It was Victor, with the encouragement of Irenaeus, who narrowed the diversity of belief which a Bishop of Rome would consider acceptable, by ending the long-standing custom of sending Eucharistic bread and wine which he had consecrated to a variety of Christian communities in the city – including Valentinian gnostics, Montanists and various exponents of Monarchian views on the Trinity (see pp. 145–6).64 This was in effect a punitive action; as such, it was a pioneering form of a favourite device in later centuries, excommunication – cutting off offenders from fellowship with the Christians in
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