  We present the serendipitous discovery of a low luminosity nova occurring in
a symbiotic binary star system in the Milky Way. We lay out the extensive
archival data alongside new follow-up observations related to the stellar
object V$^*$ CN Cha in the constellation of Chamaeleon. The object had long
period ($\sim\! 250\,$day), high amplitude ($\sim\! 3\,$mag) optical
variability in its recent past, preceding an increase in optical brightness by
$\sim\! 8\,$magnitudes and a persistence at this luminosity for about 3 years,
followed by a period of $\sim\! 1.4\,{\rm mag}\,{\rm yr}^{-1}$ dimming. The
object's current optical luminosity seems to be dominated by H$\alpha$
emission, which also exhibits blue-shifted absorption (a P-Cygni-like profile).
After consideration of a number of theories to explain these myriad
observations, we determine that V$^*$ CN Cha is most likely a symbiotic (an
evolved star-white dwarf binary) system which has undergone a long-duration,
low luminosity, nova. Interpreted in this way, the outburst in V$^*$ CN Cha is
among the lowest luminosity novae ever observed.
