apostata

The term apostata , derived from the Greek ἀποστάτης, is a noun that began to be used only in Late Antiquity to refer to those who renounced the faith. From Tertullian to Augustine, passing through Cyprian, the concept could include Satan, fallen angels, heretics, and believers who abandon God, with varying possibilities for repentance. The entry explores the evolution of this notion, which is connected to numerous religious controversies of Late Antiquity.