The Patrologia Latina · Volume XI
The Schism on Trial
Volume 11 pairs the pulpit and the courtroom: Zeno of Verona’s two books of tractates — the earliest Latin sermon collection to survive — Optatus of Milevis’ answer to the Donatist schism, and the verbatim court record of the Conference of Carthage of 411 AD, where 565 bishops argued the schism to a verdict before an imperial judge. We are translating every one into English.
About this volume
A church divided argues its case
Zeno, bishop of Verona from around 362 AD, left the earliest surviving collection of Latin sermons: two books of tractates, many of them short addresses delivered at the Easter vigil as the newly baptized came up from the font. Probably African by origin and devoted to Cyprian, he preached on faith and the Trinity against the Arians, on Job and patience, and against the pagan habits that lingered among his flock.
The rest of the volume is the Donatist schism from first answer to final judgment. Optatus of Milevis’ Against the Donatists — the first Catholic reply to the schism, with its argument that the sacraments belong to God and not the worthiness of the minister — stands beside the documentary record: imperial constitutions from Julian to Honorius, Marcellus’ chapter-index of the great conference, the verbatim proceedings of the Conference of Carthage of 411 AD before the imperial commissioner Marcellinus, and the documents of the aftermath. No other ancient controversy left us its court transcript; this one did.
As across the whole project, we translate the original works only, in fresh English, and give them away free to read.
Where to start
Three to begin with
The sermons
The Tractates
Tractatus
The earliest surviving Latin sermon collection — Easter-vigil addresses to the newly baptized, from a bishop who preached like a poet.
Read →The answer
Against the Donatists
De Schismate Donatistarum
The first Catholic reply to the schism: the church is bigger than Africa, and the sacraments are God’s, not the minister’s.
Read →The transcript
The Conference of Carthage
Gesta Collationis Carthaginensis
Antiquity’s only surviving church trial transcript: 565 bishops, an imperial judge, and a schism argued line by line in 411 AD.
Read →The contents
8 works
Each is a fresh English translation from the Latin, free to read online, in the order Migne printed them.
- 01
The Monuments of Saint Zeno Monumenta de Sancto Zenone
A dossier of legend, liturgy, and later testimony gathered around the cult of Zeno, the fisherman-bishop of Verona.
31 ch. Read free → - 02
The Tractates of Zeno of Verona Tractatus S. Zenonis
Nearly ninety sermons from a fourth-century bishop of Verona, ranging from treatises on faith and charity to Easter homilies for the newly baptized.
199 ch. Read free → - 03
Ancient Testimonies Concerning Optatus and His Books De Optato et ejus libris veterum testimonia
A gathered dossier of ancient references to Optatus of Milevis and his work against the Donatists, from Jerome to the Roman Martyrology.
8 ch. Read free → - 04
Against the Donatists De Schismate Donatistarum adversus Parmenianum
Optatus of Milevis's point-by-point rebuttal of the Donatist bishop Parmenian, defending the unity, catholicity, and true sacraments of the African Church.
99 ch. Read free → - 05
Ancient Documents Relating to the History of the Donatists Monumenta Vetera ad Historiam Donatistarum Pertinentia
A documentary dossier of imperial laws, conciliar decrees, and petitions charting the empire's decades-long struggle to end the Donatist schism.
32 ch. Read free → - 06
The Chapters of the Acts of the Conference of Carthage Capitula Gestorum Collationis Carthaginensis
Marcellus the Recorder's chapter-by-chapter index to the official proceedings of the 411 AD Conference of Carthage between Catholics and Donatists.
884 ch. Read free → - 07
The Acts of the Conference of Carthage Gesta Collationis Carthaginensis
The verbatim court record of the 411 AD Conference of Carthage, where Catholic and Donatist bishops argued their case before an imperial judge.
579 ch. Read free → - 08
Later Documents Relating to the Conference of Carthage Monumenta Carthaginensi Collationi Posteriora
Imperial laws and later testimonies against the Donatists, from Honorius and Theodosius II to Pope Gregory the Great's letters.
16 ch. Read free →
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