April 7: Montanus

Montanism was an early-Christian splinter movement originating in the middle of the second century. Montanus, traveling with two prophetesses, preached against marriage - since, he said, God was about to lower a city from the sky into the region of Asia Minor known as Phrygia. This city would be known as New Jerusalem, and become the center of a Christian new world order.

Though defended in some of his teachings by key church father Tertullian, Montanus was condemned as heretical in the year 177 by a synod presided over by the Bishop of Hierapolis. Though small, his movement persisted perhaps until the 6th century.