Maximilla

Not to be confused with the 4th-century Roman empress Valeria Maximilla or the 11th-century Maximilla of Sicily, daughter of Roger I.

Maximilla (Greek: Μαξιμίλλα) was a prophetess and an early advocate of Montanism, a heretical Christian sect founded in the third century A.D. by Montanus. Some scholars believe that Maximilla and Priscilla, another prophet, were actually the co-founders of Montanism.[1] Other scholars dismiss this as unproven.[2] Either way, it is generally agreed upon that Maximilla and Priscilla provided the primary prophetic content and some of the oracles for the movement.[3]

According to the anti-Montanist polemic written by an anonymous author and preserved in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Maximilla and Priscilla were pawns of the devil who spoke and acted in “a frenzied manner.”[3] According to their followers, Maximilla and Priscilla were prophetesses like early Christian prophetesses.[3]

While Maximilla was claiming to prophesy in Pepuza, Zoticus of Comana became resistant to her teachings and tried to refute what she said. However, he was stopped by her followers and fellow Montanists. Apollinarius of Hierapolis also claimed that a bishop named Julian of Apimea rebuked her.[4]

  1. ^ Jensen, Anne (1992). Gottes selbstbewußte Töchter : Frauenemanzipation im frühen Christentum?. Freiburg [u.a.]: Herder. ISBN 3-451-22597-2.
  2. ^ Trevett, Christine (1996). Montanism : gender, authority, and the new prophecy (1st paperback ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-41182-3.
  3. ^ a b c Tabbernee, William (1997). Montanist inscriptions and testimonia : epigraphic sources illustrating the history of montanism (1st ed.). Macon, Ga.: Mercer Univ. Press. ISBN 0-86554-521-9.
  4. ^ Eusebius. Church History. Viewable at: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm