The Epistles of Cyprian 82
82 To the Clergy and People Concerning His Retirement, a Little Before His Martyrdom PL 4, 429
Argument.—When, Near the End of His Life, Cyprian, on Returning to His Gardens, Was Told that Messengers Were Sent to Take Him for Punishment to Utica, He Withdrew. And Lest It Should Be Thought that He Had Done So from Fear of Death, He Gives the Reason in This Letter, Viz., that He Might Undergo His Martyrdom Nowhere Else Than at Carthage, in the Sight of His Own People. a.d. 258.
1. Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, and all the people, greeting. When it had been told to us, dearest brethren, that the gaolers had been sent to bring me to Utica, and I had been persuaded by the counsel of those dearest to me to withdraw for a time from my gardens, as a just reason was afforded I consented. For the reason that it is fit for a bishop, in that city in which he presides over the Church of the Lord, there to confess the Lord, and that the whole people should be glorified by the confession of their prelate in their presence. For whatever, in that moment of confession, the confessor-bishop speaks, he speaks in the mouth of all, by inspiration of God. But the honour of our Church, glorious as it is, will be mutilated if I, a bishop placed over another church, receiving my sentence or my confession at Utica, should go thence as a martyr to the Lord, when indeed, both for my own sake and yours, I pray with continual supplications, and with all my desires entreat, that I may confess among you, and there suffer, and thence depart to the Lord even as I ought. Therefore here in a hidden retreat I await the arrival of the proconsul returning to Carthage, that I may hear from him what the emperors have commanded upon the subject of Christian laymen and bishops, and may say what the Lord will wish to be said at that hour.
2. But do you, dearest brethren, according to the discipline which you have ever received from me out of the Lord’s commands, and according to what you have so very often learnt from my discourse, keep peace and tranquillity; nor let any of you stir up any tumult for the brethren, or voluntarily offer himself to the Gentiles. For when apprehended and delivered up, he ought to speak, inasmuch as the Lord abiding in us speaks in that hour, who willed that we should rather confess than profess. But for the rest, what it is fitting that we should observe before the proconsul passes sentence on me for the confession of the name of God, we will with the instruction of the Lord arrange in common. May our Lord make you, dearest brethren, to remain safe in His Church, and condescend to keep you. So be it through His mercy.
ARGUMENTUM.-- Nuntiat Successo episcopo Cyprianus, persecutione acriori jam decreta per Valerianum imperatorem (haud dubie cum Gallieno), passum Romae Xistum pontificem VIII idus Augusti, idque ut collegis caeteris significet petit, quo suum quisque gregem ad martyrium animet. Cum autem paulo post mense septembri passus sit Cyprianus, non dubium quin sub finem vitae scripta sit haec epistola.
Cyprianus Successo fratri salutem. Ut non vobis in continenti scriberem, frater charissime, illa res fecit, quod universi clerici sub ictu agonis constituti, recedere istinc omnino non poterant, parati omnes pro animi sui devotione ad divinam et coelestem gloriam. Sciatis autem eos venisse quos ad Urbem propter hoc miseram, ut quomodocumque de nobis rescriptum fuisset, exploratam sibi veritatem ad nos perferrent. Multa enim varia et incerta opinionibus ventilantur. Quae autem sunt in vero ita se habent. Rescripsisse Valerianum ad senatum ut episcopi et presbyteri et diacones in continenti animadvertantur, senatores vero et egregii viri et equites Romani, dignitate amissa, etiam bonis spolientur; et, si ademptis facultatibus christiani esse perseveraverint, capite quoque mulctentur; matronae vero, ademptis bonis, in exsilium relegentur; Caesariani autem quicumque vel prius confessi fuerant vel nunc confessi fuerint, confiscentur et vincti in Caesarianas possessiones descripti mittantur. Subjecit etiam Valerianus imperator orationi suae exemplum litterarum quas ad praesides provinciarum de nobis fecit: quas litteras quotidie speramus venire, stantes secundum fidei firmitatem ad passionis tolerantiam, et expectantes de ope et indulgentia Domini vitae aeternae coronam. Xistum autem in cimiterio animadversum sciatis octavo iduum augustarum die, et cum eo diacones quatuor. Sed et huic persecutioni quotidie insistunt praefecti in Urbe; ut, si qui sibi oblati fuerint, animadvertantur, et bona eorum 166 fisco vindicentur.
Haec peto per vos et caeteris collegis nostris innotescant, ut ubique hortatu eorum possit fraternitas corroborari et ad agonem spiritalem praeparari, ut singuli ex nostris non magis mortem cogitent quam immortalitatem, et, plena fide ac tota virtute Domino dicati, gaudeant magis quam timeant in hac confessione; in qua sciunt Dei et Christi milites non perimi, sed coronari. Opto te, frater charissime, semper in Domino bene valere.