Parmenian

[note 1][3] About this time, if not earlier, he published a work in five parts defending Donatism (Adversus ecclesiam traditorum), to which the treatise of Optatus is a reply.

[2]) In about 372, Ticonius, a lay exegete, wrote a book to condemn the more extreme views of Parmenian, but without abandoning his allegiance to the Donatist party.

[3] Even if Parmenian proved more extreme than Ticonius, he can be considered a relatively moderate Donatist for the reason that he did not require the rebaptism of all converts, but only those who had received their first baptism as Catholics.

These were presented in the form of allegorical symbols, derived from the Song of Songs: the cathedra ("chair," representing authority); the angelus ("angel," representing validly consecrated bishop); the spiritus (the Holy Spirit); the fountain (that is, of true baptism); the seal of the fountain (which precludes communion with any other church); and the umbilicus (the "navel," that is the focal point, a properly consecrated altar for sacrifice).

[4] James Alexander considers this imagery a development of the theologies of Tertullian and Cyprian, of which Parmenian "emerges as the conserver... [and] Optatus, by contrast, as the innovator.

"[5] W. H. C. Frend argues that Parmenian was a capable and formidable bishop of his see, even if his influence and reputation eventually ceased to be recognized with the end of the Donatist schism.

The break, which occurred after Parmenian's death, split the community into groups of "Parmenianites" and "Maximianites," which "fought tooth and claw and persecuted each other.