St. Cyprian of Carthage, Bishop and Martyr

St. Cyprian of Carthage, c. 200-258 A.D.

[Author's note: Carthage, great city of antiquity on the north coast of Africa, now a residential suburb of the city of Tunis, Tunisia. Built on a promontory on the Tunisian coast, it was placed to influence and control ships passing between Sicily and the North African coast as they traversed the Mediterranean Sea. (Britannica.com)]

A convert to Christianity in his middle age

St. Cyprian was originally known as Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus. Professionally a teacher, orator and lawyer, he became a Christian when he was in his middle aged years. As he converted to the Christian faith, he studied comprehensively the Scriptures and the works of religious writers like Tertullian. He strongly advocated Christianity through his writing talents and soon became a priest. In 248 A.D., he was named bishop of Carthage.

St. Cyprian against Novatus

As bishop of Carthage, St. Cyprian had to contend with the schismatic Novatus [who did not want Cyprian to be named as bishop of Carthage]. Novatus caused a schism because he accepted all apostates, known at the time as lapsi, with no requirement of penance. St. Cyprian denounced Novatus for this undue leniency and convened a council at Carthage in 251 A.D. to set forth the terms under which the apostates or lapsi, should be received back in the Church. In retaliation, Novatus went to Rome and joined the antipope, Novatian. St. Cyprian however asserted the supremacy of Pope [St.] Cornelius and actively supported him by rallying the African bishops on the side of Pope Cornelius. There thus were two schisms at the time: St. Cyprian against Novatus, and St. Cornelius [Pope] against the antipope Novatian.

A terrible plague in Carthage and St. Cyprian's martyrdom

In the years 252-254 A.D., Carthage was stricken with a terrible plague. Under the leadership of St. Cyprian, people all around Carthage cared for those smitten with the plague - including among enemies and persecutors. Wealthy people gave money for the care of the plague victims, while others of simple means gave much of their time.

Despite the success of St. Cyprian's leadership in alleviating the effects of the plague, the Christians were still blamed for the plague and hatred against St. Cyprian and the Christians started to build up again. St. Cyprian was arrested amidst all these schisms, trouble, turmoil, and persecutions, and was exiled to Curubis, which was 50 miles away from Carthage. In the following year after his exile, a decree came out sentencing Christian clergy to death. In his trial, St. Cyprian persisted in his Christian faith and refused to honor and sacrifice to the Roman gods. He was thus beheaded on September 14.

St. Cyprian's teaching on unity

Known for his writing talents, St. Cyprian wrote numerous theological treatises on the Church. The late pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, asked the faithful to place particular attention to St. Cyprian's teaching on Church unity. He mentions that according to St. Cyprian, the unity in the Church has its foundation in St. Peter and its perfect fulfillment in the Eucharist. Since the Church during St. Cyprian's time was filled with schisms and divisive elements, the bishop-martyr and saint "strongly affirm that the Church is one, [and] founded on Peter".

Related resources:

• "A History of the Church" by Franzen and Dolan
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• St. Polycarp, Martyr of the Early Centuries
• The Martyrs of the Early Christian Centuries