Prisciliano, c. 345-385

"Prisciliano de Ávila (¿Gallaecia?, aprox. 340 - Civitas Treverorum, actual Tréveris, 385), fue un obispo hispano, ejecutado junto a otros compañeros. En la cristiandad, esta fue la primera sentencia a muerte por herejía. Prisciliano fue ejecutado por el gobierno de Magno Clemente Máximo, aunque varios obispos de Occidente con Martín de Tours a la cabeza, junto con Juan Crisóstomo en Oriente, protestaron contra tal decisión. El propio papa Siricio criticó duramente el proceso. La sentencia y la ejecución fueron criticadas por muchos, que se escandalizaron porque un hombre piadoso y entregado al culto a Dios fuera ajusticiado."

"Priscillian (died c.385) was a wealthy nobleman of Roman Hispania who promoted a strict form of Christian asceticism. He became bishop of Ávila in 380. Certain practices of his followers (such as meeting at country villas instead of attending church) were denounced at the Council of Zaragoza in 380. Tensions between Priscillian and bishops opposed to his views continued, as well as political maneuvering by both sides. Around 385, Priscillian was charged with sorcery and executed by authority of the Emperor Maximus. The ascetic movement Priscillianism is named after him, and continued in Hispania and Gaul until the late 6th century. Tractates by Priscillian and close followers, which had seemed lost, were discovered in 1885 and published in 1889."