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Apostolic & Patristic · Saint
St Cyprian of Carthage
Bishop of Carthage
Church FatherMartyr
c. 200 – 258
c. 247
Ordained
249
Consecrated Bishop
Carthage
Diocese
Tunisia
Country
The Life
St Cyprian was a wealthy, classically educated Carthaginian who converted around 246 and was elected Bishop of Carthage in 249. He led the African Church through the Decian persecution and the controversies over the lapsed and heretical baptism.
A prolific writer, his treatises and letters shaped Latin ecclesiology, above all on the unity of the Church. He was beheaded at Carthage in 258, the first African bishop to be martyred.
Notable Actions
- Wrote 'De Unitate Ecclesiae' (On the Unity of the Catholic Church)
- Wrote 'De Lapsis' on the treatment of those who fell under persecution
- Presided over African councils on penance and rebaptism; clashed with Pope Stephen I
- Left 81 letters, a key source for 3rd-century Church life
- Martyred by beheading at Carthage under Valerian, 14 September 258
He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.
On the Unity of the Catholic Church, ch. 6Portrait: The original uploader was Bwag at German Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons