chosen safe haven in the hills outside Carthage he composed numerous
letters exhorting his clergy to maintain their perseverance and that of the
faithful throughout the time of trial.
St. Cyprian returned to Carthage in the spring of 251 and was immediately
confronted with the question of the Lapsi. During the persecution, many of
the faithful apostatized only to seek reconciliation after the storm had
passed. This posed a problem for St. Cyprian who did not favor their easy
reconciliation. Factionalism ensued and one priest, Novatus, broke ranks
with St. Cyprian and made his way to Rome where, ironically, he joined the
heresy of Novation who generally denied reconciliation of the lapsed
entirely. A balanced imposition of moderate penance by St. Cyprian
brought the issue of the Lapsi to a successful conclusion.
Of even greater significance was the dispute between St. Cyprian and Pope
St. Stephen I (254-256 AD) concerning the baptism of heretics. It had been
the immemorial custom of the Church in Africa to reject the baptism of
heretics as invalid and St. Cyprian maintained this attitude. Pope St.
Stephen I sharply contested this and issued severe warnings against St.
Cyprian. However, St. Cyprian refused to yield and the dispute dangerously
had the potential to erupt into open schism between Rome and Africa.
Schism was only avoided with the outbreak of another Roman persecution
initiated by the Emperor Valerian. Due to his persecutory decree, both Pope
St. Stephen I and St. Cyprian were arrested and martyred. St. Cyprian, after
a year of exile in Curubis was summoned to offer sacrifice to the gods.
Upon his refusal, he was beheaded outside Carthage on September 14, 258
AD. The records of his martyrdom are still extant and provide wonderful
reading.
Extracts
Letter to His Clergy and to All His People (250 AD):
39 (34), 3
“Lawrence and Ignatius, though they fought betimes in worldly camps, were true
and spiritual soldiers of God; and while they laid the Devil on his back with their
confession of Christ, they merited the palms and crowns of the Lord by their
illustrious passion. We always offer sacrifices for them, as you will recall, as often
as we celebrate the passions of the martyrs by commemorating their anniversary
day.”
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