifices.
Christianity and paganism now began to change parts. From the year 341, the laws against heathen worship were multiplied. The temples were closed and their assets called in. A decree of 5. Final the year 399 forbids the destruction of Conflicts those temples that were no longer used with for the worship of idols. A council at Heathen- Carthage in the year 401 resolves that ism; Fall the emperors shall extirpate idolatry, under Islam, and demolish, or cause to be demolished, such temples as possess no artistic value. Altars and images of the gods were deposited in museums. A number of these, with the inscription Translata de sordentibus locis, " removed from ignominious places," are now in the museum at Csesarea in Mauretania. In the towns, paganism still derived a temporary support from certain municipal offices with associated priestly functions; yet these, too, were gradually divested of their priestly coloring. After Tertullian, the controversial antagonism of heathenism, as also of the Christian sects, was especially espoused by Augustine. But North Africa never became a thoroughly Christian country. This was prevented by the native tribes, which were continually making new incursions and threatening the civilized power of the country. When, once more, the Byzantine dominion undertook a final Christian propaganda, there was a vast territory at hand for the purpose. Yet with all the conquests achieved by Christianity in North Africa, heathenism was not completely extirpated, and survived not only the Roman and Vandal periods, but also the Byzantine era, only to collapse in a common fate with Christianity before Islam; which effected the conquest of the country in the years 647-717, together with the annihilation of the North African Church.
(A. SCHWAEZE.)
Bibliography: As sources, besides the works of the Church Fathers indicated in the text, consult: Codex canonum ecclesim Africans, ed. H. Justel, Paris, 1614; Notitia dignitatum, ed. E. Booking, 3 parts, Bonn, 1839-40. Consult further: O. Meltzer, Oeschichte der Carthager, 2 vols., Berlin, 1872-96; J. Lloyd, The North African Church, London, 1880; C. J. Tissot, Geographic comparie de la province romaine d'Afrique, 2 vols., Paris, 1884-88; A. C.
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Pallu de Lessert, Les Fastes de la Numidie, ib. 1888; idem, Fastes des provinces africanes, 2 vols., ib. 1896; G. Boissier, La Fin du paganisme, 2 vols., ib. 1891; idem, VAfrique romaine, ib., 1895; R. Cagnat, V Armee romaine d'Afrique et Voccupation militaire de VAfrique sous les empereurs, ib. 1892; A. Schwarze, Untersuchungen uber die aussere Entwickelung der afrikanischen Kirche, Gottingen, 1892; A. Toulotte, Geographic de VAfrique chretienne, 4 vols., Paris, 1892-94; E. Le Blant, Les Persecutions et les martyrs aux premiers siecles de notre ere, ib. 1893; P. Monveaux, Etude sur la litterature latine d'Afrique, ib. 1894; C. Diehl, VAfrique byzantine. Histoire de la domination byzantine en Afrique, ib. 1896; P. Allard, Le Christianisme et V empire romain de Neron a Theodose, ib., 1897; F. Ferrere, La Situation religieuse de VAfrique romaine depuis la fin du iv. siecle jusqu'a 429, ib., 1897; L. R. Holme, The Extinction of the Christian Churches in North Africa, London, 1898; A. Schulten, Das rbmische Afrika, Leipsic, 1899; F. Wieland, Ein Ausflug ins altchristliche Afrika, Vienna, 1900; L. Schmidt, Geschichte der Wandalen, Leipsic, 1901; P. Monceaux, Histoire littSraire de VAfrique chretienne, 2 vols., Paris, 1901-02; A. Graham, Roman Africa. An Outline of the History of the Roman Occupation of North Africa, London, 1902; A. Harnack, Die Mission und die Ausbreitung des Christentums in den ersten 3 Jahrhunderten, 2d ed., Leipsic, 1906, Eng. transl., The Expansion of Christianity, 2 vols., London, 1908; H. Leclercq, L' Afrique chrMienne, 2 vols., Paris, 1904. Much of the literature under Augustine; Cyprian; Donatism; and Tertullian is pertinent.