Brez 155a9298a San Cipriano
by Diana Raquel Sainz
Title
Brez 155a9298a San Cipriano
Artist
Diana Raquel Sainz
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Digital Photography
Description
San Cipriano Third Century Church - Siglo III
Venerado en Iglesia cat�lica, Iglesia cat�lica ortodoxa Festividad 16 de septiembre atributos de obispo y la palma de martirio Patronazgo Bandera de Argelia Argelia
Tascio Cecilio Cipriano (en lat�n, Thascius C�cilius Cyprianus; c. 200 - 14 de septiembre de 258) fue cl�rigo y escritor romano, Obispo de Cartago (249-58) y santo m�rtir de la Iglesia.
Autor importante del comienzo del cristianismo, naci� probablemente a principios del siglo III en el norte de �frica, quiz� en Cartago, donde recibi� una educaci�n cl�sica (pagana). Tras convertirse al cristianismo fue obispo (249) y muri� martirizado en Cartago.
Primeros a�os
Cipriano ten�a un origen rico y distinguido. De hecho, su martirio se produjo en su propia villa. La fecha de su conversi�n al cristianismo es desconocida, pero tras su bautismo en c. 245-248 don� una porci�n de su riqueza a los pobres de Cartago. Era p�nico o quiz� bereber.
Su nombre original era Thascios; tom� el nombre adicional de Caecilius en memoria del presb�tero al que deb�a su conversi�n. Antes de esto fue profesor de ret�rica. En los primeros a�os de su conversi�n escribi� una Epistola ad Donatum de gratia Dei (�Carta a Donato sobre la gracia de Dios�) y los tres libros de Testimoniorum Libri Tres o Testimoniorum ad Quirinus que segu�an los modelos de Tertuliano, que influy� sobre su estilo y pensamiento, y detallando c�mo las antiguas profec�as no fueron reconocidas por los jud�os en cuanto �stos no aceptaron a Cristo, perdiendo as� sus privilegios y siendo sustituidos por los cristianos.
Su disputada elecci�n como obispo de Cartago
Poco despu�s de su bautismo fue ordenado di�cono, y m�s tarde presb�tero. En alg�n momento entre julio de 248 y abril de 249 fue elegido obispo de Cartago, una elecci�n popular entre los pobres, que recordaban su caridad, aunque una parte de los presb�teros se opuso a causa de la riqueza de Cipriano, su diplomacia y su talento literario. Adem�s, la oposici�n en la comunidad de Cartago no se disolvi� tras su elecci�n.
Los cristianos del norte de �frica no hab�an sufrido la persecuci�n durante muchos a�os. En 250 el emperador Decio decret� la supresi�n de la cristiandad, con lo que dio comienzo la persecuci�n deciana. Un proc�nsul enviado por el emperador y cinco comisionados de cada ciudad administraban el edicto, pero cuando el proc�nsul lleg� a Cartago Cipriano hab�a huido.
En los documentos que se conservan de los Padres de la Iglesia de varias di�cesis, se pone de manifiesto que la comunidad cristiana se dividi� en esta ocasi�n entre los que practicaron la desobediencia civil a cualquier precio y los se sometieron de palabra o acto al edicto. La huida de Cipriano de Cartago fue interpretada por sus enemigos como cobard�a e infidelidad, y le acusaron ante Roma. Roma escribi� a Cipriano en t�rminos de desaprobaci�n. Cipriano contest� que hab�a huido de acuerdo al mandato divino. Desde su refugio dirigi� a sus fieles con seriedad y entusiasmo, empleando a un di�cono de confianza como intermediario.
ENGLISH
Cyprian (Latin: Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (c. 200 � September 14, 258)[1] was bishop of Carthage and an important Early Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop soon after in 249. A controversial figure during his lifetime, his strong pastoral skills, firm conduct during the Novatianist heresy and outbreak of the plague, and eventual martyrdom at Carthage vindicated his reputation and proved his sanctity in the eyes of the Church. His skillful Latin rhetoric led to his being considered the pre-eminent Latin writer of Western Christianity until Jerome and Augustine.
Cyprian was born into a rich pagan family of Carthage, sometime during the early third century. His original name was Thascius; he took the additional name Caecilius in memory of the presbyter to whom he owed his conversion. Before his conversion, he was a leading member of a legal fraternity in Carthage, an orator, "pleader in the courts", and a teacher of rhetoric. After a "dissipated youth", Cyprian was baptised when he was thirty-five years old, c. 245 AD. After his baptism, he gave away a portion of his wealth to the poor of Carthage, as befitted a man of his status.
In the early days of his conversion he wrote an Epistola ad Donatum de gratia Dei and the Testimoniorum Libri III that adhere closely to the models of Tertullian, who influenced his style and thinking. Cyprian described his own baptism in the following words:
"When I was still lying in darkness and gloomy night, I used to regard it as extremely difficult and demanding to do what God's mercy was suggesting to me... I myself was held in bonds by the innumerable errors of my previous life, from which I did not believe I could possibly be delivered, so I was disposed to acquiesce in my clinging vices and to indulge my sins...."
But after that, by the help of the water of new birth, the stain of my former life was washed away, and a light from above, serene and pure, was infused into my reconciled heart... a second birth restored me to a new man. Then, in a wondrous manner every doubt began to fade.... I clearly understood that what had first lived within me, enslaved by the vices of the flesh, was earthly and that what, instead, the Holy Spirit had wrought within me was divine and heavenly.
Contested election as bishop of Carthage
Not long after his baptism he was ordained deacon, and soon afterward presbyter; and some time between July 248 and April 249 he was chosen bishop of Carthage, a popular choice among the poor who remembered his patronage as demonstrating good equestrian style. However his rapid rise caused a degree of misgiving among many senior members of the clergy in Carthage, an opposition which did not disappear during his episcopacy.
Soon, however, the entire community was put to an unwanted test. Christians in North Africa had not suffered persecution for many years; the church was assured and lax. Early in 250 the "Decian persecution" began.[6] Roman officials demanded all citizens to sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the Church bishops were especially targeted. Cyprian chose to go into hiding rather than face potential execution. Some clergy saw this decision as a sign of cowardice. Cyprian, however, stated that he had fled in order that his faithful would not be without a shepherd during the persecution, and that his decision to continue to lead them, although from a distance, was in accordance with divine will. Moreover, he justified this decision by pointing to the actions of the Apostles and Jesus Himself as evidence.
Controversy over the lapsed
The persecution was especially severe at Carthage, according to Church sources. Many Christians fell away, and were thereafter referred to as "lapsi". [6] The majority had signed statements (libelli) certifying that they had sacrificed to the Roman gods in order to avoid persecution or confiscation of property. Others had actually sacrificed, under torture or otherwise. Cyprian found these libellatici especially cowardly, and demanded that they and the rest of the lapsi serve public penance before being readmitted to the Church.
However, in Cyprian's absence, some presbyters disregarded his wishes by readmitting the lapsed to communion with little or no public penance. Some of the lapsi presented a second libellus purported to bear the signature of some martyr or confessor who, it was held, was able to transfer the benefit of his own victory to less steadfast brethren, and thus grant re-admission to the church.[5] This was doubly offensive, as not only were they breaking tradition with regards to apostasy, they also flouted the role of the bishop, who was normally the sole minister of absolution in all capital sins. Hundreds or even thousands of lapsi were re-admitted this way, against the express wishes of Cyprian and the majority of the Carthaginian clergy, who insisted upon earnest repentance.[3]
A schism then broke out in Carthage, as the laxist party, led largely by the presbyters who had opposed Cyprian's election, attempted to block all of Cyprian's actions in absentia. After an absence of fourteen months, Cyprian returned to his diocese and defended leaving his post in letters to the other North African bishops. After issuing a tract, "De lapsis," he called a council of North African bishops at Carthage to consider the treatment of the lapsed and the apparent schism of Felicissimus (251). The council in the main sided with Cyprian and condemned Felicissimus, though no acts of this council survive.
The schism continued as the laxists elected one Fortunatus as bishop in opposition to Cyprian. At the same time, the rigorist party in Rome, who refused absolution to all the lapsed, elected Novatian as bishop of Rome, in opposition to Cornelius. The Novatianists also secured the election of a rival bishop of their own at Carthage, Maximus by name. Cyprian now found himself wedged between the laxists and the rigorists. But these extremes strengthened the firm but moderating influence exhibited in Cyprian's writings, and the following of his opponents grew less and less. He rose still higher in the favor of the people when they witnessed his self-denying devotion during the time of a great plague and famine.
He comforted his brethren by writing his De mortalitate, and in his De eleemosynis exhorted them to active charity towards the poor, while he set the best pattern by his own life. He defended Christianity and the Christians in the apologia Ad Demetrianum, directed against a certain Demetrius and the reproach of the heathens that Christians were the cause of the public calamities.
For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian
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April 25th, 2015
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