St. Cyprian of Carthage

Cyprian, c. 200 – September 14, 258 AD, was bishop of Carthage and a notable Early Christian writer of Berber descent, many of whose Latin works are extant. He is also recognized as a saint in the Christian churches. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. Soon after converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249. A controversial figure during his lifetime, his strong pastoral skills, firm conduct during the Novatianist heresy and outbreak of the Plague of Cyprian (named after him due to his description of it), and eventual martyrdom at Carthage established 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. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates his feast together with that of his good friend Pope St. Cornelius on September 16.