Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 1106
Cyprian writes to the clergy sent to the mines during the Valerian persecutions; he says that their sufferings are as deserving a sacrifice as is the Eucharist. Cyprian, Letter 76, AD 257.
Epistula 76
 
Cyprianus Nemesiano, Felici, Lucio, alteri Felici, Litteo, Poliano, Victori, Iaderi, Dativo coepiscopis, item compresbyteris et diaconibus et ceteribus fratribus in metallo constitutis martyribus Dei Patris omnipotentis et Iesu Christi Domini nostri et Dei conservatoris nostri aeternam s[alutem].
 
III,1. Sed nec in illo, fratres dilectissimi, aliqua potest aut religionis aut fidei iactura sentiri, quod illic nunc sacerdotibus Dei facultas non datur offerendi et celebrandi sacrificia diuina. Celebratis immo atque offertis sacrificium Deo et pretiosum pariter et gloriosum et plurimum uobis ad retributionem praemiorum caelestium profuturum [...].
 
(ed. Diercks 1996: 604. 611)
 
 
Letter 76
 
Cyprian to Nemesianus, Felix, Lucius, another Felix, Litteus, Polianus, Victor, Jader, and Dativus, his fellow-bishops, also to his fellow-presbyters and deacons, and the rest of the brethren in the mines, martyrs of God the Father Almighty, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, and of God our preserver, everlasting greeting.
 
III,1. But there cannot be felt any loss of either religion or faith, most beloved brethren, in the fact that now there is given no opportunity there to God’s priests for offering and celebrating the divine sacrifices; yea, you celebrate and offer a sacrifice to God equally precious and glorious, and that will greatly profit you for the retribution of heavenly rewards [...].
 
 
 

Discussion:

See the response [1107].

Place of event:

Region
  • Latin North Africa

About the source:

Author: Cyprian
Title: Letters, Epistulae, Epistolae
Origin: Carthage (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Cyprian was born probably about 200 AD. 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 58-81, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 3C, Turnhout 1996.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς
    Ritual activity - Eucharist
      Described by a title - Conpresbyter
        Administration of justice - Imprisonment
          Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1106, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1106