St. Cyprian : The Lapsed, the Unity of the Catholic Church

Cyprian was born and educated in traditional Roman religion. Two years after his conversion in 246, he became bishop of Carthage, the provincial capital. Beginning in 250, his diocese was faced with the Decian persecutions (250--251). Cyprian fled the city, subjecting himself to intense criticism and ruled his diocese from exile. During his absence many Christians lapsed from their faith, and many more obtained libelli pacis libelli pacis, government-issued certificates stating that they had sacrificed to the Roman divinities to avoid punishment. Much of Cyprian's extant correspondence deals with the reconciliation between the church and these lapsi (apostates). Critical issues included the necessity for re-baptism and the status of reconciled clergy. The most important principle was that a cleric who had apostatized was regarded as not in communion with the larger church and could not baptize or ordain. This issue was to haunt Christianity in North Africa and in Egypt (a separate Roman province) and lead to the Donatist and Melitian schisms, in their respective provinces, in the fourth and fifth centuries. Cyprian's intransigence regarding unity with the church led to his dictum: "Outside the Church there is no salvation." During the Valerianic persecutions in 258, he was martyred at Carthage. His writings are known for their attention to martyrs, ministry, and the sacraments.

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