The feast day of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian, celebrated together on September 16, honors two great martyrs of the early Church, united in their defense of the Faith and their mutual support in times of persecution.
St. Cornelius (Pope and Martyr)
St. Cornelius was elected Pope in 251 AD, during a turbulent time for the Church. The Decian persecution had just ended, but it left behind a divisive issue: how to deal with Christians who had apostatized during the persecution but now sought to return to the Church. Known as the “lapsed,” their reintegration into the community became a major controversy.
Cornelius took a merciful stance, advocating for the possibility of penance and reconciliation for the lapsed. This brought him into conflict with Novatian, an opposing priest who declared that apostates could not be forgiven. Novatian set himself up as an antipope, creating a schism in the Church. Cornelius, however, was supported by bishops from across the Christian world, notably St. Cyprian of Carthage, and his position on forgiveness and penance prevailed.
In 253 AD, during a renewed persecution under Emperor Gallus, Cornelius was arrested and exiled to Civita Vecchia (modern-day Civitavecchia, Italy), where he died a martyr’s death from the hardships of his imprisonment.
St. Cyprian (Bishop and Martyr)
St. Cyprian, born around 200 AD in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia), was a highly educated man who converted to Christianity as an adult. He was baptized around the year 245 and was quickly advanced to the position of bishop of Carthage in 249 due to his evident zeal, wisdom, and leadership abilities.
During the Decian persecution, Cyprian fled Carthage temporarily to guide his flock from a distance, a decision criticized by some but later defended as prudent. Like Cornelius, Cyprian was deeply involved in the controversy over how to deal with the lapsed Christians. He wrote extensively on the need for both penance and forgiveness, emphasizing the authority of the bishops in guiding the faithful.
Cyprian’s writings, especially his letters and treatises, have had a lasting influence on the Church. His most famous work, “De Ecclesiae Unitate” (“On the Unity of the Church”), strongly asserted the importance of maintaining unity in the Church and obedience to the bishops. He famously stated, “He cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.”
In 257, during the reign of Emperor Valerian, Cyprian was exiled. He was summoned the following year to stand trial for refusing to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods.