a priest of Carthage, in the third century, who, to avoid being punished for a crime, joined with the deacon, named Felicitinus, against St Cyprian. He went to Rome in 251; and there found Novatian, a priest who had acquired great reputation by his eloquence; but who murmured at his not being raised to the see of Rome in preference to pope Cornelius. Novatus contracted a friendship with him; and afterwards, it is said, getting three ignorant bishops, made them drunk, and then obliged them to ordain Novatian bishop of Rome. This irregular ordination produced a very great schism; both Novatus and Novatian maintained, that the church had not the power to receive those to communion who were fallen into idolatry. There are attributed to Novatian, the treatise on the Trinity, and the book on Jewish meats, which are among Tertullian's works; and it was he, and not Novatus, who gave his name to the sect called Novatians.