The Presbyters Project

Epistula 27

Cyprianus presbyteris et diaconibus Romae consistentibvs fratribus s[alutem].

Cyprian relates to the presbyters and deacons of Rome how the lapsed in Carthage are demanding reconciliation and some martyrs are granting it to them.

(ed. Diercks 1994: 127-132)

Letter 27

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons abiding at Rome, his brethren, greeting.

Cyprian relates to the presbyters and deacons of Rome how the lapsed in Carthage are demanding reconciliation and some martyrs are granting it to them.

(trans. R.E. Wallis, https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf05.iv.iv.xxii.html)

Discussion:

The letter was answered by Letter 30 in the epistolary of Cyprian [1236].

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa
Rome

City

Carthage
Rome

About the source:

Author: Cyprian
Title: Letters, Epistulae, Epistolae
Origin: Carthage (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Cyprian was born probably about 200. He converted to Christianity in about 245 and in 248 was elected Bishop of Carthage. Soon after, the Decian persecution began (in 249/250) and Cyprian went into hiding. In 251 he returned to the city. Under Valerian, he was exiled in 257 and executed in 258. The epistolary of Cyprian consists of 81 letters (16 of them by his correspondents, and 6 synodal or collective), the majority of them are from the period of 250-251, when they were the means of Cyprian`s communication with his clergy. They offer us a wide view on the organization of the Church in Carthage in the middle of the third century, her relation with the Church of Rome, on the development of the persecutions, and on the conflicts that they caused inside the Church.

Different numerations of Cyprian's letters exist, I follow the edition of Diercks in Corpus Christianorum.

Edition:

G.F. Diercks ed., Sancti Cypriani Episcopi Epistularium. Epistulae 1-57, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 3B, Turnhout 1994.

Bibliography:

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Ecclesiastical administration

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1233, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1233