PRISCILIANA Meaning and
Definition
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Prisciliana refers to a historical figure, commonly known as Prisciliana of Avila, who was a Christian theologian and ascetic from the fourth century. Primarily noted as the leader of a religious movement known as the Priscillianism, her teachings diverged from orthodox Christianity and were considered heretical by the Church.
Prisciliana's movement emphasized a strict and ascetic lifestyle, advocating for rigorous fasting, celibacy, and esoteric practices such as prophecy and visions. Her followers, often referred to as Priscillianists, believed in a dualistic worldview, distinguishing between good and evil spirits and assigning spiritual superiority to those who followed Priscilliana's teachings.
The controversy surrounding Prisciliana ultimately led to her persecution and eventual execution. In 385 AD, the Spanish Council of Zaragoza condemned her as a heretic, and she was subsequently put to death by Roman authorities. This event marked a particularly significant episode in the early history of Christianity in Spain, highlighting the tension between religious orthodoxy and diverse spiritual movements within the Church.
Although Prisciliana's doctrines did not persist in mainstream Christianity, her influence left a lasting impact on the development of ascetic and mystical traditions, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. Her teachings and the subsequent persecution she faced contribute to a broader understanding of the complexity and diversity of early Christian thought and practice.
Common Misspellings for PRISCILIANA
- orisciliana
- lrisciliana
- -risciliana
- 0risciliana
- peisciliana
- pdisciliana
- pfisciliana
- ptisciliana
- p5isciliana
- p4isciliana
- prusciliana
- prjsciliana
- prksciliana
- prosciliana
- pr9sciliana
- pr8sciliana
- priaciliana
- prizciliana
- prixciliana
- pridciliana
Etymology of PRISCILIANA
The name Prisciliana derives from the Latin name Priscillianus, which is a masculine form of the name. The feminine form, Prisciliana, is derived from this masculine variation. The root of the name is Priscillus, which is a diminutive of the name Priscus, meaning ancient or elderly in Latin. Therefore, Prisciliana can be interpreted to mean little ancient one or youthful elder.
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