Page "Novatian" Paragraph 7

In March 251, with the emperor Decius's death, the persecution began to subside and the Roman community seized the opportunity to nominate a successor to Fabian.

With the consent of almost all the clergy, the people and the bishops presented ( Cyprian, Letter LV, 8-9 ) the Roman aristocrat and moderate Cornelius and he was elected.

Novatian had hoped to be elected and accused Cornelius of foul play.

He then summoned three bishops from the remote corners of Italy to come to Rome as fast as possible, along with the other bishops, to mediate on an internal division.

These simple men were forced to make Novatian a bishop at 10 am.

One of these bishops, however, returned to the church to confess his sin and Cornelius states " we sent replacements for the other two bishops to the places from which they came ".

To ensure his supporters ' loyalty Novatian forced them to swear on the consecrated bread and wine at Holy Communion that they would not go back over to Cornelius.

According to Saint Hippolytus of Rome ( considered by some to be Novatian's teacher ), Novatian thus became Christianity's second ever antipope.