The Presbyters Project

Book 3

85. Surgendum, cum episcopus aut presbyter ueniat:

A facie senioris exurges et honorabis personam presbyteri.

(ed. Weber 1972: 164)

Book 3

85. That all should stand up when a bishop or presbyter comes:

"You will stand up in the face of the old man and you will respect the person of the elder [presbyter]" [Lev 19:32].

(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

The passage of Leviticus cited here has its original place in a general exhortation to have respect towards the elders, but Cyprian uses it to emphasise the respect due in the Christian communities to the bishops and presbyters. The word "presbyter" has a double meaning in this passage: it is originally "an elder person" in the Biblical passage, but also a cleric in Cyprian's introduction.

Place of event:

Region

Latin North Africa

City

Carthage

About the source:

Author: Cyprian
Title: Ad Quirinum
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. After that event, and before the outbreak of the Decian persecutions (AD 249/250) he composed "Ad Quirinum", a florilegium of Biblical passages with short introductions.

Edition:

R. Weber ed., Sancti Cypriani Ad Quirinum, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 3, Turnhout 1972, 1-179.

Categories:

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Reverenced by

Equal prerogatives of presbyters and bishops

Theoretical considerations - On priesthood

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1355, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1355