Abstract

In this paper I analyse the way in which Firmilian, the bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, in his letter to Cyprian of Carthage, presents and stigmatises a prophetess and her prophetic activity according to the typical polemical arguments used against false prophets, in order to undermine her charismatic nature and delegitimise her sacramental function. Moreover, I observe how, in the bishop’s argumentation, the case of this prophetess becomes functional in motivating, through the representation of a “scandalousµ episode, Firmilian’s clear stand against the validity of the sacraments (in particular, baptism) administered by heretics