ACTS OF S. CYPRIAN

(September 14, A.D. 258)

I. 1. During the consulship of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, Valerian being consul for the fourth and Gallienus for the third time, on August 30 at Carthage in his private room Paternus the proconsul said to Cyprian the bishop: “The most sacred Emperors Valerian and Gallienus have thought fit to send me a letter, in which they have commanded that those who do not observe the Roman religion must recognize the Roman rites. I have therefore made inquiries concerning yourself. What answer have you to give me?”

2. Cyprian the bishop said: “I am Christian and a bishop. I know no other God but the One True God, who "made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is". This God we Christians serve, to Him we pray day and night for ourselves, and for all men, and for the safety of the Emperors themselves.”

3. The proconsul Paternus said: “Is your will constant in this?”

Cyprian the bishop answered: “A good will, which knows God, cannot be altered”.

4. The proconsul Paternus said: “Can you then in accordance with the order of Valerius and Gallienus go into exile to the city of Curubis?”

Cyprian the bishop said: “I will go”.

5. The proconsul Paternus said: “They have sought fit to write to me not about bishops only, but also priests. I would know therefore from you who the priests are, who reside in this city”.

Cyprian the bishop answered: “It is an excellent and beneficial provision of your laws that informers are forbidden. They cannot therefore be revealed and reported by me. They will be found in their own cities.”

6. The proconsul Paternus said: “I will seek them out here to-day.”

Cyprian the bishop said: “Since our discipline forbids any one to offer himself unsought, and this is also at variance with your principles, they cannot offer themselves any more than I can report them; but if sought out by you they will be found.”

6. The proconsul Paternus said: “They shall be found by me.” And added: “The emperors have also given intructions that in no place shall meetings be held, nor shall any enter the cemeteries. If therefore any fail to observe these beneficial instructions, he shall suffer death.”

Cyprian the bishop answered: “Do as you are instructed.”

II. 1. Then the proconsul Paternus ordered the blessed Cyprian to be banished. And as he stayed long time in exile, the proconsul Aspasius Paternus was succeeded in the proconsulship by Galerius Maximus, who ordered the holy bishop Cyprian to be recalled from banishment and brought before him.

2. When Cyprian, the holy martyr chosen by God had returned from the city Curubis, which had been assigned as his place of banishment by command of Aspasius then proconsul, by divine command he remained in his own gardens, whence he daily expected to be summoned, as had been shown him. 3. While he still lingered in that place, suddenly on September 13 in the consulship of Tucus and Bassus there came to him two high officials, one an equerry of the staff of the proconsul Galerius Maximus, and the other a member of the same staff, an equerry of the bodyguard. These listed him into a carriage, placed him between them, and conveyed him to the house of Sextus, whither the proconsul Galerius Maximus had retired to recover his health.

5. And so the same Galerius Maximus the proconsul ordered Cyprian to be remanded till the morrow. For the time being blessed Cyprian withdrew under guard to the house of a high official, equerry on the same staff of the illustious Galerius Maximus the proconsul, and remained with him at his house in the street which is called Saturn's between the temple of Venus and the temple of Public Welfare. There the whole congregation of the brethren gathered: when this came to holy Cyprian's knowledge he gave order that charge should be kept of the young women, for all had remained in the street before the door of the official's house.

III. 1. On the morrow, being September 14, a great crowd gathered in the morning to the house of Sextus in accordance with the command of Galerius Maximus the proconsul.

2. And so the same Galerius Maximus the proconsul ordered that Cyprian the bishop should be brought before him on the morow where he sat in the Hall Sauciolum.

3. When he had been brought before him, Galerius Maximus the proconsul said to Cyprian the bishop: “Are you Thascius Cyprianus?” Cyprian the bishop answered: “I am.”

4. Galerius Maximus the proconsul said: “Have you taken on yourself to be Pope of persons holding sacrilegious opinions?” Cyprian the bishop answered: “Yes.”

5. Galerius Maximus the proconsul said: “The most sacred Emperors have commanded you to perform the rite.” Cyprian the bishop answered: “I refuse.”

6. Galerius Maximus the proconsul said: “Consider your own interest.” Cyprian the bishop answered: “Do as you are bid. In so clear a case there is no need for consideration.”

IV 1. Galerius Maximus having conferred with the council gave sentence hardly and reluctantly in these terms: “You have long lived in the holding of sacrilegious opinions, and have joined yourself with very many members of an abominable conspiracy, and have set yourself up as an enemy of the gods of Rome and religious ordinances, nor have the pious and most sacred Emperors Valerian And Gallienus, the Augusti, and Valerian, the most noble Caesar, been able to recall you to observance of their rites.

2. And therefore since you have been convicted as the contriver and standard-bearer in most atrocious crimes, you shall be an example to those whom by your wickedness you have joined with you: discipline shall be vindicated in your blood.” 3. With these words he read from his tables the sentence: “It is our pleasure that Thascius Cyprianus should be executed by the sword.” Cyprian the bishop said: “Thanks be to God!”

V. 1. After his sentence the crowd of brethren cried: “Let us also be beheaded with him.”

Hence arose up an uproar among the brethren, and a great crowd accompanied him.

2. So the same Crprian was led forth on to the land of Sextus, and there he divested himself of

his mantle, and kneeled upon the ground, and bowed in prayer to the Lord.

3. And when he had divested himself of his dalmatic and handed it to the deacons, he stood

inclad in his linen garment, and prepared to await the executioner.

4. When the executioner arrived he charged his friend that they should give to the same executioner twenty-five golden pieces. Napkins and handkerchiefs were strewn before him by the brethren.

5. Thereafter blessed Cyprian bounded his eyes with his own hand, but, as he could not fasten the ends of the handkerchief for himself, the priest Julianus and Julianus the sub-deacon fastened them for him.

6. So the blessed Cyprian suffered, and his body was laid out hard by to content the curiosity of the heathen. Thence it was removed by night, and acompanied by tapers an torches, was conducted with prayers in great triumph to the burial-ground of Macrobius Candidianus the procurator, which lies on the Mappalian way near the fishponds. A few days later Galerius Maximus the proconsul died.

VI. 1. The most blessed martyr Cyprian suffered on the 14th day of September under the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belong honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.