Roman Letters

Cyprian of Carthage

bishop
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) was bishop of Carthage during one of the most turbulent periods in early Christian history — the Decian persecution of 250–251, which forced Christians across the Roman Empire to choose between sacrifice to the Roman gods and death. Cyprian himself went into hiding during the persecution, a decision that was controversial at the time but allowed him to continue leading his church through a crisis that threatened to tear it apart. He was eventually martyred under the emperor Valerian in 258. His letters — over 80 survive — are primarily concerned with the agonizing question of what to do with Christians who had lapsed during the persecution: those who had sacrificed to the gods, bought false certificates, or otherwise compromised their faith. The debate over readmission split the church in both Carthage and Rome, and Cyprian's letters chart the factional warfare in vivid detail. He writes to his clergy, to the confessors and martyrs in prison, to Pope Cornelius in Rome, and to the Novatianist schismatics who wanted to exclude the lapsed permanently. Cyprian's letters are historically invaluable because they document the early church under extreme pressure — not the idealized community of Acts, but a real institution with factions, power struggles, and impossible moral dilemmas. His voice is authoritative and pastoral, that of a leader trying to hold a community together when the questions have no easy answers. His letters also shaped the development of ecclesiology: his arguments about church unity, the authority of bishops, and the limits of forgiveness influenced Christian thought for centuries.
79
Letters sent
3
Letters received
82
Total letters
10
Correspondents

Top correspondents

Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordination9Cyprian8Presbyters7Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatian3People, Concerning Five Schismatic Presbyters of Faction of Felicissimus2Lucian2Caldonius2Moyses and Maximus, and Rest of Confessors2Martyrs and Confessors2Stephen, Abbot2

All letters (82)

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To Donatusc. 248

You're right to remind me, my dear Donatus — I not only remember my promise, I'll admit this is the perfect time to...

cyprian carthage #1→
To Presbytersc. 248

While news of our colleague's fate was still reaching us in fragments, dear brothers, and I was uncertain what to...

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To Presbytersc. 248

Being safe by God's grace, dear brothers, I greet you and rejoice to hear that all is well with you too.

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To Presbytersc. 248

I had wished, dear brothers, to greet my entire clergy safe and sound with this letter.

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To Rogatianus Presbyter, and Other Confessors. A.D. 250c. 248

I wrote to you before, my dearest and bravest brothers, congratulating your faith and courage.

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To Martyrs and Confessorsc. 248

I rejoice and give thanks, most brave and blessed brothers, at hearing of your faith and courage — in which the...

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To Martyrs and Confessorsc. 249

My brave and beloved brothers — the anxiety of my situation and the fear of the Lord compel me to speak plainly with...

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To Presbytersc. 249

Having learned, dear brothers, that my actions have been reported to you in a somewhat garbled and untruthful...

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To Moyses and Maximus, and Rest of Confessorsc. 249

Our brother Celerinus — a companion of your faith and courage, a soldier of God proven in glorious combat — has come...

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To Cyprianc. 249

The confessors to Father Cyprian, greetings.

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To Presbytersc. 249

The Lord says: "On whom shall I look, but on the one who is humble and quiet, and who trembles at my words?

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From Caldoniusc. 250

Caldonius to Cyprian and his fellow presbyters in Carthage, greetings.

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To Caldoniusc. 250

We received your letter, beloved brother, and found it full of good sense, honesty, and faith.

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To Lucianc. 250

Writing this letter to you, my lord and brother, I am torn between joy and sorrow.

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To Celerinusc. 250

I received your letter, dearest lord and brother, and it so overwhelmed me with your kindness that I was nearly...

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To Lucianc. 250

After the letters I wrote to you earlier, beloved brothers — explaining my actions and giving some account of my...

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To Moyses and Maximus, and Rest of Confessorsc. 250

Cyprian to Moyses and Maximus, the presbyters, and to the other confessors, his very dear brothers, greetings.

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To Cyprianc. 250

To Caecilius Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage — from Moyses and Maximus, presbyters, and Nicostratus and Rufinus,...

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To Anonymous Lapsed Monkc. 251

Our Lord, whose commands and teachings we are bound to follow, describes the authority of the bishop and the...

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To Presbytersc. 251

You have acted rightly and with proper discipline, beloved brothers.

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To Presbytersc. 251

Both our shared affection and the matter itself demand, beloved brothers, that I keep nothing from you — so that we...

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To Cyprianc. 251

The presbyters and deacons in Rome to Father Cyprian, greetings.

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To Cyprianc. 251

The presbyters and deacons in Rome to Father Cyprian, greetings.

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To Caldonius, Herculanus, and Others, About Excommunication of Felicissimusc. 252

I have been deeply grieved, dearest brothers, by your letter — though I have always hoped and worked to keep our...

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To People, Concerning Five Schismatic Presbyters of Faction of Felicissimusc. 252

As I told the clergy, so I now tell you, the people: Felicissimus must be avoided, together with the five presbyters...

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 252

Novatian's messengers arrived here, dear brother — Maximus the presbyter, Augendus the deacon, and two others,...

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 252

As is fitting for servants of God and for faithful and peaceable priests, dear brother, we recently sent our...

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To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatianc. 253

I have thought it both a duty on my part and a necessity for you, dear brother, to write a short letter to the...

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To Romanianusc. 253

Cyprian to Maximus, Nicostratus, and the other confessors, greetings.

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 253

I have read the letter you sent by the presbyter Primitivus, dear brother, and I noticed that you were troubled by...

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From Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 253

The anxiety and grief we carried for those confessors — circumvented and nearly deceived into separation from the...

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 253

I will say openly that I have given and continue to give the greatest thanks — without ceasing — to God the Father...

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From Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 253

So that nothing might be lacking to the eventual punishment of this wretched man — cast down by the power of God,...

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 253

You acted with both care and love, dear brother, in sending us Nicephorus the acolyte in such haste.

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To Cyprianc. 253

Maximus, Urbanus, Sidonius, and Macarius to their brother Cyprian, greetings.

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To Confessors, Congratulating Them on Their Return from Schismc. 254

Cyprian to Maximus the presbyter, and to Urbanus, Sidonius, and Macarius, his brothers, greetings.

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To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatianc. 254

I received your first letters, dearest brother, in which you held firmly to the unity of the bishops and adhered to...

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To Fortunatusc. 254

Cyprian to Fortunatus, Ahymnus, Optatus, Privatianus, Donatulus, and Felix, his brothers, greetings.

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 254

From Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, Nicomedes, Caecilius, Junius, Marrutius, Felix, Successus, Faustinus,...

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To Cornelius, on Refusal to Receive Novatian's Ordinationc. 254

I read your letter, dearest brother — full of fraternal love, church discipline, and a bishop's rightful severity.

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To People, Concerning Five Schismatic Presbyters of Faction of Felicissimusc. 254

I had hoped, beloved brothers and sisters — and earnestly prayed — that circumstances would allow me to come to you...

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To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatianc. 254

We have heard the news, dearest brother, of the glorious testimony of your faith and courage, and we received the...

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To Lucius of Rome, Returned from Banishmentc. 254

Cyprian, with his colleagues, to his brother Lucius, greetings.

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To Fidus, on Baptism of Infantsc. 255

Cyprian, and the other colleagues present in council — sixty-six in number — to our brother Fidus, greetings.

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To Honoratus, of Salonac. 255

Cyprian to Januarius, Maximus, Proculus, Victor, Modianus, Nemesianus, Nampulus, and Honoratus, his brothers, greetings.

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To Carthagec. 255

Our mutual affection and your respect for me have prompted you to consult me, dearest brother, about a certain actor...

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To Pomponius, Concerning Some Virginsc. 255

Cyprian, Caecilius, Victor, Sedatus, Tertullus, and the presbyters present with them, to our brother Pomponius,...

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To Caeciliusc. 255

I know, dearest brother, that a great many bishops throughout the world faithfully maintain the Gospel truth and the...

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To Congregation of Assurae, Concerning Fortunatianus, Formerly Theirc. 255

I was seriously disturbed, dearest brothers and sisters, to learn that Fortunatianus — formerly your bishop, who...

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To Rogatianus, Concerning Who Contended Againstc. 255

My colleagues and I were deeply distressed, dearest brother, when we read your letter complaining about your deacon.

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To Stephen, Abbotc. 256

Faustinus, our colleague in Lyons, has written to me more than once, dearest brother — and I know he has written to...

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To Florentiusc. 256

Cyprian — also known as Thascius — to Florentius, also known as Pupianus, his brother, greetings.

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To Januariusc. 256

From Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, Junius, Primus, Caecilius, Polycarp, Nicomedes, Felix, Marrutius, Successus,...

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To Quintus, Concerning Baptism of Hereticsc. 256

Our co-presbyter Lucian has reported to me, dearest brother, that you have asked for my opinion on those who appear...

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To Stephen, Abbotc. 256

Cyprian and his colleagues to their brother Stephen, greetings.

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To Jubaianus, Concerning Baptism of Hereticsc. 256

You wrote to me, dearest brother, asking my view on the baptism of heretics — those who stand outside the Church and...

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To Pompey, Against Epistle of Stephen About Baptism of Hereticsc. 256

Although I have laid out the case concerning the baptism of heretics fully enough in the letters I sent you copies...

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To Cyprianc. 257

We received through our beloved deacon Rogatian the letter you sent us, dearest brother, and we gave the greatest...

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To Magnus, on Baptizing Novatians, and Those Who Obtain Grace on a Sick-Bedc. 257

With your characteristic care and devotion, dearest son, you have consulted me about whether those who come from...

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To Nemesianus and Other Martyrs in Minesc. 257

Cyprian to Nemesianus, Felix, Lucius, Felix, Litteus, Polianus, Victor, Jader, and Dativus, his fellow bishops, and...

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To Cyprianc. 257

To Cyprian, our brother and colleague — Lucius, and all the brothers who are with me, greetings in the Lord.

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To Cyprianc. 257

To our dearest and best-beloved Cyprian — Felix, Jader, and Polianus, together with the presbyters and all who are...

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To Sergius, Rogatianus, and Other Confessors in Prisonc. 257

Cyprian to Sergius and Rogatianus, and to the rest of the confessors in the Lord — everlasting health.

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To Successus on Tidings Brought from Rome, Telling of Persecutionc. 257

The reason I could not write you immediately, dearest brother, was that all the clergy, being in the very heat of...

cyprian carthage #81