The Presbyters Project

Epistula 38

Cyprianus presbyteris et diaconibus item plebi universae s[alutem].

I,1. In ordinationibus clericis, fratres carissimi, solemus uos ante consulere et mores ac merita singulorum communi consilio ponderare. Sed expectanda non sunt testimonia humana cum praecedunt diuina suffragia. [...]

Cyprian informs that he ordained a young confessor, Aurelius, a reader.

II,1. Merebatur talis clericae ordinationis ulteriores gradus et incrementa maiora, non de annis suis sed de meritis aestimandus. Sed interim placuit ut ab officio lectionis incipiat, quia et nihil magis congruit uoci quae Deum gloriosa praedicatione confessa est quam celebrandis diuinis lectionibus personare.

(ed. Diercks 1994: 183-184)

Letter 38

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, and to the whole people, greeting.

I,1. In ordinations of the clergy, beloved brethren, we usually consult you beforehand, and weigh the character and merits of individuals, with the general advice. But human testimonies must not be waited for when the divine approval precedes. [...]

Cyprian informs that he ordained a young confessor, Aurelius, a reader.

II,1. Such a one, to be estimated not by his years but by his deserts, merited higher degrees of clerical ordination and larger increase. But, in the meantime, I judged it well, that he should begin with the office of reading; because nothing is more suitable for the voice which has confessed the Lord in a glorious utterance, than to sound Him forth in the solemn repetition of the divine lessons [...].

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

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa

City

Carthage

About the source:

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

Cyprian was born probably about AD 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:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ritual activity - Ordaining

Ecclesiastical administration - Election of Church authorities

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Relation with - Lower cleric

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1242, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1242