Cyprian of Carthage

Highlights

Main contribution

Bishop of Carthage from 248/9; led the African church through the Decian and Valerianic persecutions.

Event connection

Novatian schism in Rome (251)

Best first read

On the Unity of the Catholic Church

Primary source

Pontius, Vita Cypriani

Works

• On the Unity of the Catholic Churchc. 251

  Classic argument for episcopal unity during the Decian persecution.

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• Lettersc. 253

  Eighty-one letters documenting persecution, schism, and the lapsed controversy.

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• On the Lord's Prayerc. 251

  Earliest substantial Latin commentary on the Our Father; framed as catechetical instruction.

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• On the Lapsedc. 251

  On Christians who had compromised under the Decian persecution; argued for measured readmission.

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Sources for biography

• Pontius, Vita Cypriani primary
• Cyprian, Epistulae primary
• Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 67 primary

documented connections(3)

• opposed Pope Stephen I
  Cyprian and the African bishops insisted on rebaptising those baptised by heretics; Stephen I forbade the practice. The dispute remained unresolved at their deaths.
  Cyprian, Ep. 71-75 · Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.3-5
• corresponded Pope Cornelius
  Cyprian and Cornelius exchanged numerous letters, especially over the lapsed and the Novatianist schism.
  Cyprian, Ep. 44-55
• opposed Novatian
  Cyprian sided with Cornelius against the rigorist Novatian and refused communion with the Novatianist party.
  Cyprian, Ep. 44, 55 · Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 6.43-45

tradition connections(1)

• cited Tertullian
  Jerome (late 4th c., De Vir. Ill. 53) reports that Cyprian read Tertullian daily, asking 'Da magistrum'. Cyprian himself never names Tertullian; the link is Jerome's anecdote 130+ years later.
  Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 53

External resources