CECILIANUS. — First archdeacon and then bishop of Carthage (311); his name is connected with the Donatist controversy, provoked by his election after the death of the incumbent of Carthage, Mensurius. A good administrator and strict in matters of discipline, he clashed with the opposition of a wealthy lady named Lucilla, whom he reproached for her superstitious devotions, and of several notables guilty of harming the Church. Against the validity of his election, these opponents raised two objections: the absence of the bishops of Numidia, as was customary, and the unworthiness of his consecrators. Having convened a synod in Carthage (312), they deposed him and elected in his place the lector Majorinus. The transmarine churches, however, remained in communion with C., recognized as the legitimate bishop by Constantine. The Roman Synod of 313, convened under Pope Miltiades to settle the dispute, ruled in favor of C. and condemned Majorinus; the Synod of Arles in 314 reached the same conclusions.
The decisions of the two councils did not calm the schismatics, who appealed to the emperor. Constantine thought to remedy the situation by condemning the Donatists but also exiling C. to Brescia and appointing a new bishop of Carthage (316). Even this measure did not bring peace; faced with Donatist opposition, the imperial commission ruled in favor of C., who was soon able to return to his see. In 325 he was present at the Council of Nicaea. He died after 340.