Wikipedia
Pelagius (circa 360 – 418) was a British-born ascetic moralist, who became well known throughout ancient Rome. He opposed the idea of predestination and asserted a strong version of the doctrine of free will. He was accused by Augustine of Hippo and others of denying the need for divine aid in performing good works. They understood him to have said that the only grace necessary was the declaration of the law; humans were not wounded by Adam's sin and were perfectly able to fulfill the law without divine aid. Pelagius denied Augustine's theory of original sin. His adherents cited Deuteronomy 24:16 in support of their position. Pelagius was declared a heretic by the Council of Carthage. His interpretation of a doctrine of free will became known as Pelagianism.
He was well educated, fluent in both Greek and Latin, and learned in theology. He spent time as an ascetic, focusing on practical asceticism. He was well known in Rome, both for the harsh asceticism of his public life and the power and persuasiveness of his speech. His reputation earned him praise early in his career even from such pillars of the Church as Augustine, who referred to him as a "saintly man". However, he was later accused of lying about his own teachings to avoid public condemnation. Most of his later life was spent defending his doctrine against Christian theologians who held that Pelagius was spreading novelties in the Faith unknown to the apostolic tradition.
Due to some calling him a heretic, little of his work has come down to the present day except in the quotes of his opponents. However, more recently, some have defended Pelagius as a misunderstood orthodox:
Pelagius (c. 360 to 435), a British monk - his name became associated with the doctrine of Pelagianism.
The name Pelagius can also refer to:
- Pope Pelagius I, pope 556 to 561
- Pope Pelagius II, pope 579 to 590
- Saint Pelagius of Cordova, Galician Christian child-martyr
- Saint Pelagius of Laodicea
- Saint Pelagius of Constance - child martyr
- Pelagius of Asturias, first king of Asturias
- Pelagius of Oviedo, medieval bishop
- Alvarus Pelagius, a Franciscan canonist
Pelagius of Lugo (985-1000) was a medieval Galician clergyman.