Licinius John , a native of Namyslaw, or Namslav, in Prussian Silesia, was ordained to the ministry, and appointed Pastor of the Church of Novogrodek, in Lithuania, in the year 1593. Sandius says, that he was also Rector of the Schools of John Kiszka, Castellan of Wilna ; and it was probably the circumstance of his holding this office, which led him to compose his "Aristotelian Scheme of Doctrines," which was edited by Faust Socin, and published in 1586, under the feigned name of "Gratianus Prosper." On the 25th of January, 1594, he held a Disputation concerning the Divinity of Christ, with Martin Smiglecius, the Jesuit, at Novogrodek, an account of which, on the part of the Unitarians, was published by Joseph Domanovius ; and another, on the part of the Catholics, by Albert Zaionczkowski. When the Transylvanians, in 1601, wished for a Minister, who understood the German language, as a successor to Erasmus Johannis, the Synod of Lublin fixed upon John Licinius : but he either altogether declined accepting the appointment, or held it only for a short time, and resumed his ministerial duties at Novogrodek, where he afterwards had Michael Gittichius for a colleague. (Vide Art. 168.) He was adjudged unworthy of his office by a decree of the Synod of Novogrodek in 1615 ; and the sentence was confirmed, in the following year, by the Synod of Racow ; but for certain reasons, the execution of it was delayed for some time. There is no doubt, indeed, that he promised to amend his conduct, so that he was still retained in the ministerial office, and in the communion of the Church ; for he was present at the Synod of Racow in 1621, and mention is made of him as a Brother, in the Acts of the Synods held at that time.  

In 1624, at the Synod of Racow, he gave an account of a loss, which he had sustained from some wanton persons at Slomin ; and requested that his Postil might be restored to him. (Vide infra, No. 5.) At length, in 1630, the sentence long before pronounced against him by the visiters of the Churches in the district of Lublin, was carried into effect; and Licinius was removed from the ministerial office, as the Synodical Acts testify, for inebriety and general misconduct. In 1633, however, he was reconciled to his Church, and received back into it as a member; but the Synod resolved, that, in future, he should abstain from the discharge of his ministerial functions, lest, in the event of a lapse, greater scandal should arise. Faust Socin, in a letter to Smalcius, dated July 24th, 1599, describes Licinius as a learned man; and one, who was well skilled in theological writings, and disputations. He wrote

1. The Anatomy and Economy of a Christian Man, 1592 ; a German translation of which, as appears from the Synodical Acts, was prepared by John L. Wolzogenius.

2. A short Treatise concerning a Disputation held with the Jesuits at Wilna, 4to. This Disputation was probably that of the year 1599. 

3. Catalysis, or Dissolution: against "The Spiritual Shield" of Gregory Zarnovecius. 1598. 

4. The Aristotelian Scheme of Doctrines ; illustrated by Theological Examples, for the Use of Christian Schools, by Gratianus Prosper. Losk, 1586, 8vo. 

5. A Postil. MS.  

6. An Admonition addressed to Evangelical Ministers, for the Purpose of bringing about a Reconciliation with the Anabaptist Ministers. This, and all his other published works, except "The Aristotelian Scheme of Doctrines," which was in Latin, were written in the Polish language.