E03259: Augustine of Hippo delivers a Latin sermon on the feast of *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411). Sermon 313B, preached in Carthage, at an unknown date between 391 and 430.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 313B

[Habitus eodem loco et die de martyris supradicti natale

'Preached in the same day and place on the birthday of the aforesaid saint']


1. Augustine expresses his delight because of the number of people who gathered at Cyprian's feast. They are probably more numerous than the crowd which witnessed Cyprian's death in the very same place.

2. He tells about martyrs as those who avoided nests of the impious and refers to Cyprian as:

Cypriano episcopo, doctore gentium, frustratore idolorum, proditore daemoniorum, lucratore paganorum, confirmatore christianorum, inflammatore martyrum ...

'Cyprian the bishop, the teacher of nations, the smasher of idols, the unmasker of demons, the winner of pagans, the strengthener of Christians, the man who fired the zeal of the martyrs ...'

4. Augustine is convinced that many of those who saw Cyprian's death came to believe in Christ.


Text: Morin 1930, 72. Translation: Hill 1994, 97. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.