ANTIDICOMARIANITES (also called antimarianites and antimarians). — A sect that arose in the 4th century, following the teachings of Helvidius (v.) and Jovinian (v.), and spread especially in Arabia.
As their name itself indicates (ἀντιδίκως), they opposed the cult of Mary, denying in particular—and contrary to all New Testament texts—her virginity before and after childbirth. Before childbirth, because they claimed that Jesus was born naturally, finding it impossible that Jesus could have received a real body and a complete human nature alongside the divine nature from a virginal birth. Moreover, they explained the divine nature in such a way as to make Jesus a divinity subordinate to the Father. After childbirth, because they claimed that Mary had other children, erroneously basing this on the Gospel passage that speaks of Jesus’ “brothers,” meaning His cousins. The Antidicomarianites, as a distinct sect that arose in the 4th century in Arabia, were refuted by Epiphanius in a letter addressed to them. Subsequently, the name was applied to all who denied Mary’s virginity, such as Helvidius and Jovinian, who in 398 were condemned by Pope Siricius, and their followers, who were opposed by St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine. This heresy resurfaced in the 16th century among many followers of the Reformation, as attested by Canisius.