Circumcellions

The Catholics styled the Agonistici, "Circumcellions," i.e. circum cellas euntes, because they roved about among the peasants, living on those they sought to indoctrinate.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Circumcellions in Africa, with a mad cruelty made away themselves, some by fire, water, breaking their necks, and seduced others to do the like, threatening some if they did not, with a thousand such; as you may read in [6572] Austin (for there were fourscore and eleven heresies in his times, besides schisms and smaller factions) Epiphanius, Alphonsus de

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

The lands of those who permitted Circumcellions on their property were to be confiscated.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

Caecilian's consecration, of the innocence of Felix of Aptonga, of the guilt of the founders of the "Pure" Church, also the judgment given by pope, council, and emperor, the true history of Macarius, the barbarous behaviour of the Donatists under Julian, the violence of the Circumcellions, and so forth.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

But at Bagai in Numidia the bishop, Donatus, assembled the Circumcellions of the neighbourhood, who had already been excited by their bishops.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

The date of the first appearance of the Circumcellions is uncertain, but probably they began before the death of Constantine.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

He met with resistance in a place named Octava, and the altars and tablets to be seen there in St. Optatus's time testified to the veneration given to the Circumcellions who were slain; but their bishops denied them the honour due to martyrs.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

Sometimes the Circumcellions sought death at the hands of others, either by paying men to kill them, by threatening to kill a passer-by if he would not kill them, or by their violence inducing magistrates to have them executed.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913

And though the Catholic Church, following in the footsteps of her Founder, has always recommended voluntary poverty as an evangelical counsel, yet she has at the same time asserted the justice and, as a rule, the necessity of private property and rejected the contrary theories of the Circumcellions, Waldenses,

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 12: Philip II-Reuss 1840-1916 1913

Donatists than the Circumcellions; and these were the typical

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 5: Diocese-Fathers of Mercy 1840-1916 1913