Abstrakt: | In the 2nd and 3rd Centuries a practice developed in the churches of Asia Minor
whereby the forgiveness of sins, or ecclesiastical peace, was granted by martyrs. The
practice had its origin in the persecutions of Christians. As martyrs participated in the
Passion of Christ, and were thus united to Him in a unique way, they were able to uphold
those who renounced their faith in the midst of persecutions, welcoming them back to
the Church. The peace granted by martyrs was approved by bishops. The practice was
also familiar to Tertullian, who, being a Montanist, pointed out that it was generally
the „people of the Spirit” who had the power to forgive sins, which included prophets
as well as martyrs. Tertullian claimed that the power to forgive sins was not related
to the Apostolic succession. The above-described practice was opposed by St. Cyprian
of Carthage who, in 250 A.D., following the persecutions under Decius, put penitential
practice in order, subordinating it to the power of the bishop. |