stephan huller

All these names are significant. Just as Novatus is said to have been 'alive' in the third century, he seems something like a heretical boogeyman. So too 'Donatus' of the Donatist schism. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article:

The ten Donatist bishops (for we may now give the party its eventual name) were headed by a Bishop Donatus of Casae Nigrae. It was assumed by Optatus, Augustine, and the other Catholic apologists that this was "Donatus the Great", the successor of Majorinus as schismatic Bishop of Carthage. But the Donatists of St. Augustine's time were anxious to deny this, as they did not wish to admit that their protagonist had been condemned, and the Catholics at the conference of 411 granted them the existence of a Donatus, Bishop of Casae Nigrae, who had distinguished himself by active hostility to Caecilian. Modern authorities agree in accepting this view. But it seems inconceivable that, if Majorinus was still alive, he should not have been obliged to go to Rome. It would be very strange, further, that a Donatus of Casae Nigrae should appear as the leader of the party, without any explanation, unless Casae Nigrae was simply the birthplace of Donatus the Great. If we assume that Majorinus had died and had been succeeded by Donatus the Great just before the trial at Rome, we shall understand why Majorinus is never again mentioned. The accusations against Caecilian in the memorial were disregarded, as being anonymous and unproved. The witnesses brought from Africa acknowledged that they had nothing against him. Donatus, on the other hand, was convicted by his own confession of having rebaptized and of having laid his hands in penance on bishops — this was forbidden by ecclesiastical law.

Donatus and Novatus go back to ancient names of the two churches in Rome associated with Peter and Paul who are buried not insignificantly in two different places in Rom even though legend says they died at the same time and celebrated the same feast day in some circles.

stephan huller

Both novatus and donatus are common words in Latin. Novatus = 'renewed' donatus = given. I can't help but think these words are descriptions of the respective churches.

sotto voce

That's a fatuous concept. A bishop, or elder, was of exactly the same status as any anonymous synagogue elder, one of many, per synagogue. The claim of the Vatican is buffoonery, and indeed criminal, due to the consequent material claims made.

stephan huller

crazy

sotto voce

Fact is stranger than fiction.

Huon

Timo-theos, Timothy, means "the one who honors God", in greek.
There is a latin verb, timeo - timere, which means "to fear".
For latin-speaking people, Timo-theos means "the one who fears God".
Of course, a god-fearing person honors God.