Abstract: The main outlines of the teaching of Jovinian can be reconstructed from the reports of Siricius, Ambrose, and Jerome. Condemned at Rome and Milan in spring of 393, Jovinian acquired a considerable following by denying that celibate Christians were, ipso facto, superior to married Christians. He also appears to have accused his opponents of heresy, especially ‘Manichaeism’. For example, he charged that Ambrose was guilty of heresy for teaching that Mary the mother of Jesus remained physically intact in the process of giving birth (virginitas in partu). Jovinian stressed the power of baptism to overcome evil and to guarantee salvation for all Christians.

Keywords: heresy, virginity, marriage, baptism, Manichaeism,