The life of St Cyprian of Carthage
After his baptism he was made priest within two years, and on the death of the bishop the people chose him to take the see, though a small number of the older clergy objected to how quickly he had risen. He held it through the argument over how the Church should treat those who had given way under torture and later wished to return, and took the more patient course, that they be cared for and their case judged once the persecution had passed rather than shut out at once.
When persecution came again under Valerian, he was ordered to sacrifice and would not, and would not give up the names of his own priests either. He was sent into exile first, where he had a vision that his death was near, and he used the time to write. Wanting to die in his own city, he returned to Carthage, was tried, and at his sentencing the people cried out to die with him. He gave his executioner gold with his own hand, bound his own eyes, and knelt for the sword, while Christians pressed cloths to the ground to keep what fell of his blood. He was buried that night in a private tomb.
