Cyprian was born in AD 210 in northern Africa of Berber descent. He became the bishop of Carthage in 249. He is remembered because of his strong pastoral leadership, his mediating position in the restoration of clergy who denied the faith during persecution, and his writings, especially those on the theology of the church. He was executed as a martyr on September 14, 258. Cyprian’s primary concern was maintaining the integrity of the Christian faith in the face of many threats, primarily persecution by Roman authorities and heretics and schismatics within the church.
