Capua, Council of

Capua, Council Of

(Concilium Ccapuanum). This was held about the year 389, for the purpose of putting an end to the schism which divided the Church at Antioch. The emperor Theodosius granted it at the earnest prayer of the Western Christians. The circumnstances of the case were as follows: After the death of Paulinus, Flavianus was, rightly, the sole bishop of Antioch, but Paulinus, before his death, had nominated Evagrius to succeed him, and he, contrary to the express injunction of the canons, was recognized by the party of Paulinus as bishop. None of the acts of the council have come down to us; but Ambrose speaks of it as having been numerously attended by bishops; he also says that the absence of Flavianus was the reason why the affair could not be finally decided in this council. However, in order to preserve the peace of the Church, they granted communion to all the eastern bishops who professed the Catholic faith, and intrusted to Theophilus of Alexandria and the other Egyptian, bishops the decision of the differences between Flavianus and Evagrius, because they were biassed by no prejudices, and had not joined the communion of either party. Several regulations were also made, one of which forbids to rebaptize or reordain any person; another forbids the translation of bishops. Moreover, in the council, Bonosus, bishop of Macedonia, was condemned, for saying that the blessed Virgin had had children by Joseph after.our Lord's birth. See Labbe, Concil. ii, 1039.