St. Cyprian of Carthage
(INTER 200-210 - 258 AD)
Historical Note
St. Cyprian’s full name was Caecilius Cyprianus Thascius. He was born
into a wealthy pagan family in Carthage somewhere between the years 200
and 210 AD. As a young man he had a thorough education, later embarking
on a career as a rhetorician and also practiced law. In these professions he
soon assumed some prominence and became acquainted with the most
distinguished individuals of Carthage.
However, St. Cyprian was plagued by many vices and, unable to fight
them, lived a life of indulgence. About the year 245 he met the venerable
priest Caecilianus and soon after converted to Christianity (C. 246 AD). St.
Cyprian’s conversion was complete and is beautifully described in his letter
to his friend Donatus: “I indulged my sins as if they were actually part and
parcel of myself. But afterwards, when the stain of my past life had been
washed away by means of the water of re-birth, a light from above poured
itself upon my chastened and now pure heart” (Ad Donatus 4). Soon after,
St. Cyprian was ordained to the priesthood and then to the episcopate (C.
248-249 AD).
St. Cyprian was an assiduous reader of the works of Tertullian and often
referred to him as “The Teacher.” However, unlike Tertullian, St. Cyprian
was patient and well-balanced, commanding respect through his dignified
aspect, while his simplicity, charity and cordiality endeared him to all that
knew him. His numerous letters and thirteen works (dealing with
apologetics, morals or ecclesiastical discipline) reflect his calm and equable
temperament. He was a man of authority and through his personal influence
made his See the center of the whole African church (Tixeront-Raemers,
Handbook of Patrology 1943, pp. 120-121).
St. Cyprian’s episcopate lasted only nine years but it was full of events and
activity. As bishop of Carthage, St. Cyprian directed the affairs of his flock
during the persecution of the Emperor Decius (250 AD). From a prudently
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