Acts of Cyprian · §4 · Origen of Alexandria

Overnight custody and refusal before the governor

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Recalled from exile, Cyprian is kept overnight near Sexti and then brought before governor Galerius Maximus, who questions him about his identity and leadership.

Then Galerius Maximus the governor ordered Cyprian to be kept for another day. Under guard, Cyprian withdrew with the chief and the stable attendant of that same staff to the chief's lodging, and he stayed with him in the village called Saturn, between Venerea and Salutaria. There the whole company of fellow Christians gathered around him. When Cyprian learned of this, he ordered the young girls to be kept under guard, for they had all remained before the door of the chief's lodging.

On the morning of the next day, September 14th, a great crowd gathered at Sexti in obedience to the order of Galerius Maximus the governor. That same day, as he sat in the hall at Sauciolum, Galerius Maximus the governor ordered Cyprian to be brought before him.

When Cyprian was brought in, Galerius Maximus the governor said to Cyprian the bishop, "Are you Thascius Cyprian?" Cyprian the bishop answered, "I am." Galerius Maximus the governor said, "Have you set yourself up as pope over men of a sacrilegious mind?" Cyprian the bishop answered, "I have." Galerius Maximus the governor said, "The most sacred emperors have ordered you to perform worship rites." Cyprian the bishop said, "I will not do it." Galerius Maximus said, "Take counsel for yourself." Cyprian the bishop answered, "Do what you have been ordered to do. In so just a matter there is no deliberation."

Greek

III. et ita idem Galerius Maximus proconsul in aliam diem Cyprianum sibi reservari praecepit. et eo tempore beatus Cyprianus ductus ad principem et stratorem eiusdem officii Galeri Maximi proconsulis clarissimi viri secessit, et in hospitio eius cum eo in vico qui dicitur Saturni inter Veneream et Salutariam mansit. Illic universus populus fratrum convenit. et cum hoc sanctus Cyprianus comperisset, custodiri puellas praecepit, quoniam omnes in [160 — scan unclear] ante ianuam hospitii principis manserant. Et ita altera die octava decima kalendarum Octobrium mane multa turba convenit ad Sexti secundum praeceptum Galeri Maximi proconsulis. et ita idem Galerius Maximus proconsul eadem die Cyprianum sibi offerri praecepit in atrio Sauciolo sedenti. cumque oblatus fuisset, Galerius Maximus proconsul Cypriano episcopo dixit: Tu es Thascius Cyprianus? Cyprianus episcopus respondit: Ego sum. Galerius Maximus proconsul dixit: Tu papam te sacrilegae mentis hominibus praebuisti? Cyprianus episcopus respondit: Ego. Galerius Maximus proconsul dixit: Iusserunt te sacratissimi imperatores caeremoniari. Cyprianus episcopus dixit: Non facio. Galerius Maximus ait: Consule tibi. Cyprianus episcopus respondit: Fac quod tibi praeceptum est. in re tam iusta nulla est consultatio.

About this text

The work preserves a sequential record of Bishop Cyprian's interrogations, condemnation, and execution at Carthage for communal memory.

This work is anonymous and names no addressee. It follows in sequence the interrogations, condemnation and execution of Cyprian at Carthage for communal memory, and it states its purpose only in its closing doxology.

Before Paternus the governor, Cyprian confesses that he is a Christian and bishop who worships only the one true creator God and refuses the worship rites, and he refuses to name the priests. After exile at Curubis he is brought before Galerius Maximus the next governor, where he again admits his leadership and refuses the rites ordered by the emperors Valerian and Gallienus. Galerius Maximus consults his council and condemns him as organizer of an unlawful association hostile to Roman gods and laws. He is executed by the sword, thanks God, and is carried away by night by fellow Christians for burial on the grounds of Macrobius Candidianus, with Julian the priest and Julian the subdeacon helping to blindfold him. The speeches of Paternus, Cyprian, Galerius Maximus and the crowd of fellow Christians are quoted in direct exchange, with Cyprian answering the two governors.

Here bishop means leader of the local Christians, priests means its subordinate clergy, governor means the Roman governor judging the case, worship rites means the acts of Roman worship demanded, gatherings means forbidden Christian gatherings, cemeteries means places for burial that Christians were forbidden to enter, and fellow Christians means those accompanying and burying Cyprian. No book of the Bible is formally quoted and no titles occur. The only biblical language is Cyprian's creator formula of the God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, which recalls Exodus, Acts and Revelation.

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.