Cyprian of Carthage · Sophia Scriptura

Cyprian was a wealthy teacher of rhetoric at Carthage who became a Christian in middle life and, within a few years, bishop of the city. He led the African church through the Decian persecution and the disputes that followed over the readmission of those who had lapsed, and over the baptism of heretics. His letters and treatises, especially On the Unity of the Catholic Church, shaped Latin thinking about the church and its bishops. He was beheaded in 258.

Dates: ca. 200 – 258 (approximate)
See or city: Carthage
Region: Africa Proconsularis (North Africa)
Also known as: Cyprian; Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus; Caecilius Cyprianus; Saint Cyprian
Notes: The Life by his deacon Pontius and the Proconsular Acts record his execution at Carthage on 14 September 258, under Valerian. He was converted as an adult (ca. 246) and became bishop of Carthage about 248/249.

Works

To DonatusAd Donatum · ca. 246 · CPL 38 (unverified)
On the Unity of the Catholic ChurchDe catholicae ecclesiae unitate · 251 · CPL 41 (unverified)
On the LapsedDe lapsis · 251 · CPL 42 (unverified)
On the Lord's PrayerDe dominica oratione · ca. 252 · CPL 43 (unverified)
On the Dress of VirginsDe habitu virginum · ca. 249 · translation in progress
That Idols Are Not GodsQuod idola dii non sint · ca. 246–250, if by Cyprian · translation in progress
To Quirinus: Three Books of TestimoniesAd Quirinum (Testimoniorum libri tres) · ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) · translation in progress
On MortalityDe mortalitate · 252–253 · translation in progress
To DemetrianAd Demetrianum · 252–253 · translation in progress
On Works and AlmsgivingDe opere et eleemosynis · ca. 253 · translation in progress
On the Good of PatienceDe bono patientiae · 256 · translation in progress
On Jealousy and EnvyDe zelo et livore · ca. 256 · translation in progress
To Fortunatus: Exhortation to MartyrdomAd Fortunatum (De exhortatione martyrii) · 253 or 257 · translation in progress
The Opinions of the Eighty-Seven Bishops (Council of Carthage, 256)Sententiae episcoporum numero LXXXVII de haereticis baptizandis · 1 September 256 · translation in progress
LettersEpistulae · 249/250–258 · translation in progress